Tumakuru to become Greater Bengaluru? Karnataka Minister Replies

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara announced plans on Friday to propose Tumakuru as an extension of Bengaluru, referring to it as ‘Greater Bengaluru.’ This comes amid discussions about Tumakuru potentially hosting a second international airport for the state capital.

"In the coming days, we want Tumakuru to become an extension of Bengaluru, like Greater Bengaluru. We can call it Greater Bengaluru. I’ll propose this,” Parameshwara, who represents Koratagere in Tumakuru district told a regional portal. 

The minister’s comments came in response to questions about Tumakuru being considered as a possible site for a second international airport. Located about 70-80 km from Bengaluru, the district has been a focal point for industrial growth and development. Parameshwara noted that Dobbaspet, a town near Tumakuru, is being considered as the potential airport location.

"I’ve heard that the plan is to consider Dobbaspet, nearing Tumakuru, as the location," Parameshwara said. He has been a strong advocate for Tumakuru to host the second airport, citing its industrial significance. "We’ve asked for the airport to come up in Tumakuru considering the industrial developments...Asia’s biggest industrial hub spread over 20,000 acres is coming up in phases at Tumakuru. The hub will host big industries. Already, 150 industries have come. A Japanese township is also coming up. Importantly, HAL’s helicopter unit has started operations. We've also proposed a Metro rail," he added.

According to Parameshwara, these ongoing and future developments will naturally position Tumakuru as part of the larger Bengaluru metropolitan area. "When all this happens, Tumakuru will automatically become an extension of Bengaluru,” he stated further. 

In June 2024, the Karnataka government initiated plans for a second international airport catering to Bengaluru. The new facility, projected to match the scale of the existing Kempegowda International Airport, is expected to be operational by 2035. The airport, designed to handle up to 100 million passengers annually, will require around 4,500-5,000 acres of land.

Moreover, with Bengaluru's continuous growth, the government has decided to rename the Ramanagara district as ‘Bengaluru South.'