As Tamil Nadu moves to secure site clearance for Hosur Airport, why state hopes it’ll be the next growth engine

“Two levels of approval are needed from the Centre, site clearance and in-principle approval. We’re moving quickly because these take time,” a senior official involved in the project said. The state has already identified land in the Berigai–Bagalur belt, chosen for its sparse habitation and favourable terrain, avoiding the densely populated Belagondapalli region near the old Taneja airstrip.

Even as the Krishnagiri district administration finalised the Land Development Plan, the government is preparing documents for submission to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. “The Collector’s report is expected in two weeks. From there, the land acquisition order could take about three months,” the official said, adding that they expect minimal protests since less than 10 habitation clusters are affected.

The Hosur airport proposal holds significance amid Karnataka’s plans for a second Bengaluru airport and Andhra Pradesh’s exploration of an airport in nearby Kuppam.

A strategic frontier

Hosur has long been Tamil Nadu’s industrial gateway to Karnataka, but its geography has also been a political and economic paradox. Barely 40 kilometers from Bengaluru’s Electronic City, Hosur has grown in the shadow of the tech capital — feeding it with labour, goods, and manufacturing capacity — while reaping little from its aviation and logistics infrastructure. The new airport aims to change that balance.

Officials said that the project’s proximity to the Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) will give it access to both Hosur and southern Bengaluru.

“The airspace around Krishnagiri is controlled by HAL, and we’ve written to the Defence Ministry seeking relaxation of airspace restrictions,” an official said. The state must also obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), which holds rights restricting new airports within 150 km until 2033 under its concession agreement with the Union government.

Notably, Fairfax Financial Holdings, the majority stakeholder in BIAL, has shown interest in partnering with Tamil Nadu for the Hosur and Chennai airports. Fairfax Chairman Prem Watsa met Chief Minister MK Stalin in April, signalling a potential thaw in the long-standing airspace impasse.

Hosur: From industrial town to global node

To understand why the project matters, one must look at what Hosur means for Tamil Nadu. A small highway stop in the 1970s, Hosur’s transformation began when the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) established its first industrial estate. Over decades, it became home to over 3,000 MSMEs and some of India’s biggest manufacturing and electronics firms, including TVS Motors, Ashok Leyland, Ather Energy, Tata Electronics, Ola Electric, Titan Watches, Rolls-Royce JV IAMPL, and TEAL (Aerospace and Defence).

Hosur’s industrial matrix now spans automotive, aerospace, precision engineering, electronics, and green energy sectors.

“Hosur is the next big growth centre, especially for EV and electronics,” Vishnu Venugopalan, IAS officer and the then Managing Director of Guidance Tamil Nadu, told The Indian Express last year, adding that the town’s industries are tightly integrated into global supply chains.

With electronics investments alone crossing Rs 1,000 crore since 2017, Hosur has evolved into a premium manufacturing node that rivals Noida and Pune in diversity and export value. Yet, what it lacked was a dedicated air cargo and passenger infrastructure. The airport, therefore, is seen not merely as an amenity but as a strategic multiplier, linking Tamil Nadu’s western industrial corridor to global routes.

Infrastructure and Urban Growth

The Tamil Nadu government has already laid the groundwork for Hosur’s expansion. SIPCOT Phase 1 and 2 cover over 2,000 acres, with another 1,021-acre expansion underway. A Rs 650-crore underground drainage project and a new urban development authority — the Hosur Urban Development Authority (HUDA) — are part of a master plan to reshape the town by 2046.

Hosur’s appeal also lies in its lower cost of living compared to Bengaluru. With rentals a fraction of the latter’s rates and a growing professional population, it is poised to become a spillover city for those priced out of Bengaluru. But this growth brings challenges: congestion, water scarcity, and uneven infrastructure. The Hogenakkal Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project Phase II aims to address future water needs as the population swells.

Political and economic significance

The airport project also carries political symbolism. With the 2026 elections ahead, Chief Minister Stalin is keen to project Hosur as Tamil Nadu’s next economic crown jewel, complementing Chennai’s industrial corridors in Sriperumbudur and Oragadam.

For investors and industries, Hosur represents a rare convergence of policy, geography, and timing. If all goes as planned, the Berigai-Bagalur airfield could soon see its first flights by the end of the decade.