Hosur Airport: Site Selection In Final Stages Despite a Roadblock

The Tamil Nadu government is set to narrow down two potential sites for a detailed feasibility study for the proposed greenfield airport at Hosur, the industrial town located near Bengaluru, the Deccan Herald reported.

This decision follows an extensive survey conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) across five shortlisted locations in and around Hosur.

Potential Locations Under Review
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), has surveyed five sites:

Existing Hosur Airstrip (TAAL): Currently operated by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd.
South of Hosur Airstrip: Situated 2 km from the TAAL site.
Thogarai Agraharam Village: Located 10 km south of the TAAL airstrip in Denkanikottai.
Ulagam, near Shoolagiri Village: Approximately 27 km southeast of the Hosur airstrip.
Dhasapalli: Positioned 16 km northeast of the existing airstrip.

These locations were inspected in September, including the TAAL-owned private airstrip and sites like Thogarai Agraharam and Shoolagiri, which host industrial parks designed to attract more businesses to the area.

Regulatory Hurdles
Despite Tamil Nadu's push for a greenfield airport at Hosur, the project faces a significant regulatory challenge. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry reiterated that no new airport could be developed within a 150 km radius of the Bengaluru International Airport until 2033. This restriction is part of the Concession Agreement between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL).

Under the agreement, except for the Mysore and Hassan airports (restricted to domestic operations), no airport can be developed, upgraded, or improved within this zone until the 25th anniversary of Bengaluru Airport's opening, which occurred on May 24, 2008.

Efforts to Utilize Hosur Airstrip
The existing airstrip at Hosur, owned by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd, has previously been proposed for regional connectivity. In the first round of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, Turbo Aviation Private Limited bid for the Chennai-Hosur-Chennai route. However, the bid was rejected due to the regulatory constraints imposed by the agreement with BIAL.

Despite these challenges, Tamil Nadu is optimistic about moving forward with the project. Once the feasibility studies are conducted on the shortlisted sites, the state government aims to find ways to address the regulatory concerns and collaborate with the Union government for necessary clearances.

The greenfield airport at Hosur is envisioned as a crucial infrastructure project to decongest Bengaluru Airport, foster industrial growth in Tamil Nadu, and improve connectivity for businesses and travellers in the region.