Sky deck at Hemmigepura may put spoke in wheel of second airport in Bengaluru south

The data analysis shows that among people who have responded positively, 76% believe that the project will boost tourism in the area and will help the local economy. The rest say that it will create a beautiful public space and will make the community in the vicinity proud. 

The plan of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to set up a 250-metre tall sky deck at Hemmigepura may come in the way of setting up a second airport in south Bengaluru.

The BBMP’s plan to build the sky deck in the Central Business District (CBD) was scrapped after learning that the civic body would not get permission from Airport Authority of India (AAI) and defence authorities.

A senior BBMP official said, “Initially, we had identified New Government Electric Factory (NGEF) land near Baiyappanahalli metro station. About 10 acres of land was specifically identified in the NGEF property. The BBMP had also considered Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Limited (KSDL) land.”

But, when the BBMP learnt that getting a`nod from the AAI and defence would be difficult for both these locations, officials started exploring other possible land parcels in the city.

Thus, Hemmigepura came into the picture.

BBMP finalised a plot of land at Hemmigepura along the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) road. The 25-acre plot is owned by the NICE. The Urban Development Department (UDD) has asked the promoter of the company to hand over the land free of cost.

The government is also identifying land for a second airport. Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar is keen on building an airport near Bidadi or Kanakapura in south Bengaluru.