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New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested approval for the establishment of two Defence Industrial Corridors in the state. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil, Minister for Energy KJ George, and Minister for Urban Development Bairathi Suresh.

The Chief Minister sought support for setting up one defence corridor each in North and South Karnataka. The proposed regions include Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwada, and Vijayapura districts in the North, and Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Bengaluru Rural districts in the South, all of which are well-suited for developing defence corridors, he noted.

Siddaramaiah highlighted that the North Karnataka region is already home to key defence manufacturing companies such as Balu Forge, Aequs, Bikar Aerospace, and Walchandnagar Industries, among others. Notably, Belagavi houses India’s first Precision Manufacturing Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which spans over 250 acres and supports a vertically integrated aerospace ecosystem. This SEZ boasts the highest machining capacity in the country, delivering more than one million machining hours annually, hosting 31 operational units, and employing over 5,000 people, he explained.

Turning to the South Karnataka ecosystem, Siddaramaiah stated that Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Bengaluru Rural districts have a longstanding legacy in aero space and defence. With Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) headquartered in this region, and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) setting up the final assembly line for the C-130J aircraft, along with expanding MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) operations by Air India and IndiGo, the region is poised to become India’s epicentre for aerospace and defence manufacturing.

He also pointed out that the region is home to the Hi-tech Aerospace and Defence Park in Devanahalli, which spans approximately 2,000 acres and houses key industry players such as Collins Aerospace, Dynamatic Technologies, Centum, Sasmos, and Bellatrix, among others.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the approval for these defence corridors in Karnataka would significantly strengthen the Make in India initiative by boosting indigenous defence production and creating skilled employment. It would also attract both domestic and foreign investment by showcasing Karnataka’s world-class supply chain and quality assurance capabilities.

Further, Siddaramaiah said the corridors would foster innovation through collaboration between industry leaders, research institutions, and start-ups, thereby enabling the development of cutting-edge defence technologies.

“Karnataka currently accounts for 67% of all aircraft and helicopter manufacturing for India’s defence services and is home to 25% of the country’s aircraft and spacecraft industry. Approving the proposed defence corridors will allow this industry to leverage Karnataka’s deep-rooted expertise and drive further growth in the sector,” the Chief Minister claimed.

Rajnath Singh, who received the memorandum submitted by Siddaramaiah and his ministers, has assured them that the request will be reviewed, according to the sources.