BJP opposes Bengaluru's second airport in CM's constituency, bats for Tumakuru
BJP leader BY Vijayendra has urged the Karnataka government to consider Tumakuru instead of Kanakapura for Bengaluru's second international airport. He said the choice would shape regional development and should be decided through wider consultation.
The political tussle over the proposed second international airport for Bengaluru intensified on Friday, with Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra writing an open letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah opposing reports that the project could come up in Kanakapura and urging the government to instead consider Tumakuru.
In the letter, Vijayendra argued that the location of Karnataka's next international airport would shape the state's economic trajectory for decades and should be guided by the larger goal of balanced regional development rather than political considerations.
While welcoming the government's plan to build a second airport to ease pressure on Kempegowda International Airport, the BJP leader questioned reports suggesting that Kanakapura -- Siddaramaiah's Assembly constituency -- was being considered for the project.
"The location of Karnataka's next international airport is not merely a decision about land, infrastructure or air connectivity. It is a decision about which regions will receive new industries, investments, employment opportunities and urban growth," Vijayendra said.
He argued that another major infrastructure project close to Bengaluru would only worsen the city's existing challenges, including traffic congestion, population pressure, water shortages and environmental stress.
Instead, Vijayendra proposed Tumakuru as a more suitable location, saying it was strategically positioned, well connected by road and rail, and had the potential to become an industrial hub serving central and north Karnataka.
According to him, locating the airport in Tumakuru would help attract investment, generate employment and reduce the state's heavy dependence on Bengaluru as its primary growth engine.
The BJP leader cited examples from states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, saying they had successfully developed multiple urban and industrial centres instead of concentrating growth around a single city. Karnataka, he said, had failed to unlock the potential of cities such as Hubballi-Dharwad, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Tumakuru, forcing people to migrate to Bengaluru for jobs and education.
Drawing parallels with past infrastructure decisions, Vijayendra said the benefits of Kempegowda International Airport had remained concentrated around Bengaluru. Had the airport been built in the Tumakuru region, he argued, it could have accelerated industrial growth across central and north Karnataka while easing pressure on the capital.
He also questioned the suitability of Kanakapura, saying its location on the southern edge of the state would benefit only a limited region. He further flagged environmental concerns, citing the proximity of Bannerghatta National Park, reserve forests and fertile agricultural land.
Vijayendra also demanded greater transparency in the decision-making process, saying there was growing public suspicion that large infrastructure projects were being influenced by real estate interests.
"The government must ensure every major decision reflects the interests of the entire state, not the interests of a particular constituency or those who stand to gain from rising land values," he wrote.
Referring to Siddaramaiah's position as Chief Minister, the BJP leader said the project should not be perceived as favouring the CM's own constituency and urged the government to place the proposal before the Legislature for wider consultation.
He also pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had publicly backed the idea of locating the airport along Tumakuru Road, claiming this showed there was no consensus even within the ruling Congress government.
Vijayendra called for consultations with legislators, technical experts, environmental specialists and affected communities before a final decision is taken, warning that a unilateral move could trigger opposition even from Congress MLAs and become another contentious issue similar to the abandoned Bidadi township project.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID
The BJP's intervention comes days after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that Bengaluru's second international airport would be planned in the southern part of the city to decongest Kempegowda International Airport.
Shivakumar said officials had been asked to identify a technically feasible site where land costs are low and villages would not need to be displaced. He maintained that no final location had been selected but indicated that the project would come up in South Bengaluru, in line with earlier proposals.
The state government has shortlisted three potential sites, including two along Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road near Nelamangala. According to the government, the final decision will be based on technical feasibility, land acquisition costs and minimal displacement of local residents.
The proposal for a second airport was first announced in the Karnataka Budget presented in March, with the government saying a feasibility report would be prepared after consultations with the Airports Authority of India. Officials from the AAI have since inspected the shortlisted sites.
The political tussle over the proposed second international airport for Bengaluru intensified on Friday, with Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra writing an open letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah opposing reports that the project could come up in Kanakapura and urging the government to instead consider Tumakuru.
In the letter, Vijayendra argued that the location of Karnataka's next international airport would shape the state's economic trajectory for decades and should be guided by the larger goal of balanced regional development rather than political considerations.
While welcoming the government's plan to build a second airport to ease pressure on Kempegowda International Airport, the BJP leader questioned reports suggesting that Kanakapura -- Siddaramaiah's Assembly constituency -- was being considered for the project.
"The location of Karnataka's next international airport is not merely a decision about land, infrastructure or air connectivity. It is a decision about which regions will receive new industries, investments, employment opportunities and urban growth," Vijayendra said.
He argued that another major infrastructure project close to Bengaluru would only worsen the city's existing challenges, including traffic congestion, population pressure, water shortages and environmental stress.
Instead, Vijayendra proposed Tumakuru as a more suitable location, saying it was strategically positioned, well connected by road and rail, and had the potential to become an industrial hub serving central and north Karnataka.
According to him, locating the airport in Tumakuru would help attract investment, generate employment and reduce the state's heavy dependence on Bengaluru as its primary growth engine.
The BJP leader cited examples from states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, saying they had successfully developed multiple urban and industrial centres instead of concentrating growth around a single city. Karnataka, he said, had failed to unlock the potential of cities such as Hubballi-Dharwad, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Tumakuru, forcing people to migrate to Bengaluru for jobs and education.
Drawing parallels with past infrastructure decisions, Vijayendra said the benefits of Kempegowda International Airport had remained concentrated around Bengaluru. Had the airport been built in the Tumakuru region, he argued, it could have accelerated industrial growth across central and north Karnataka while easing pressure on the capital.
He also questioned the suitability of Kanakapura, saying its location on the southern edge of the state would benefit only a limited region. He further flagged environmental concerns, citing the proximity of Bannerghatta National Park, reserve forests and fertile agricultural land.
Vijayendra also demanded greater transparency in the decision-making process, saying there was growing public suspicion that large infrastructure projects were being influenced by real estate interests.
"The government must ensure every major decision reflects the interests of the entire state, not the interests of a particular constituency or those who stand to gain from rising land values," he wrote.
Referring to Siddaramaiah's position as Chief Minister, the BJP leader said the project should not be perceived as favouring the CM's own constituency and urged the government to place the proposal before the Legislature for wider consultation.
He also pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had publicly backed the idea of locating the airport along Tumakuru Road, claiming this showed there was no consensus even within the ruling Congress government.
Vijayendra called for consultations with legislators, technical experts, environmental specialists and affected communities before a final decision is taken, warning that a unilateral move could trigger opposition even from Congress MLAs and become another contentious issue similar to the abandoned Bidadi township project.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID
The BJP's intervention comes days after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that Bengaluru's second international airport would be planned in the southern part of the city to decongest Kempegowda International Airport.
Shivakumar said officials had been asked to identify a technically feasible site where land costs are low and villages would not need to be displaced. He maintained that no final location had been selected but indicated that the project would come up in South Bengaluru, in line with earlier proposals.
The state government has shortlisted three potential sites, including two along Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road near Nelamangala. According to the government, the final decision will be based on technical feasibility, land acquisition costs and minimal displacement of local residents.
The proposal for a second airport was first announced in the Karnataka Budget presented in March, with the government saying a feasibility report would be prepared after consultations with the Airports Authority of India. Officials from the AAI have since inspected the shortlisted sites.
The political tussle over the proposed second international airport for Bengaluru intensified on Friday, with Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra writing an open letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah opposing reports that the project could come up in Kanakapura and urging the government to instead consider Tumakuru.
In the letter, Vijayendra argued that the location of Karnataka's next international airport would shape the state's economic trajectory for decades and should be guided by the larger goal of balanced regional development rather than political considerations.
While welcoming the government's plan to build a second airport to ease pressure on Kempegowda International Airport, the BJP leader questioned reports suggesting that Kanakapura -- Siddaramaiah's Assembly constituency -- was being considered for the project.
"The location of Karnataka's next international airport is not merely a decision about land, infrastructure or air connectivity. It is a decision about which regions will receive new industries, investments, employment opportunities and urban growth," Vijayendra said.
He argued that another major infrastructure project close to Bengaluru would only worsen the city's existing challenges, including traffic congestion, population pressure, water shortages and environmental stress.
Instead, Vijayendra proposed Tumakuru as a more suitable location, saying it was strategically positioned, well connected by road and rail, and had the potential to become an industrial hub serving central and north Karnataka.
According to him, locating the airport in Tumakuru would help attract investment, generate employment and reduce the state's heavy dependence on Bengaluru as its primary growth engine.
The BJP leader cited examples from states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, saying they had successfully developed multiple urban and industrial centres instead of concentrating growth around a single city. Karnataka, he said, had failed to unlock the potential of cities such as Hubballi-Dharwad, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Tumakuru, forcing people to migrate to Bengaluru for jobs and education.
Drawing parallels with past infrastructure decisions, Vijayendra said the benefits of Kempegowda International Airport had remained concentrated around Bengaluru. Had the airport been built in the Tumakuru region, he argued, it could have accelerated industrial growth across central and north Karnataka while easing pressure on the capital.
He also questioned the suitability of Kanakapura, saying its location on the southern edge of the state would benefit only a limited region. He further flagged environmental concerns, citing the proximity of Bannerghatta National Park, reserve forests and fertile agricultural land.
Vijayendra also demanded greater transparency in the decision-making process, saying there was growing public suspicion that large infrastructure projects were being influenced by real estate interests.
"The government must ensure every major decision reflects the interests of the entire state, not the interests of a particular constituency or those who stand to gain from rising land values," he wrote.
Referring to Siddaramaiah's position as Chief Minister, the BJP leader said the project should not be perceived as favouring the CM's own constituency and urged the government to place the proposal before the Legislature for wider consultation.
He also pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had publicly backed the idea of locating the airport along Tumakuru Road, claiming this showed there was no consensus even within the ruling Congress government.
Vijayendra called for consultations with legislators, technical experts, environmental specialists and affected communities before a final decision is taken, warning that a unilateral move could trigger opposition even from Congress MLAs and become another contentious issue similar to the abandoned Bidadi township project.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID
The BJP's intervention comes days after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that Bengaluru's second international airport would be planned in the southern part of the city to decongest Kempegowda International Airport.
Shivakumar said officials had been asked to identify a technically feasible site where land costs are low and villages would not need to be displaced. He maintained that no final location had been selected but indicated that the project would come up in South Bengaluru, in line with earlier proposals.
The state government has shortlisted three potential sites, including two along Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road near Nelamangala. According to the government, the final decision will be based on technical feasibility, land acquisition costs and minimal displacement of local residents.
The proposal for a second airport was first announced in the Karnataka Budget presented in March, with the government saying a feasibility report would be prepared after consultations with the Airports Authority of India. Officials from the AAI have since inspected the shortlisted sites.
