This story is from January 23, 2020

To decongest KIA, govt moots new airport in Tumakuru or Kolar

In a bid to “decongest” air traffic in Bengaluru, the government has proposed to construct a greenfield airport in either Tumakuru or Kolar. With the chances of HAL airport, in the heart of the city, opening up to civil aviation looking “bleak”, the government is scouting for alternatives that are relatively close to Bengaluru.
To decongest KIA, govt moots new airport in Tumakuru or Kolar
KIA airport
BENGALURU: In a bid to “decongest” air traffic in Bengaluru, the government has proposed to construct a greenfield airport in either Tumakuru or Kolar. With the chances of HAL airport, in the heart of the city, opening up to civil aviation looking “bleak”, the government is scouting for alternatives that are relatively close to Bengaluru.
Planning commission vice-chairman BJ Puttaswamy told reporters on Wednesday the infrastructure development department (IDD) has pencilled in Kolar and Tumakuru districts for the new airport.

“We had a meeting with officials of the department and efforts are being made to identify a location for the purpose. This is to circumvent possible saturation of air traffic in Bengaluru in the coming years,” Puttaswamy said.
Confirming the proposal, IDD officials said the whole process will take at least 10 years as identification of a suitable location and construction of a full-fledged airport “cannot be done overnight”.
“The intention is to create an alternative to the already burgeoning Kempegowda International Airport. But the process is a long-drawn affair and will take at least 10 years by which time the concessionaire agreement with BIAL will almost be at an end,” an official said.
Puttaswamy said the possibility of Kolar hosting the new airport is “slightly less” as it would be more beneficial to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh than Karnataka. IDD officials say Kolar does have a ready-made infrastructure with a World War II era airstrip which is currently being used by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for test flights. But an official admitted, “With the airstrip under the control of the MoD, it is difficult to construct a civilian airport in the district.”
Puttaswamy said the government plans to have 10 airports in the state — one for every three districts. He said new airports could come up in Gadag, Koppal, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts.
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