The Ministry of Defence has recently refused to grant clearance for the proposed greenfield airport at Hosur, citing serious airspace and operational concerns. The decision is linked to the proximity of the project site to sensitive defence installations and flight operations, which, according to officials, could compromise national security and disrupt existing military aviation activities.

Sources indicated that the proposed airport location overlaps with controlled and restricted airspace used by the Indian Air Force, making civil aviation operations difficult without affecting defence readiness. The Defence Ministry conveyed that accommodating commercial air traffic in the region would require significant alterations to existing airspace management protocols, which are not considered feasible at this stage.

The Hosur airport was envisioned as a key infrastructure project to support industrial growth in north-western Tamil Nadu and to ease congestion at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. However, with defence clearance being a mandatory requirement, the refusal has effectively stalled progress on the project.

State authorities are expected to examine alternative sites or rework the proposal in consultation with defence and civil aviation agencies to explore viable options going forward.