Second Airport for Bengaluru: What the Centre Told MP P.C. Mohan in Parliament

Replying on behalf of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Minister stated that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had conducted pre-feasibility studies at three locations for a second airport in Bengaluru, based on a request from the Government of Karnataka. The pre-feasibility report has already been submitted to the state government.

However, the Centre made it clear that no proposal has been submitted under the Greenfield Airport (GFA) Policy by either the Karnataka government or any private airport developer so far.

The Minister further pointed out that under the Concession Agreement (CA) between the Government of India and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), no new airport—greenfield or brownfield—can be developed within a 150-km aerial radius of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) before the completion of 25 years from KIA’s opening date, except for Mysuru and Hassan airports which are designated as domestic airports.

As per the agreement, any move to develop a second airport near Bengaluru or reopen HAL Airport before the 25-year clause expires would require prior consent from BIAL, including potential contractual compensation.

The Ministry added that traffic studies, safety assessments, and feasibility evaluations are key prerequisites for approving a second airport, along with adherence to distance norms and contractual obligations.

The response effectively places legal and contractual constraints at the centre of Bengaluru’s long-standing demand for a second airport, despite increasing air traffic pressure on Kempegowda International Airport.