Survey of 900-acre land conducted; Proposal with Centre
Mysore/Mysuru: One more International Airport may come up near Srirangapatna on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, in addition to the existing Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), far away from Bengaluru near Nandi Hills, if the Centre accepts the proposal already sent for its consideration.
The question is, if this new Airport will be a competitor to KIA and also to the recently opened Mandakalli Airport in Mysuru. Chances are high as industry stakeholders are demanding a new International Airport on Mysuru and Bengaluru Highway.
The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) has submitted a report to the State Government that states that taking into consideration the growth of Bengaluru and Mysuru, one more airport is necessary ideally on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway near K. Shettahalli in Srirangapatna Taluk so that the region — including Mandya, Channapattana and Ramanagara — gets a boost with more industries, software companies that will promote employment and growth opportunities.
The report has been submitted to Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries Jagadish Shettar last week in Bengaluru and he too felt the need of a new airport as the KIA will be saturated soon.
Ideal location
“Our analysis indicates that the location of the second airport would be ideal on the stretch between Bengaluru and Mysuru, based on the economic growth pattern, demographic splits and demand potential. This will ensure that the benefits of connectivity drive additional growth in Mysuru, Hassan and Kodagu,” the report stated.
“With infrastructure being a key driver of industry and investment, a second airport will not only help to decongest Bengaluru city, but will also help industry expand towards outlying areas thereby fostering balanced growth,” the report said.
The additional International Airport will be a profitable and favourable project and given the ground-level challenges, it is imperative that a decision be taken quickly. Stakeholders said that the new airport should be a standalone one and both Kempegowda International Airport and the new airport should compete with each other genuinely.
First Airstrip Survey held: Sudhakar Shetty
Reacting on the development, Sudhakar S. Shetty, former President, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), told Star of Mysore that when he was at the helm of FKCCI, he along with NR Constituency MLA Tanveer Sait had floated the idea of one more airport on Mysuru – Bengaluru Highway near K. Shettahalli for the overall development of the region. Moreover, the KIA will soon reach its saturation point and it takes hours to reach the central areas of Bengaluru from the Airport amidst maddening traffic.
“I had spoken to the then Civil Aviation Minister and Karnataka CM and at my insistence the first Airstrip Survey was conducted. The land that was identified for the new Airport is near K. Shettahalli on Mysuru-Bengaluru Road,” he said.
Proposal with Centre
At K. Shettahalli there is a 900-acre Government land that has not been utilised. “The new International Airport can come up on this land and we can have more land acquired, considering the fact that KIA is spread across 4,000 acres. The proposal is already there with the Central Government and things must be set in motion from there,” he said.
Sudhakar Shetty reasoned that the new International Airport will boost the economy of the entire region comprising Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysuru, Kodagu and make it an economic powerhouse with connectivity. “More and more industries and technology giants can set up companies and the connectivity will be superb with the existing Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway being widened to a 10-lane Highway and the Railway Double tracking being completed. Plus there is Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) — NICE Road. All these will make journey to Bengaluru smoother and faster,” he added.
MLA Tanveer Sait reacts
When contacted, MLA Tanveer Sait also said that the sprawling 900-acre land belonging to Social Forestry near K. Shettahalli in Srirangapatna Taluk was an ideal location for an international airport as it was in close proximity to major destinations.
Referring to the existing Mysore Airport at Mandakalli, Sait was of the opinion that it could continue as a Flying Club dedicated to flying of Microlight Aircraft and Aviation Studies. Also there is no provision to divert the Nanjangud Highway which has resulted in the major roadblock for the much-awaited Mysore Airport Runway expansion, he opined.
Meanwhile, MP Pratap Simha, who is presently in Kodagu overseeing flood relief operations along with District Minister V. Somanna, was not reachable on his mobile phone due to poor network connection.
Having thought of addition airport may not be a bad idea, but needs planing by keeping future in mind. Simultaneously with the start of construction work FAST RAIL LINK TO MYSORE AND BANGALORE-MAJESTIC METRO TERMINAL SHOULD BE incorporated in the planning for the convenience of passengers and commuters. When or before airport goes operational the rail link must be ready
Tippu International Airport.
It will certainly catch the international travellers.
Why only Bangalore, Mysuru and surrounding regions are given such importance. Only Bangalore and Mysuru is not Karnataka. If Government wants to fostering the balanced growth, then Govt should think to establish new international airport in Ballari/Raichur/Haveri/Gulbarga/Bijapur/Davangere. Govt should provide good infrastructure to these areas to attract Industry and investment thereby generating employment. Then only the concept of overall balanced growth will be successful.
What will happen to mandakalli the plan was super of expanision
It is time we had a circular metro rail system, more flyovers and wider roads, in Mysuru.
You do not need international airport, but good railway and fast and safe trains. No point in favouring those settled in Western countries and contributing there, to come and enjoy a few days holidays. But what is essential is to improve the local and regional transport for Mysoreans and those that have settled in Karnataka, not those settled in Western countries.
Spend the money instead in building good government hospitals where the poor and those those who cannot afford the rip-off private hospitals, get good medical facilities.
This is not needed.Mysuru already has an airport which can further be developed into international standards. Development of cities like Mandya, Ramnagar doesn’t have to happen with software companies.got to tap the potential of that particular city and develop it. This new airport plan is nothing but a way to make money by this bureaucrats and politicians.
Absolutely right megadooth
Our polititians should have been more matured and sensible in their decision making of constructing KIAL at Devanahalli. What was there at that time? No industries nothing. Now KIAL has a 2nd runway and a brand new terminal is coming up, at this time all of a sudden everybody starts feeling the need of a new airport at srirangapatna. If this was the case why was Mysore mandakalli airport developed? Our hard earned money which we pay as taxes is being used for all such useless projects. Just imagine the kind of development that south Bangalore, Ramanagar, Bidadi, Kengeri, Kanakapura, harohalli, maddur, chennapatna would have seen if KIAL had come up near Bidadi or Ramanagar then. What need to be focused is development of Mysore airport runway and convert that into an airport of great international standards allowing large and wide body aircrafts to land there in Mysore. How insensible is it develop an airport which can’t even handle a single isle aircraft like a320 or Boeing 737? It’s lot more simpler to shift the railway track which is right behind the Mysore airport runway and acquire enough land to extend the existing runway by atleast another 2500mtrs and develop the terminal. This should be the focus of ministry of large industries, ministries of civil aviation, KIADB, Karnataka state goverment and other relevant bodies.
I am not sure who recommended this proposal. This is going to be an absolute failure. The present airport in Mysore itself is a struggle. Rest, not sure why they have chosen this location. It’s very close to Bannimantap, a highly Muslim dominance area. This airport will only benefit them. Not being against Muslims, but let’s be aware what happened in Kavalbyrasandra and DJ Halli in Bengaluru. Am really sacred of Muslims now.
Is this some Gimmick? Why can’t they enhance the existing airport and make it more efficient and reliable? Similar things happened in Bangalore where Deve Gowda was the PM, they floated a memo regarding the final location to manipulate the land value! Once all his relatives made the money, the location was again moved !
Areas around SriRangaPatna have fertile farmlands.Focus should be based on setting up Industries that promote Agriculture motivating our Farmers by making their profession profitable.An International airport in this location will lead to conversion of these fertile areas into barren lands.Real estate prices will shoot up,international hotels would come up.The entire community with rich traditional heritage will perish.Instead any barren land in any other part of the state should be chosen.