The Tamil Nadu government has formally approved the site for a proposed airport in Hosur. The strategic location, situated in Shoolagiri taluk between Berigai and Bagalur, has been selected after meticulous surveys determined its viability for a large-scale aviation hub. This critical step sets the stage for a project designed to transform the economic landscape of northern Tamil Nadu and ease the immense air traffic burden on two of the country’s busiest airports. This forward-looking initiative is poised to create a more equitable urban-industrial network, fostering sustainable growth and reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance road travel to major city airports.
The finalisation of the new site, approximately 15.5 kilometres east of the existing Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited airstrip, follows an extensive Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) survey. This analysis identified only a minimal number of obstacles, a marked improvement over an earlier proposed location near the existing airstrip, which was deemed unviable due to a high number of hilly terrains and high-tension power lines. This diligent approach to site selection demonstrates a commitment to both safety and efficiency, ensuring that the new airport’s development is built on a solid foundation. The selected site’s proximity to the Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), a major infrastructure project by the National Highways Authority of India, is also a key advantage, promising seamless connectivity to Bengaluru and surrounding towns.
The proposed airport is an ambitious undertaking, with a planned annual handling capacity of 30 million passengers. This far exceeds the current capacity of Chennai airport, which handled 22 million passengers in 2023, and positions the new facility as a major regional player. By providing an alternative for air travel, the project aims to significantly decongest both Chennai and Bengaluru airports, which are currently operating at or near full capacity. This decentralisation of air travel infrastructure is a crucial component of building resilient and sustainable urban systems, as it reduces pressure on existing hubs and distributes economic activity more equitably across the region.
While the project has made a significant leap forward, it faces a number of complex regulatory and logistical hurdles. The state government is preparing to submit the proposal to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for clearance, a process that is expected to take up to two weeks. Concurrently, the Krishnagiri District Collector has been tasked with preparing a land acquisition plan within six weeks, with a total requirement of nearly 2,300 acres. A major challenge, however, will be obtaining a no-objection certificate from Bengaluru International Airport Limited, which operates under a concessionaire agreement that restricts the establishment of new international airports within a 150-kilometre radius until 2033.
Despite these potential obstacles, officials and experts remain optimistic about the project’s long-term benefits. The new airport is seen as a powerful catalyst for industrial growth in Krishnagiri district and northern Tamil Nadu, a region that is already a thriving hub for manufacturing and technology. The area is home to over 500 large industries and 3,000 MSMEs in key sectors, and the airport is expected to attract further investment and talent, stimulating the local economy and creating jobs. This transformative project, though expected to take up to eight years to complete, is a crucial step towards building a more integrated, efficient, and prosperous regional economy.
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