Bengaluru’s Second Airport: What We Know So Far and Potential Locations

Bangalore is popularly referred to as the Silicon Valley of India. There has been a sharp increase in the demand for air travel from Bangalore. Due to the rising IT industry and high population, the existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has reached saturation. To counter this acute problem, the Karnataka government has decided to develop a second airport in Bangalore. This report covers the details regarding the proposed Bangalore airport in the background, the need for the airport, probable locations, and the government's developments.

Key Takeaways

• As a consequence of a booming air travel business, Karnataka state government plans the second Bangalore airport.
• It now appears that the new airport has two emerging lead contenders: Kunigal and Dabaspet.
• It will help reduce pressure on the present Kempegowda International Airport.
• Environmental and social issues form part of the planning exercise.
  

Background

The Bangalore International Airport Kempegowda is an airport that has played a strategic role in Indian aviation history, especially since it became operational. Since 2023, the number of passengers rose to 37 million and reached 40.73 million by 2024. Of course, now it's clear that the future calls for another airport. The airport was planned for 20 million passengers a year, but it has exceeded that number by far. This is due to the sudden growth in Bangalore's technology sector, which is causing a huge upsurge in both domestic and international flights. With other metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai also ready to unveil new airports, Bangalore needs to maintain its competitiveness by not falling behind. The new airport is necessary not only for air travel but also stimulate the economy within the region.

Need for a Second Airport

Air travel demand is shooting up in Bangalore. Some of the major reasons why Bangalore needs a second airport are as follows:
With the increasing number of businesses in Bangalore, the number of flights in demand has risen. A second airport will facilitate the management of this traffic more effectively.
Economic Growth: The new airport will create employment opportunities and stimulate local economies due to the increase in businesses and tourists.
Smoother Connectivity: An additional airport will ease congestion at KIA, making travel smoother for passengers.

Table: Air Traffic Growth at Kempegowda International Airport

Proposed Locations for the Second Airport

The Karnataka government has shortlisted several locations for the new airport based on comprehensive studies and surveys.
The government is considering Kunigal, a town along National Highway 75, as a potential site for the new airport. In fact, the area between Dabaspet and Kunigal is being reviewed. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara also said that the Tumkuru area, including Kunigal, is under consideration. "The plan is to locate the new airport near Dabaspet, close to Tumkuru, though nothing is confirmed yet," he said.
Other locations that are also under consideration are Ramanagara, Bidadi, and Harohalli for the second airport in Bengaluru.

Advantages of Potential Locations

Dabaspet

Strategic Location: Dabaspet is located on the Bengaluru-Mangalore National Highway (NH 75) and is very well connected in terms of roads.

Industrial Proximity: The region is close to existing industrial areas hence can enhance cargo activities and spur local economic development.

Kunigal

Connectivity: Kunigal is connected by NH 75 and will gain from the infrastructure projects to be developed in the future, including the Peripheral Ring Road.

Economic Development: The area is ready for development with the setting up of new industrial parks that can be supported by the operations of the airport.

Bidadi

Connectivity:Bidadi is ideally situated along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which has greatly reduced travel time to Bengaluru. This expressway facilitates easier and quicker commutes, providing a more seamless journey between Bidadi and the city.

Land Resources: The area has enough land to support large-scale development of the airport.

Harohalli

Existing Road Networks: It has the availability of major roads such as Kanakapura Road ,Nice Ring Road that easily drive to and from the airport.

Environmental Considerations: This place has been evaluated on its environmental impact so the sustainable development has been ensured along with building the airport.

Impact on Property Prices

After the opening of Kempegowda International Airport, areas like Devanahalli witnessed a tremendous rise in their land values. In the last decade, lands had appreciated by 86.1%. This appreciation of property prices within a few years itself suggests a well-pegged relationship between the emergence of the airport and the appreciation of real estates.

More importantly, the overall North Bangalore realty market grew by an annual rate of about 15-20 percent after KIA became operational; this reflects an excellent demand for properties that is driven by better connectivity and increased economic activities in the locality. The historical trends indicate that the areas near the upcoming Second International Airport are sure to see huge property value growths.

Another basis for this argument is a comparison with other cities. For example, property prices around the Navi Mumbai International Airport increased 40-50% from when the airport was first announced to the construction phase.

Such patterns explain consistent market reactions towards airport improvements. Therefore, there is a probable response in the Bangalore case too.

Government Plans and Progress

Finalized location for Karnataka's second Bangalore airport: "The Karnataka Government is finalizing the location, but the authorities are keen in shortlisting this option after many consulting firms are conducting surveys".

The government is expected to declare its decision on the final selection of the site by early 2025.

A detailed proposal will be sent to the Airports Authority of India shortly.

In fact, the urgency is fuelled due to the competition from a greenfield airport being proposed by Tamil Nadu at Hosur, barely 35 kilometers from Bangalore. Other states, with plans underway for developing aviation infrastructure, necessitate a fast track for Bangalore to lose out on no strategic leverage.

Environmental and Social Considerations

Environmental and social considerations would come into play with the second airport project as much as they would in any other large infrastructure undertaking. Impact assessments of how the new airport will impact the communities and the local ecosystems will be very necessary by the Karnataka government.

Key Considerations:

Land Use: The proposed sites may involve agricultural land and require careful management of land use.

Community Impact: Engaging with local communities will be essential to address concerns about noise pollution and displacement.

The government has initiated public consultations to gather feedback from residents living near potential sites. This engagement is vital in ensuring that the project aligns with community interests while meeting aviation demands.

Economic Impact Analysis

A second international airport in Bangalore would promise significant economic benefits.

Job creation: The construction and running of the new airport will create thousand direct indirect jobs.

It boosts local businesses. In fact, more connectivity could attract more tourists and businesses to the region which ultimately boosts the local economy.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the good news, there are many challenges that must be overcome:

Regulatory Barriers: These could delay adherence to aviation regulations.

Political Factors: Political differences may delay site selection or funding.

Public Opposition: The affected local communities will oppose changes that destroy their life or environment.

While working through these challenges with transparency will need to happen, the government should strive to be prudent.