Proposed Kuppam Airport Project May Impact Tamil Nadu's Hosur Aviation Plans

The Centre’s grant of site clearance for the proposed Kuppam airport in Andhra Pradesh could impact Tamil Nadu’s plans to develop a greenfield airport at Hosur. The two locations are situated less than 100 km apart.

The proposed Kuppam airport is planned across 1,200 acres with an estimated investment of ₹1,700 crore, according to the master plan submitted to the authorities. The project is coming up in the constituency of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Kuppam is a prominent border town in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, located near the tri-junction where Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu meet.

While the previous DMK government in Tamil Nadu was keen on developing a greenfield airport at Hosur, the present government has moved cautiously. Sources indicate that authorities have cited various hurdles, including clearances from Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) and the presence of Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited’s existing airstrip. Additionally, the State Government is exploring alternative possibilities of developing a greenfield airport at either Cheyyur or Gummidipoondi, awaiting site clearance from the Centre.

Geographically, Hosur is around 80 km from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, while Kuppam is approximately 130 km away. The development of an airport at Hosur has faced regulatory constraints stemming from the concession agreement between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and BIAL.

In a 2024 reply to MP VS Matheswaran, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu noted that the existing airstrip at Hosur was owned and operated by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd as a private airstrip. During the first round of bidding under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN, Turbo Aviation Pvt Ltd submitted a bid for the Chennai-Hosur-Chennai route, which was ultimately not awarded due to provisions in the BIAL concession agreement.

Under the agreement, no new or existing airport—except the airports at Mysore and Hassan for domestic operations—can be developed or upgraded into a domestic or international airport within an aerial distance of 150 km of Bengaluru airport until the 25th anniversary of its opening. Bengaluru airport commenced operations on May 24, 2008. Consequently, the minister stated that Hosur airport was excluded from subsequent rounds of UDAN bidding.

Beyond passenger transport, Kuppam could also be developed as an air cargo hub, potentially benefiting the numerous industrial units located in Tamil Nadu’s Hosur and Krishnagiri districts. However, this development may influence the broader aviation and logistics ecosystem that Tamil Nadu aims to establish around Hosur.

Commenting on the implications of the Kuppam project, J Krishnan, a Chennai-based freight forwarder, noted that the rapid pace at which Andhra Pradesh is pursuing new greenfield airports, relative to Tamil Nadu’s slower progress, presents a distinct challenge to the state's regional aviation plans.

"The intersection of regional infrastructure projects and regulatory frameworks highlights the complexity of multi-state transport planning. When greenfield projects are proposed within close geographic proximities and restricted by long-term concession agreements, state governments must carefully navigate regulatory constraints and timelines. For businesses and logistics ecosystems in regions like Hosur and Kuppam, strategic alignment with regional connectivity policies and cargo capabilities will be critical for long-term economic impact." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes