'Big disappointment for south Bengaluru': Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on rejection of Hosur airport

Biocon founder and chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw received mixed responses to her opinion on X.

Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar‑Shaw has expressed disappointment over reports that the Centre has declined to grant clearance for the proposed airport at Hosur, a project that industry leaders and residents view as critical to easing aviation pressure on the Bengaluru region.

Reacting on X, Mazumdar‑Shaw wrote, “That’s a big disappointment to south Bangalore residents. Hope this gets compensated by the proposed Kanakapura site.” Her remarks have added momentum to a renewed debate over the long‑pending proposal for a second airport to serve Bengaluru.

Strategic alternative to KIA?

The Hosur airport project, proposed by the Tamil Nadu government, has long been positioned as a strategic alternative to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), particularly for south Bengaluru, where residents face long travel times to the city’s only operational airport. But, the proposal has once again failed to receive the mandatory clearance from the Ministry of Defence.

According to The Hindu, defence clearance emerged as the key roadblock, with the ministry rejecting the proposal on the grounds that the airspace over Hosur is required for operations of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). A source told the publication that the decision was conveyed through an official letter last week. “The Ministry communicated in a letter last week that HAL needed the airspace and denied the request. Now, the State government will begin evaluating its options on the further course of action and what needs to be done,” the source said.

Another official cited in the report expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of formal engagement between the Centre and the state government prior to the rejection. “It is disappointing that the request has been denied even without a discussion. If a meeting was held between the Tamil Nadu Government and Ministry of Defence, the government could have had a chance to explain,” the official said.

South Bengaluru needs a definitive timeline: Netizens

Kiran Mazumdar‑Shaw’s reaction echoed concerns voiced by residents and industry stakeholders in south Bengaluru, many of whom see Hosur as a practical location for a secondary airport due to its proximity to the city’s southern corridors and industrial clusters. Social media users responded to her post by urging authorities to fast‑track a decision on Bengaluru’s second airport, warning that prolonged indecision could hamper the region’s infrastructure ambitions.

“With Hosur off the table, the pressure is on to expedite the Bengaluru second airport decision. South Bengaluru needs a definitive timeline,” one user wrote on X, adding that proposals such as Kanakapura or Bidadi should not remain stuck in approval cycles for decades.

Others pushed back, arguing that airport planning should prioritise broader strategic and economic considerations rather than regional convenience. Some users suggested alternative locations such as Tumakuru, while others proposed expanding or repurposing existing aviation infrastructure, including assigning domestic operations to a secondary facility to reduce congestion at KIA.