COIMBATORE: The industrial hub of Hosur in Krishnagiri is poised for significant growth as huge investments continue to pour into various sectors.
Yet, the lack of an airport threatens to limit the city’s development. With the central government recently turning down a long time demand for an airport under the UDAN scheme citing concession agreement with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which restricts development of an airport within 150 km radius of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bangalore until 2033, the need for an airport in the industrial hub of Hosur in Krishnagiri has grown louder than ever in the electronic city.
Even though the state government is pursuing a proposal for an international airport in Hosur, it may have to wait, apparently, till the concession agreement with BIAL expires. Besides an incredible boom on the industrial front, Hosur has also bloomed into a production hub in the horticulture and floriculture sectors.
“Over 15 tonnes of flowers are sent daily to KIA from Hosur, and it may surge up to 60 tonnes during peak seasons, for exports to Calcutta, Delhi, Jaipur, Guwahati and across India. Inadvertently, the farmers incur an expense of a few lakhs every day for transporting flowers alone, while vegetables were also sent in considerable volume to KIA,” said Bala Siva Prasad, Director, Flower Council of India.
Farmers claimed that they cough out around Rs 4,500 for a load of flowers to be sent to the airport in the neighbouring state, which includes vehicle rental and labour wages. They say, not less than 60 load carrier vehicles from Hosur transport flowers from Hosur to Karnataka every day. It may go up to 100 vehicles during peak seasons.
Despite being one of the fastest-growing industrial towns, the people are burdened with long hours of commute to the nearest airport in Karnataka. Similarly, passengers going by a rental car to the neighbouring state have to pay a hefty amount for an interstate permit. Also, it takes up to two hours of journey that may stretch longer during peak hours.
Due to a lack of an airport and as well as proper train connectivity from Hosur, many are forced to rely on other modes of transport, including travel by car to longer destinations like Chennai and Coimbatore.
“Even though the UDAN airport has been scrapped, the state government should commence and expedite land acquisition and construction works to open the airport by the time the concession agreement with BIAL gets over in 2033,” said S Moorthy, president of Hosur Small and Tiny Industries Association.
In recent years, Hosur has made a mark in various sectors, including electronics, automobiles, defence, granites, horticulture, floriculture and other manufacturing sectors.
Next only to Chennai and Coimbatore, Hosur contributes immensely to the growth of the state’s GDP. “Until a decade ago, this region had a workforce of 50,000 to 70,000 people employed in various sectors. A remarkable boom has now surged the labour force by up to five lakhs in Hosur,” added S Moorthy.