Tamil Nadu moves forward on Hosur airport, OSL survey next step

Chennai: In the final step before selecting the site for the Hosur airport, the Tamil Nadu government is in the process of finalising a consultant to conduct an Obstacle Limitation Surface (OSL) survey to ascertain the air space in the region, which is controlled by the Ministry of Defence. The consultant will be chosen within weeks and the study, expected to take a month, will commence.

The development comes after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) found both sites — villages close to the private airport owned by Taneja Aviation and Aerospace Limited (TAAL) in Belagondapalli, and another near the Chennai-Bengaluru highway — as suitable for building the greenfield airport.

“The next step is the OSL survey to assess the airspace at the shortlisted sites. The entire airspace in the region is controlled by the Ministry of Defence, requiring a detailed study,” a source familiar with the matter told DH.

OSL survey covers a radius of up to 20 km from the proposed runway’s reference point and uses modern equipment to measure the height and location of obstacles. Both proposed sites are near sensitive defence-controlled airspace, as Bengaluru is home to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The source added that the Tamil Nadu government has already written to the Defence Ministry seeking permission for relaxation of the airspace in Hosur for commercial operations. “The permission will take longer due to the processes and sensitivities involved. However, as a first step, we will conduct the OLS survey,” the source said.

Another source said the government will thoroughly review the OLS survey before selecting a location.

“If the survey indicates that only one location’s airspace is feasible for operations, we will choose that location. If both sites are suitable, we will need to make a decision,” the second source added.

The AAI, in its report, spoke about the merits and demerits of both the locations shortlisted from five locations proposed by the Tamil Nadu government after it announced plans to construct a greenfield airport in Hosur.

In a parallel development, the TN government is also in touch with TAAL to convert its facility into Hosur Airport through a joint venture to develop the airport. One of the shortlisted sites is adjacent to the TAAL airport.