Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has voiced disappointment over reports that the Centre has declined clearance for the proposed Hosur airport, a project seen as critical for easing air travel pressure in the Bengaluru region.
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Reacting to the development, Mazumdar-Shaw took to X and wrote, “That’s a big disappointment to south Bangalore residents. Hope this gets compensated by the proposed Kanakapura site.” Her remarks echo growing concern among residents and industry leaders in south Bengaluru who view Hosur as a strategic location for a secondary airport.
Defence clearance emerges as key roadblock
According to a report by The Hindu, the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to establish an airport in Hosur has once again failed to secure approval from the Ministry of Defence. Clearance from the defence ministry is mandatory as the airspace in the region falls under the operational control of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Explaining the decision, a source told The Hindu that the ministry had communicated its stance through a letter last week. “The Ministry communicated in a letter last week that HAL needed the airspace and denied the request. Now, the State government will begin evaluating it options on the further course of action and what needs to be done,” the source said.
Another official expressed dissatisfaction with how the rejection was handled, noting the absence of formal dialogue between the Centre and the state. “It is disappointing that the request has been denied even without a discussion. If a meeting was held between the Tamil Nadu Government and Ministry of Defence, the government could have had a chance to explain,” the official added.
150-km norm and competing airport plans complicate matter
Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has recently clarified that the much-debated 150-kilometre aerial distance rule is not meant to permanently block the development of new airports near existing ones. He said the guideline is intended to ensure orderly expansion and does not apply once an airport nears capacity.
Speaking after a validation flight at Bhogapuram airport near Visakhapatnam, Naidu said, “When it comes to the 150 km radius policy, it is a policy that guides the initiation of airport development. Once capacity is saturated, the clause no longer applies. There is an opportunity for the State to cater to a second airport.”
For the Hosur airport project, the Tamil Nadu government had shortlisted two sites from an initial list of five. One location is around 1.5 kilometres from the private airstrip operated by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited at Belagondapalli, while the other lies near Ulagam, east of Hosur and north of Shoolagiri. Both sites fall within a 20-kilometre radius.
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Apart from defence-related constraints, the proposal also faces challenges due to an existing agreement between Bangalore International Airport Limited and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The agreement restricts the construction of a new airport within a 150-kilometre aerial distance of Kempegowda International Airport. The Tamil Nadu government had sought airspace relaxation in June last year, followed by a detailed submission in November that included specific coordinates, arguing that HAL’s operations would not be impacted. The request, however, was rejected.
At the same time, Karnataka has moved to counter the Hosur proposal by advancing plans for a second airport in Bengaluru. A feasibility study is currently underway, with three sites under consideration. Two of these are located along Kanakapura Road, while the third is near Tumakuru Road. The outcome of the study is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the region’s future aviation landscape. |
