Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Union Minister V Somanna have revived a bid to site Bengaluru's second airport near Tumakuru, stepping into a debate over the project's location after the state opposition urged consideration of Kanakapura. Parameshwara, who represents Koratagere in Tumakuru in the legislative assembly, indicated that he had also pressed for the airport to be located near Tumakuru and that he would welcome such a decision.

Parameshwara observed that locating the airport near Tumakuru would improve connectivity for people from about 18-20 districts and suggested it may align with the existing international airport at Devanahalli, while noting that technical teams and the government would make the ultimate decision. The comment followed a government shortlist that included Somanahalli and Chudahalli near Kanakapura Road in southern Bengaluru and Kunigal-Nelamangala near Tumakuru Road in the west as potential locations.

A potential fourth site in Harohalli, within the Chief Minister's Kanakapura constituency, had emerged earlier this month and prompted the recent public exchange. The Chief Minister has stated that the second international airport will be located towards the south of Bengaluru, reaffirming a directional preference that underpins the search for suitable sites.

Somanna has urged the Civil Aviation Minister to consider Sira in Tumakuru district as the preferred location, arguing that a new airport there would place central Karnataka on a stronger path of development. He outlined that Sira sits strategically near the Mumbai–Bengaluru industrial corridor, the national investment and manufacturing zone, the Chennai–Bengaluru industrial corridor and several KIADB industrial areas, and he appealed for balanced and comprehensive state development to guide the final decision.

Local officials and stakeholders are expected to await the technical assessment and broader policy decision, noting that site selection will involve considerations of connectivity, land use, environmental impact and industrial synergies. The debate reflects competing regional development priorities as authorities refine their recommendation.