The state government is actively looking for a second airport in Bengaluru, the final location could now be near Nelamangala. After extensive evaluation, it seems that the state government has selected a location near Nelamangala-Kunigal along National Highway 75 for the proposed second international airport. This decision is aimed at addressing Bengaluru’s growing development needs, increasing passenger traffic and cargo pressure. The state has started the process of building a second international airport after Delhi and Mumbai and had considered seven to eight locations around the city. As per the technical norms set by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the location between Nelamangala and Kunigal seems to have been finalized.

Air traffic at the existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is reported to have increased. Considering the future needs of Bengaluru, the 11th round of discussions on the development of the second international airport was held on Friday. In a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar last month, various locations including Harohalli on Kanakapura Road, Bidadi and Nelamangala were assessed. While Harohalli near Kanakapura Road was considered for serving passengers in the southern part of Bengaluru, it was found to be less suitable due to limited development potential as it is close to the Tamil Nadu border. On the other hand, the Nelamangala area was found to be more suitable from an overall development perspective.