Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh requesting approval for two dedicated Defence Industrial Corridors in the state. Chief Minister Siddarmaiah in his letter has sought permission for corridors in the North and another in the South to accelerate domestic manufacturing and strengthen India’s strategic self-reliance.
The CM highlighted that Karnataka already accounts for 67% of India’s aircraft and helicopter manufacturing for defence services and is home to 25% of the country’s aircraft and spacecraft industry. “The proposed corridors will further cement Karnataka’s reputation as the Defence Capital of India,” he said in the letter.
Siddaramaiah added that the recently held Global Investors Meet, Invest Karnataka 2025 saw investment commitments worth ₹10.27 lakh crore, of which ₹4.34 lakh crore have already been converted. Manufacturing alone accounted for ₹5.56 lakh crore in commitments, with 62% already converted.
CM Siddaramiah urged the central government to extend support similar to that given to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in 2018, noting that these corridors would attract more domestic and global investment, create high-skilled jobs, and further the ‘Make in India’ mission in the defence sector.
He pointed out that the North Karnataka region, particularly Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Vijayapura, hosts key defence manufacturers such as Balu Forge, Aequs, Walchandnagar Industries, and others. “This 250 acre aerospace Special Economic Zone (SEZ) fosters a vertically integrated aerospace ecosystem. The aerospаce SEZ has the largest machining capacity in the country that delivers more than 1 million machining hours annually, has 31 operational units and employs 5000 people,” the CM said.
Similarly highlighting South Karnataka’s ecosystem Siddaramaiah said the hi-tech defence and aerospace park in Devanahalli, and the presence of TASL, Collins Aerospace, Dynamatic Technologies and others make it a natural hub for defence and aerospace innovation.
The CM highlighted that Karnataka already accounts for 67% of India’s aircraft and helicopter manufacturing for defence services and is home to 25% of the country’s aircraft and spacecraft industry. “The proposed corridors will further cement Karnataka’s reputation as the Defence Capital of India,” he said in the letter.
Siddaramaiah added that the recently held Global Investors Meet, Invest Karnataka 2025 saw investment commitments worth ₹10.27 lakh crore, of which ₹4.34 lakh crore have already been converted. Manufacturing alone accounted for ₹5.56 lakh crore in commitments, with 62% already converted.
CM Siddaramiah urged the central government to extend support similar to that given to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in 2018, noting that these corridors would attract more domestic and global investment, create high-skilled jobs, and further the ‘Make in India’ mission in the defence sector.
He pointed out that the North Karnataka region, particularly Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Vijayapura, hosts key defence manufacturers such as Balu Forge, Aequs, Walchandnagar Industries, and others. “This 250 acre aerospace Special Economic Zone (SEZ) fosters a vertically integrated aerospace ecosystem. The aerospаce SEZ has the largest machining capacity in the country that delivers more than 1 million machining hours annually, has 31 operational units and employs 5000 people,” the CM said.
Similarly highlighting South Karnataka’s ecosystem Siddaramaiah said the hi-tech defence and aerospace park in Devanahalli, and the presence of TASL, Collins Aerospace, Dynamatic Technologies and others make it a natural hub for defence and aerospace innovation.
