<p>Bengaluru: When there can be multiple railway terminals, bus stands and Metro stations, why should Bengaluru have just one airport? Experts – who were part of a panel at the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/dh-bengaluru-2040-summit">DH’s Bengaluru 2040 summit</a> – weighed in on their thoughts with some panelists batting for more than two airports for Bengaluru, citing examples of cities like London, New York, Washington DC and even Istanbul. </p><p>Captain G R Gopinath, aviation pioneer, Khushboo Goel Chowdhary, Managing Director of Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (KSIIDC), M G Balakrishna, president of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Vivek Menon, Civic Activist and Serial Entrepreneur were part of the panel on ’How many airports does Bengaluru need?’ </p><p>Multiple airports, Gopinath said, will not only improve regional connectivity by design, nature and tender but also develop the hinterland. “While we need marble palaces, which make us proud, we must also have low-cost airports. London has six international airports including one in the central business district. We must have airports on the north, south, east and west of Bengaluru so it grows in all directions,” he said. </p>.DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit | 'Big concerts will happen, but Bengaluru needs a groundswell of local music', says Bruce Lee Mani, TAAQ.<p>Gopinath said the government should not have shut the HAL airport when the Kempegowda international airport was opened. “When Hosur airport comes, we should not object to it as it will be good for Bengaluru’s economy. We must have airports competing with each other,” he said. </p><p>Terming the terminal 1 and 2 of KIA “world class,” Vivek Menon said the connectivity to the airport is still an issue and Hebbal continues to be a chokepoint.</p><p>“What we have to do is focus on planning. Decades ago, Bengaluru South was initially chosen for the international airport as it is close to Electronics City, which is a big driver for growth and Harohalli industrial area. But it did not see the light of the day. The northern parts face water scarcity. When we identify the location for second airport, we have to see its environmental impact.”</p><p>Khushboo said a lot of parameters such as technical, connectivity and environmental impacts are being considered while selecting the location. “The government is yet to shortlist the location. Once that happens, it will be sent to the Centre for approval,” she said, adding that the opening of HAL airport would have no bearing on the plan to establish the second international airport. </p><p>Balakrishna asked the government to first create infrastructure like roads, mass transit solutions before finalising location for second airport. He said it will be difficult to widen the roads at the later stage as value of land would shoot up.</p><p>“The government must come up with a comprehensive plan to support industries and infra well in advance,” he stressed. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: When there can be multiple railway terminals, bus stands and Metro stations, why should Bengaluru have just one airport? Experts – who were part of a panel at the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/dh-bengaluru-2040-summit">DH’s Bengaluru 2040 summit</a> – weighed in on their thoughts with some panelists batting for more than two airports for Bengaluru, citing examples of cities like London, New York, Washington DC and even Istanbul. </p><p>Captain G R Gopinath, aviation pioneer, Khushboo Goel Chowdhary, Managing Director of Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (KSIIDC), M G Balakrishna, president of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Vivek Menon, Civic Activist and Serial Entrepreneur were part of the panel on ’How many airports does Bengaluru need?’ </p><p>Multiple airports, Gopinath said, will not only improve regional connectivity by design, nature and tender but also develop the hinterland. “While we need marble palaces, which make us proud, we must also have low-cost airports. London has six international airports including one in the central business district. We must have airports on the north, south, east and west of Bengaluru so it grows in all directions,” he said. </p>.DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit | 'Big concerts will happen, but Bengaluru needs a groundswell of local music', says Bruce Lee Mani, TAAQ.<p>Gopinath said the government should not have shut the HAL airport when the Kempegowda international airport was opened. “When Hosur airport comes, we should not object to it as it will be good for Bengaluru’s economy. We must have airports competing with each other,” he said. </p><p>Terming the terminal 1 and 2 of KIA “world class,” Vivek Menon said the connectivity to the airport is still an issue and Hebbal continues to be a chokepoint.</p><p>“What we have to do is focus on planning. Decades ago, Bengaluru South was initially chosen for the international airport as it is close to Electronics City, which is a big driver for growth and Harohalli industrial area. But it did not see the light of the day. The northern parts face water scarcity. When we identify the location for second airport, we have to see its environmental impact.”</p><p>Khushboo said a lot of parameters such as technical, connectivity and environmental impacts are being considered while selecting the location. “The government is yet to shortlist the location. Once that happens, it will be sent to the Centre for approval,” she said, adding that the opening of HAL airport would have no bearing on the plan to establish the second international airport. </p><p>Balakrishna asked the government to first create infrastructure like roads, mass transit solutions before finalising location for second airport. He said it will be difficult to widen the roads at the later stage as value of land would shoot up.</p><p>“The government must come up with a comprehensive plan to support industries and infra well in advance,” he stressed. </p>
