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Senior Congress ministers are aggressively pushing their own constituencies as the ideal location, making it a contest of influence as much as infrastructure
An existing agreement with the Siemens-led consortium that built Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) prevents the construction of a second airport within 150 km of Bengaluru until 2033. (Image for Representation)
The battle over where Bengaluru’s second international airport should be built is no longer just a policy decision—it has turned into a full-fledged political tug-of-war as senior Congress ministers are aggressively pushing their own constituencies as the ideal location, making it a contest of influence as much as infrastructure.
Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara wants the airport in Tumakuru, the seat he represents, citing its rapid growth and potential inclusion in “Greater Bengaluru” as the Karnataka government is contemplating realigning the limits of Bengaluru city.
Meanwhile, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar is advocating for a site near his stronghold in Kanakapura, pitching a location between Bidadi and Harohalli.
As part of the proposal on which areas would include Greater Bengaluru, Kanakapura and Ramanagara are also expected to be included within the new limits.
Parameshwara’s Push for Tumakuru
Parameshwara has formally requested industries & infrastructure minister MB Patil to consider Tumakuru for the airport.
“Land has already been identified in two places—3,000 acres off NH-48 near Vasantha Narasapura Industrial Area and 4,000-5,000 acres near Seebi temple in Sira taluk,” he said. He emphasised that Tumakuru, located just 70 kilometres from Bengaluru, is a growing industrial hub and will benefit from improved connectivity.
Backing him is BJP leader and deputy leader of the opposition in the assembly, Arvind Bellad. He believes the airport should come up in Tumakuru, particularly in Sira, to boost North Karnataka’s development.
“The Devanahalli airport has helped develop the areas along the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border. Similar development will be witnessed if the second airport is built towards North Karnataka,” Bellad told News18. He also pointed out that industrial growth on Hosur Road has benefitted Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka.
Bellad is not alone in backing Tumakuru. Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who joined Congress last year but later returned to the BJP, has also voiced support for this location. “The airport should be in Tumakuru. North Karnataka has always been neglected in infrastructure development, and this project will ensure the economic corridor from Bengaluru to Hubballi-Dharwad gets a boost,” Shettar said.
Shivakumar’s Strategic Pitch for Kanakapura
Shivakumar, on the other hand, has been aggressively pushing for a site near Kanakapura. His argument: an airport between Bidadi and Harohalli would be a game-changer for the region’s industrial growth.
His push for the airport aligns with his broader political strategy. During the 2023 assembly elections, he promised that Kanakapura would soon be part of Bengaluru district rather than Ramanagara. Just months later, in July 2024, he led a delegation to chief minister Siddaramaiah, submitting a proposal to rename Ramanagara as Bengaluru South District.
“The people of Doddaballapura, Devanahalli, Hoskote, Kanakapura, Ramanagara, Channapatna, and Magadi were originally Bengalureans. Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural districts were carved out for administrative ease,” Shivakumar said, making his case for why his region deserves the airport.
His bigger promise to voters? “A day will soon come when buyers will value your land by feet, not acres.” The proposed airport seems to be his way of delivering on that.
Proponents of the southern Bengaluru location argue that KIA, in Devanahalli, primarily serves the northern part of the city, while travellers from South and West Bengaluru struggle with long commutes due to traffic congestion. A second airport in the south could ease this burden, say experts.
Interestingly, if the airport comes up in South Bengaluru, it might affect another of Shivakumar’s ambitious projects—the proposed 250-metre-tall Skydeck in Hemmigepura, intended as a major tourist attraction. Sources suggest it may not be feasible if it interferes with aircraft movement.
Aviation expert Devesh Agrawal says the best choice would be the southwest part of Bengaluru, closer to Mysuru, which would utilise the new Mysuru–Bengaluru Expressway and support the government’s vision for developing Mysuru and beyond.
Agrawal notes that from an industry perspective, north and northwest Bengaluru already have a well-established airport—Kempegowda International Airport.
“The second airport must meet the state’s and industries’ needs. To support agriculture, floriculture, and the knowledge industry, including IT, the best location would be somewhere in southwest Bengaluru, ideally along the Bengaluru–Mysuru corridor.”
“Competition breeds improvement,” said another industry observer and so the second airport is important, while keeping the location accessible and suitable for travellers and businesses.
Government’s take
Karnataka industries & infrastructure minister MB Patil has said the second airport would require 4,500-5,000 acres, likely under a public-private partnership (PPP) model similar to KIA. Private investors are expected to show interest if they can secure at least 4,000 acres of land for the project.
The Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) has shortlisted seven potential sites. A special team comprising environmental pollution officers and surveyors visited the site recently and the inspection by the team was carried out in three gram panchayats covering Motagondanahalli, Nelamangala, Sompura, Yentaganahalli, and Soladevanahalli. Land around Harohalli near Ramanagara and Bidadi in the southwest has been assessed.
An existing agreement with the Siemens-led consortium that built Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) prevents the construction of a second airport within 150 km of Bengaluru until 2033. With just eight years left, the Karnataka government is now moving ahead with plans for a second airport to accommodate the city’s growing air traffic and hopes to hit the ground running as soon as the tenure ends.
Develop HAL airport as well: Surya
Bengaluru South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya has also called for three operational airports in the city, positioning it as a global hub on par with New York, Paris, and London. He has been urging the Union government to reopen Bengaluru’s HAL Airport for civil aviation, alongside efforts to identify a location for a second international airport.
The proposal seeks to upgrade HAL Airport to handle up to 40 lakh passengers annually by 2047, with a peak-hour capacity of around 2,500 passengers. Before shutting down commercial operations in 2008, the airport had catered to over 10 lakh passengers in the 2007-08 fiscal year.
KIA, currently the third-busiest airport in India after Delhi and Mumbai, handled 40.73 million passengers and 496,227 metric tonnes of cargo in 2024. Officials predict it will hit peak capacity by 2035, making a second airport a necessity.
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Bangalore, India, India
