Bengaluru, Apr 11 (Reporter) Senior Congress leader and former state Minister TB Jayachandra on Friday defended Sira, in Tumkur district, as a feasible location for Karnataka’s proposed second airport, citing strategic advantages. Speaking to reporters, Jayachandra said Kempegowda International Airport was established during his tenure as a state minister, and the site selection process then had also seen multiple proposals before consensus was reached under the leadership of former Chief Minister SM Krishna and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "We ultimately stood united and acquired over 4,000 acres for the project," he recalled. Referring to an agreement governing airport development, Jayachandra noted that no second airport was permitted within a 150-km radius of the existing airport until 2033. "Sira falls within the permissible distance and offers a unique advantage, being just 14 km from the Andhra Pradesh border,” he said, adding that many people from Karnataka reside in the adjoining region, fostering cooperation between the two states. Responding to comments made by Industries Minister MB Patil, who expressed doubts about investor interest in Sira, Jayachandra called for clarity in site selection before raising concerns about investor interest. "He (Patil) should not repeatedly claim that investors won’t come. First finalise the site. Once it is placed in the public domain, investors will come," he added...////...