Defence Ministry Rejection Stalls Hosur Airport Plan Again

The Tamil Nadu government has suffered another setback in its long-pending plan to establish an international airport at Hosur, after the Ministry of Defence once again rejected the proposal, citing airspace constraints linked to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Officials said the Defence Ministry communicated its decision last week, reiterating that the airspace in the Hosur region is required for HAL’s operational needs. The airspace around Hosur falls under HAL’s control due to its aircraft manufacturing and testing activities in the area, making defence clearance a critical requirement for the project.

The state government had earlier sought relaxation of airspace restrictions in June last year, but the request was turned down. Following that rejection, a detailed representation was submitted in November by the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, including precise coordinates and technical justifications to demonstrate that an airport could function at Hosur without disrupting HAL operations. Despite this, the proposal has again been declined, sources said.

Senior officials expressed disappointment over the lack of dialogue. They said the rejection came without a formal discussion between the state and the Defence Ministry, which could have allowed Tamil Nadu to explain the feasibility of the project in greater detail and address operational concerns.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked the state to conduct an impact study after receiving site clearance documents. The study will assess whether the proposed Hosur airport could affect passenger traffic at existing airports, particularly Bengaluru and Salem. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation has been tasked with preparing and submitting the report.

The proposed airport at Hosur is planned as a large international facility with an annual passenger handling capacity of about 30 million. It is proposed to be developed over nearly 2,300 acres at Shoolagiri taluk, between Berigai and Bagalur, close to the Karnataka border.

Apart from defence-related hurdles, the project also faces a regulatory challenge due to an existing agreement between Bangalore International Airport Limited and the Civil Aviation Ministry. The agreement restricts construction of a new airport within a 150-km aerial radius of the Bengaluru airport, adding complexity. Officials said further options are under review.