Karnataka Seeks Centre's Approval For Defence Corridors

Bengaluru, Jul 10 (KNN) The Karnataka government approached the Union Defence Ministry on Wednesday with requests for establishing two defence corridors in the state and securing Indian Air Force participation in the upcoming Mysuru Dasara celebrations.

The state delegation also sought the release of Defence Ministry lands in Bengaluru for infrastructure projects.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and ministers MB Patil, KJ George, and Byrati Suresh.

Following the meeting, Siddaramaiah informed media personnel that the Defence Minister had accepted the request for IAF participation in Dasara and provided positive responses to the other proposals.

The state government submitted a formal memorandum requesting support for establishing two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in North Karnataka and South Karnataka regions.

According to the Chief Minister, this initiative aims to strengthen the Make in India mission, enhance indigenous production capabilities, and create skilled employment opportunities across the state.

The proposed North Karnataka corridor would encompass the Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Vijayapura districts, which currently host an established defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The South Karnataka corridor would focus on Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Bangalore Rural districts, regions with extensive aerospace and defence industry presence.

Siddaramaiah highlighted the strategic advantages of the South Karnataka region, noting the presence of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited headquarters, Tata Advanced Systems Limited's C130J final assembly line, and expanding maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations by Air India and IndiGo.

The Chief Minister described South Karnataka as positioned to become the epicentre for aerospace and defence manufacturing in India.

The state government emphasised that the proposed corridors would utilise existing infrastructure and industrial ecosystems, further establishing Karnataka's position as the country's defence capital.

Siddaramaiah also informed the Defence Minister that the Global Investors Meet Invest Karnataka 2025 had secured investment commitments totalling approximately Rs 10.27 lakh crore, with Rs 4.34 lakh crore already converted.

The state has previously hosted IAF air shows during Dasara in 2017, 2019, and 2023, which officials noted generated significant public interest and demonstrated the capabilities of India's armed forces.

The Karnataka delegation also requested the allocation of Defence Ministry lands in Bengaluru for the city's Metro Rail and Tunnel Road projects, seeking to address infrastructure development needs in the state capital.

(KNN Bureau)