US Consulate in Bengaluru: Site dedication ceremony on January 17

Bengaluru

In a major development, fulfilling a long-standing demand particularly among techies, business visitors, and students, a 'site dedication ceremony' for the US Consulate in Bengaluru will be held on January 17.

Sources told Moneycontrol that the ceremony to dedicate the US Consulate site in Bengaluru will be held at the JW Marriott on Vittal Mallya Road at 9:30am on January 17.

While the exact location of the consulate has not been revealed, sources said that temporary operations may begin at JW Marriott, where the United States Commercial Service (USCS) currently operates. Full-fledged operations are expected to commence later, once land is acquired for a larger campus. Visa issuance is expected to begin a few months after the ceremony, sources told Moneycontrol.

Also, read: US consulate in Bengaluru: Credit war erupts between Congress and BJP

Earlier, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti had announced that the US Consulate in Bengaluru would open in January 2025. However, the exact location of the new consulate has not yet been confirmed by the US Embassy in New Delhi.

Sources said that Whitefield in East Bengaluru is a leading contender for hosting the consulate. Karnataka’s Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure MB Patil had earlier offered land in Whitefield for this purpose.

Separately, the Australian Consulate in Bengaluru is also located within a private hotel, Ritz-Carlton, on Residency Road.

Also, read: Karnataka minister urges US Consulate General to set up office in Whitefield

The US Embassy in New Delhi is among the largest US diplomatic missions globally, coordinating activities with consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The addition of the Bengaluru consulate is part of a broader expansion plan, which also includes another consulate in Ahmedabad.

The establishment of a US Consulate in Bengaluru is expected to streamline the visa application process for Karnataka residents, eliminating the need to travel to Chennai or Hyderabad. These consulate openings are also expected to simplify visa procedures and enhance access to educational opportunities in the US.

Also, read: US new consulates in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru to further boost people-to-people contact

Meanwhile, Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru has achieved record 40 million traffic in 2024. This elevates its status to a ‘large airport’ globally, in line with the Airports Council International’s (ACI) categorisation for airports with over 40 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).