The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to ensure that the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) grants the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NoC) to start flight operations from Hosur.

Tamil Nadu has proposed to launch commercial flight operations from an existing airfield in Hosur, 35 km from Bengaluru, under the UDAN scheme.

Tamil Nadu feels BIAL is sitting on the issue as the launching of flight operations from Hosur, which is easily accessible to people in South Bengaluru than travelling to the existing airport which takes nearly two hours, could affect it commercially.

The NoC is necessary since it was agreed between BIAL and the Civil Aviation Ministry that no airport would be allowed to function within 150 km of its premises for 25 years from the date of its opening.

In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami thanked him for launching flight operations from Salem.

“Similarly, Hosur is an important industrial hub in Krishnagiri District, which was selected under the UDAN Scheme in the first phase, and flight operations are yet to start for want of 'No Objection Certificate' from Bangalore International Airport,” Palaniswami stated in the letter.

The Hosur Airport will be an engine of growth to the industrial hub of Krishnagiri and neighbouring districts and also will develop the Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, the chief minister said.

“I, therefore, request you to kindly instruct the civil aviation authorities to make Hosur Airport operational immediately,” he told Prabhu and asked him to take necessary steps to bring flight operations to Neyveli as early as possible.

The chief minister also asked Prabhu to take necessary steps to start air operations at Ramanathapuram as expeditiously as possible by starting the bidding process.

Located in Belagondapalli village on the Thally Road, the Hosur airport is just 30 minutes from Bengaluru and is maintained by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd (TAAL).