A Second Airport at Sira: Proposal For a More Balanced Bengaluru by 34 MLAs
BM TEAM
As Bengaluru prepares for a second international airport, the question isn’t just about capacity, it’s about direction. While Kanakapura Road and Nagamangala are in contention, Sira, 120 km northwest of the city, quietly emerges as the smarter, more sustainable choice.
Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), though state-of-the-art, is heading toward oversaturation. With rising cargo loads and growing domestic and international traffic, a new hub is inevitable. The real question is: where?
Both Kanakapura and Nagamangala lie on the already congested, overburdened southern arc of the city. Home to tech parks, expressways, and expanding real estate. Adding another airport there is like pouring water into an overflowing tank.
Sira, by contrast, offers breathing room. Sitting quietly on the NH-48 corridor, with over 6,000 acres available and zero airspace interference, it opens a new frontier for growth. It’s far enough from KIA to meet aviation norms, yet well-connected to Bengaluru and beyond. AAI is already conducting feasibility surveys.
But choosing Sira isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about equity. It brings Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka closer to the national grid. Long-neglected districts like Ballari, Raichur, Davanagere, Chitradurga, and Bidar could finally find lifelines for trade, tourism, and talent.
Sira helps distribute traffic, population, and prosperity North-Westward, a strategic nudge toward balance. It offers what no other location does: a shift in the growth story.
The push for Sira has gathered political momentum. “I have received a petition signed by 34 MLAs that the international airport should come up at Sira. I have given it to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.We will mount pressure on the Union government,” said BJP MLA V. Somanna, backing the town as the ideal site.
Senior Congress leader T.B. Jayachandra echoed the sentiment, stating that 42 legislators across party lines, including those from Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Belagavi, and Ballari, have petitioned the Chief Minister in favour of Sira.
In choosing Sira, Karnataka isn’t just building an airport. It’s laying a runway for inclusive, future-ready development. It brings strategic value to hinterland Karnataka.
Let’s hope this flight takes off in the right direction.
