India, May 16 -- A call by Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to reopen Bengaluru's HAL Airport for civilian flights has reignited a long-standing debate about the city's strained infrastructure and aviation needs.

Shaw's proposal comes amid mounting traffic woes and increasing demand at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), located over 35 km from the city centre.

"Given the huge traffic influx in Bengaluru and the growing demand to shift some traffic out of the faraway Kempegowda Airport, reopening HAL Airport for civilians makes sense," she posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

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Her suggestion was met with a fl...