Completion of Site Inspections for Bengaluru's Second Airport; Expert Study to Follow AAI Report
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Synopsis
A senior team from the Airports Authority of India has concluded inspections of three sites for Bengaluru's planned second airport. Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil announced that recommendations will be provided within a month, leading to a detailed study by expert firms before site finalization.
Key Takeaways
- AAI has inspected three potential sites for a new airport.
- A detailed assessment will follow by expert firms.
- Current regulations affect the establishment of new airports until 2033.
- District-level airports may be feasible, but international status is unlikely.
- Environmental clearances pending for the Vijayapura airport.
Bengaluru, April 10 (NationPress) A senior delegation from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has finished assessing three prospective locations for the planned second airport near Bengaluru and is anticipated to deliver its recommendations within a month, stated Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil on Thursday.
Subsequently, the initiative will be entrusted to specialized firms in airport development for a comprehensive analysis, the minister noted, emphasizing that the government will finalize the site for the second Bengaluru airport afterward.
"The AAI team has conducted visits. The viability of a location for an airport hinges on parameters such as passenger traffic, cargo operations, and industrial requirements," he remarked.
"At present, there is an airport situated near Devanahalli in Bengaluru. A stipulation exists preventing the establishment of a new airport within a 150-kilometer radius of the current airport until 2033. If we initiate the process now, construction of the second airport could commence around 2030. Otherwise, even by 2040, the possibility of an additional airport may not materialize," he added.
Patil highlighted that senior leader and Karnataka's Special Representative in New Delhi, T.B. Jayachandra, has started efforts to establish an airport close to his constituency, Sira, in the neighboring Tumakuru district of Bengaluru. He mentioned that a district-level airport could be feasible there, though it cannot be designated as an international airport. BJP MLA Aravind Bellad is also pushing for a new airport in a location that serves north Karnataka, but simply allocating land is insufficient, he asserted.
"The Vijayapura airport is prepared for inauguration. There is a pending case in the Supreme Court concerning environmental clearance. It seems likely to be resolved shortly. Once that occurs, the inauguration could take place within six months," Patil stated.
Regarding the contentious statement made by senior Congress leader and Chief Minister’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy, who claimed that Karnataka ranks first in corruption, Patil remarked: "He should have also pointed out who is engaged in the corruption."
"No one is greater than the party," he asserted.
Patil also mentioned during the Congress convention in Ahmedabad that the party made decisions considering the needs of the underprivileged, Dalits, women, and minorities. The 'one person, one post' policy in the party has a few exceptions based on experience and seniority, Patil stressed.
