Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 11: In a significant development towards establishing a second airport for Karnataka’s capital, a high-level team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has concluded inspections at three proposed sites near Bengaluru, infrastructure development minister M B Patil informed on Thursday.
Addressing reporters, Patil revealed that the AAI team is expected to present its findings within a month. Once the AAI’s report is received, the project will be handed over to expert consultancy firms specialising in airport infrastructure for a comprehensive feasibility study.
“The AAI has conducted site visits. Choosing the right location depends on several criteria including passenger volume, cargo traffic, and surrounding industrial growth,” the minister said.
Currently, Kempegowda International Airport operates near Devanahalli. As per existing aviation norms, no new airport can be developed within a 150-km radius of an operational airport until the year 2033. Patil pointed out that initiating groundwork now could pave the way for construction of a second airport by around 2030. “If we delay the process, we may not see a new airport even by 2040,” he cautioned.
He also acknowledged growing interest from various leaders advocating for airport development in their respective regions. TB Jayachandra, Karnataka’s Special Representative in New Delhi, is pushing for an airport near Sira in Tumakuru district, adjacent to Bengaluru. However, Patil clarified that while a district-level facility might be feasible there, it would not qualify for international status.
Similarly, BJP MLA Aravind Bellad has made a case for an airport serving North Karnataka. However, Patil stressed that “merely identifying land will not suffice; comprehensive planning and procedural groundwork are essential.”
Speaking on ongoing airport projects, the minister confirmed that the Vijayapura airport is ready for inauguration. “A Supreme Court case regarding environmental clearance is the only pending issue. It seems to be heading towards resolution. Once cleared, the airport could be inaugurated within six months,” he added.
Patil also responded to recent controversy sparked by Chief Minister’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy, who claimed that Karnataka tops the corruption chart. “If such a statement is made, the individuals responsible for the corruption should also be named,” he remarked sharply.
Reaffirming party discipline, he said, “No individual is bigger than the party.”
Highlighting developments at the recent Congress convention in Ahmedabad, Patil stated that the party’s resolutions were focused on uplifting the poor, Dalits, women, and minorities. On the topic of the 'one person, one post' rule, he noted that while there are exceptions, they are granted only after careful consideration of the individual's experience and seniority.