Distance rule no hurdle for Hosur airport, says Naidu

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has clarified that the 150-kilometre aerial-distance restriction will not be applicable once an existing aerodrome reaches capacity, signalling greater flexibility for states seeking to develop second airports in high-demand regions.

- HD Bureau

Speaking after arriving on a validation flight at Bhogapuram Airport near Visakhapatnam, Naidu said the longstanding radius guideline was intended to regulate the initiation of airport development rather than block expansion in areas where passenger and cargo traffic had outgrown existing infrastructure. He told reporters that once capacity saturation is established, the clause ceases to apply, opening the door for states to plan additional greenfield airports to meet demand.