Min MB Patil holds meeting with officials over second airport for Bengaluru

PTI, Jun 21, 2024, 9:04 AM IST

Credit: X/@MBPatil

BENGALURU: With Bengaluru growing rapidly as a metropolitan city, Karnataka Minister for Infrastructure Development M B Patil on Thursday held a meeting with officials regarding the construction of a second airport for the city.

During the meeting attended by Manjula, the Secretary of the Infrastructure Development Department, Patil directed the preparation of a feasibility report for the new airport, the Minister’s office said in a release.

Noting that Bengaluru International Airport is the third busiest airport in the country, following Delhi and Mumbai, the Ministry said last year the airport handled 37.5 million passengers and over 400,000 tonnes of cargo.

The Minister underscored the importance of the new airport to handle the anticipated increase in passenger traffic and freight in the coming years.

With the current contract prohibiting the establishment of another airport within a 150-kilometer radius until 2033, the Minister stressed the urgency of starting preparations now, particularly due to the projected peak capacity of the current airport by 2033 and maximum cargo handling capacity by 2040.

Highlighting the extensive time required for land acquisition and compensation for landowners, Patil noted the necessity to start work on the second airport promptly. He also pointed out the broader benefits, including the development of an industrial ecosystem beyond Bengaluru.