Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil announced that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to submit its pre-feasibility report for the proposed second international airport near Bengaluru within the next two to three days.

Speaking to reporters, Patil said the report would be placed before the Cabinet for discussion and that consultations would also be held with companies involved in developing the Navi Mumbai and Noida international airports.

He explained that airport construction companies would assess the financial feasibility of the proposed sites, noting that projects of this scale require both economic and technical viability. “It is not that they will build the airport wherever the government allocates land,” he said.

The minister clarified that the initiative takes into account the existing clause prohibiting the establishment of another international airport within 150 km of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) until 2033. “If we begin groundwork now, the second airport will be ready by then. Such a huge project will take at least five to six years,” he added.

Patil stressed that the final decision on the airport’s location will be based purely on merit and feasibility. “While legislators and stakeholders have expressed differing views on potential sites, the final call will depend on the AAI’s recommendations and the feasibility and viability reports,” he said.

In March 2025, the state government shortlisted three possible sites for the airport — two along Kanakapura Road near Kaggalipura and Harohalli, and a third near Chikkasolur on the Nelamangala–Kunigal Road. The AAI conducted inspections in April. While some legislators have suggested Tumakuru, others, including Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, have backed Kanakapura as a suitable location.

Patil emphasised that public opinion would be considered but the final location would be determined based on feasibility studies, passenger potential, and cargo load projections.

The Karnataka government initiated the project in response to the rising number of air passengers and to counter Tamil Nadu’s plan to build an international airport in Hosur, just 75 km from Bengaluru’s existing facility. The state aims to have the second airport operational by 2031, ensuring long-term capacity expansion for the region’s fast-growing aviation demand.