Playing politics on the runway Premium

The Karnataka government should pay heed to the needs of passengers and not politicians

Seldom do infrastructure projects, especially in the mobility sector, catch the attention of lawmakers. The lack of attempts being made to fix Bengaluru’s potholed roads or speed up the progress of the metro rail project indicate this apathy in the Karnataka’s capital city.

However, one large project is drawing the attention of lawmakers. Even those outside the city seem interested in getting a slice of this massive real estate pie, which could be around 5,000 acres of land.

This project is the second greenfield international airport in Bengaluru, which is a necessity for the city as the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will not be able to accommodate more than its peak capacity of 80 million-90 million passengers by the turn of the next decade.

With no scope for the KIA’s expansion, the Karnataka government began exploring potential sites for the second airport a decade early, which is a welcome sign.

Having finalised three potential sites for the second airport — two on Kanakapura Road in south Bengaluru and one on Nelamangala-Kunigal Road — the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation, the industrial and investment promotion agency of the State government, recently invited an Airports Authority of India (AAI) team to inspect them and conduct a feasibility study on these sites.

To coincide with the AAI team’s visit, 42 legislators from various political parties led by veteran Congress leader T.B. Jayachandra petitioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to develop the airport at Sira in Tumakuru district, which is about 120 kilometres from Bengaluru. Prior to this, Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara had also pitched for Tumakuru, his home district located north of Bengaluru, as the best location for a second airport.

The lobbying for the airport to be developed in these locations has deeper political overtones, especially given the ongoing battle over chief ministership between the incumbent, Mr. Siddaramaiah, and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar. Two of the three shortlisted sites which were inspected by the AAI team are part of, or are close to, Mr. Shivakumar’s Assembly constituency, Kanakapura. Those who oppose the development of the airport in south Bengaluru have hinted that Mr. Shivakumar will stand to gain if the project comes up there.