SOURCE: AFI
Aero India, Asia’s premier air show and a flagship event showcasing India’s aerospace prowess, has long been synonymous with Bengaluru, hosted at the Yelahanka Air Force Station since its inception in 1996. However, a growing chorus of private sector companies—key stakeholders in the biennial exhibition—has begun pressing the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to relocate the event. Citing persistent constraints in exhibition space and the chaos of Bengaluru’s notorious traffic during the show, these firms argue that the city’s infrastructure is buckling under the event’s expanding scale, hampering its potential as a global aerospace platform.
For private companies, Aero India is a critical opportunity to display cutting-edge technologies, pitch products to the IAF and international buyers, and forge partnerships. Yet, the Yelahanka venue’s limited space has become a sticking point. With each edition—most recently Aero India 2023—seeing a surge in exhibitors, including startups, MSMEs, and global giants like Boeing and Airbus, the exhibition area is increasingly overcrowded. Companies complain that static displays, pavilions, and chalet spaces are squeezed, leaving little room to showcase large systems like drones, helicopters, or artillery guns effectively.
Firms such as Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and Bharat Forge, which have invested heavily in indigenous defense manufacturing, have voiced frustration over the lack of elbow room. A senior executive from a private aerospace firm, speaking anonymously, noted, “We’re bringing world-class products to Aero India, but the cramped layout doesn’t do justice to our displays. It’s hard to impress potential customers when you’re jostling for space.” Posts on X echo this sentiment, with one user lamenting, “Aero India in Bengaluru is a logistical nightmare—exhibitors can’t even set up properly due to space crunch.”
The issue isn’t new. In 2021, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a key organizer alongside the MoD, flagged space constraints as a barrier to accommodating more participants. With India’s defense exports crossing ?21,000 crore in 2023-24 and private sector involvement soaring under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the demand for a larger venue has only intensified.
Beyond the exhibition grounds, Bengaluru’s traffic woes during Aero India have become a perennial headache. The five-day event—typically held in February—draws thousands of visitors, including dignitaries, defense officials, industry leaders, and enthusiasts, clogging the city’s already strained road network. The stretch from central Bengaluru to Yelahanka, a 20-30 km journey, often turns into a snarled mess, with delays stretching hours during peak show days like the public air displays.
Private companies argue that this chaos disrupts schedules, deters international delegates, and tarnishes Aero India’s image as a world-class event. In 2023, traffic bottlenecks near Hebbal flyover and the Yelahanka base reportedly left exhibitors and attendees stranded, with some missing key meetings or aerial demonstrations. Social media posts from the time captured the frustration: “Aero India is amazing, but Bengaluru traffic makes it a nightmare—MoD needs to rethink this location,” one user wrote. Another quipped, “Why host a global air show in a city where you can’t even move?”
The city’s infrastructure, despite upgrades like the Bengaluru Metro, struggles to cope with the event’s scale. The Yelahanka Air Force Station’s proximity to residential and commercial zones exacerbates the problem, unlike more isolated airbases that could offer better access control.
Frustrated by these challenges, private companies have urged the IAF and MoD to consider alternative locations with larger airfields and better connectivity. Potential candidates include Lucknow’s Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT) Air Force Station, which hosted the Defence Expo in 2020, or Sulur Air Force Base near Coimbatore, both offering expansive grounds and less congested surroundings. Other suggestions include Hyderabad’s Dundigal Air Force Academy or even a greenfield site in Gujarat, aligning with the state’s industrial push.
The private sector’s argument is twofold: a bigger venue would accommodate more exhibitors and static displays, while a less urban location would ease traffic woes and enhance the visitor experience. Companies also see a strategic upside—shifting Aero India could spotlight emerging defense hubs beyond Bengaluru, signaling India’s pan-national aerospace ambitions. As one industry insider put it, “Bengaluru has history, but Aero India deserves a future-proof home.”
The IAF, which organizes Aero India with the MoD, has remained largely silent on relocation demands. Bengaluru’s selection owes much to its status as India’s aerospace capital, housing HAL, DRDO labs, and a cluster of private firms. The Yelahanka base offers operational convenience, with its runway suited for air displays featuring jets like the Tejas, Rafale, and Su-30 MKI. Moving the event would require significant logistical retooling—new infrastructure, hangars, and security arrangements—potentially inflating costs.
Yet, the MoD has shown flexibility before. In 2021, it briefly considered shifting Aero India to Lucknow amid COVID-19 concerns, though Bengaluru ultimately retained the event. The growing clout of private players, now vital to India’s ?1 lakh crore defense production target by 2025, may force a rethink. Posts on X speculate that the MoD might bow to pressure if traffic and space issues persist, with one user noting, “IAF loves Bengaluru, but private sector money talks—watch this space.”
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.