![Taxi drivers and owners welcome Hosur airport plan, cite benefits for south-east Bengaluru](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/l68zhf/article68360538.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/Ola_Taxi_04.jpg)
Taxi drivers and owners welcome Hosur airport plan, cite benefits for south-east Bengaluru
The Hindu
Taxi drivers and owners in Bengaluru have given their thumbs up to the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to establish an airport in Hosur, amidst ongoing discussions about its pros and cons to the city.
Taxi drivers and owners in Bengaluru have given their thumbs up to the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to establish an airport in Hosur, amidst ongoing discussions about its pros and cons to the city.
The Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association (KSTOA), along with other taxi drivers and owners’ unions, welcomed the initiative, noting that it will benefit cab drivers and residents of eastern and southern Bengaluru, who currently endure over two hours of travel to reach Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recently unveiled plans during the Legislative Assembly session to establish an international airport spanning 2,000 acres in Hosur, an industrial town located 40 kilometers from Bengaluru, capable of accommodating three crore passengers annually.
Speaking to The Hindu, Radhakrishna Holla, president of Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association, said: “There has been a significant demand over the past few years for a new airport in Bengaluru, as the current one is deemed to be insufficient in another few years. The new airport should ideally be situated in the southeastern part of Bengaluru to cater to the needs of residents in this area, particularly those employed in the IT and BT sectors. Now, the Tamil Nadu government’s announcement of the airport in Hosur will benefit the people of southeastern Bengaluru.”
Mr. Holla pointed out that residents of Electronics City and Bommasandra face difficulties reaching the airport, with significant inconvenience for both passengers and drivers alike. He emphasised that the Hosur airport plan would benefit people by enabling quicker access without the need to spend additional money on cab fares.
Despite Bengaluru cab drivers being happy about potential increased business and a hassle-free drive to Hosur from the southeastern part of the city, they anticipate needing permits to cross state borders, which they don’t foresee as a significant issue.
Tanveer Pasha, president of Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association, told The Hindu: “Cab aggregators may face challenges operating across state borders. However, regular cab drivers not affiliated with aggregators may find that obtaining an all-India permit online is now relatively straightforward, potentially mitigating any permit-related issues.”
![](/newspic/picid-1269750-20240704163536.jpg)
As part of this event, attendees will get the opportunity to meet experts from more than 12 leading organisations in Bengaluru and learn about specific actions one can take to mitigate dengue & other health-related issues. Some of the organisations who will be part of this event include the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), ARTPARK, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore Sustainability Forum (BSF), ICAR - National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI), Saahas NGO, Molecular Solutions Care Health LLP, Science Gallery Bengaluru and the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum.
![](/newspic/picid-1269750-20240704163413.jpg)
With the management, faculty and students of Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy (IIPE) in Visakhapatnam eagerly awaiting the opening of its permanent campus by July 2025, Anakapalli Lok Sabha Member of Parliament C.M. Ramesh on Thursday requested the Union Government to complete the two-phase project within the stipulated timeframe.