Karnataka Identifies Three Sites in Harohalli for Bengaluru Second Airport
The Karnataka government has identified three potential land parcels in Harohalli, located within the Kanakapura Assembly constituency, for the construction of Bengaluru's second greenfield airport, according to sources in the Infrastructure and Industrial Development department. However, officials noted that the pursuit faces significant hurdles across all three shortlisted locations.
The search for land in Harohalli began in July following suggestions that the region offered lower land prices and potentially easier acquisition. Despite the initial outlook, officials have encountered several practical challenges at each site.
The first shortlisted parcel lies close to a residential settlement in Harohalli. Acquiring this land is expected to involve a lengthy process, and while base land prices in Harohalli taluk may be lower than in South Bengaluru, the cost of rehabilitation in the densely populated area is projected to be higher. Officials also noted potential local resistance. Moving the boundary further away from the settlement presents another challenge, as proximity to the Bannerghatta National Park peak could cause sound and disturbance issues for local wildlife.
At the second shortlisted site, a portion of the land has already been acquired for the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR). The third location features a massive hard-rock hillock situated in the corner, which could pose a barrier to runway construction. Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) officials noted that demolishing the large rock formation would be difficult and that vegetation surveys in the area remain pending.
A potential workaround under consideration involves combining portions of the three shortlisted parcels into a single tract, provided the STRR alignment can be adjusted. The Harohalli sites are located roughly 18 km from previously shortlisted locations in Chudahalli and Somanahalli near Kanakapura Road, which span 4,800 acres and 5,000 acres, respectively.
Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil stated that consultant firm Meinhardt-KPMG has been informed to assess the Harohalli location alongside earlier shortlisted sites in Chudahalli, Somanahalli, and Gudemaranahalli near Nelamangala. Meinhardt-KPMG is scheduled to submit its final feasibility report by September 2026, after which the Airports Authority of India will conduct on-ground inspections.
