Karnataka's Bid for New Defense Corridors

Karnataka is making a strong case for its aerospace and defence industry with a bid for two new defence corridors, according to State Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M B Patil. Alongside Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Patil is slated to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to formally request the projects. The proposed corridors are planned for the Kolar–Chikkaballapura region and the Hubballi–Belagavi belt. Karnataka, a leader in India's aerospace and defence sector, has emphasized the necessity of these corridors. Patil highlighted the presence of key companies such as Aequs in Belagavi as evidence of the region's existing industrial strengths. He noted that Karnataka was overlooked when the government sanctioned defence corridors to Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Patil indicated that this oversight is acknowledged by the central government, with Rajnath Singh even referencing it at the Global Investors Meet—Invest Karnataka 2025. While Karnataka advocates for its share of industrial development, farmer protests have arisen over land acquisitions for an aerospace park near Devanahalli airport. The government assures that displaced farmers will be compensated under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. CM Siddaramaiah plans to meet with the farmers on July 15 to discuss concerns. Addressing actor Prakash Raj's criticisms, Patil called for Raj to also voice against land acquisitions in other states. He compared Karnataka's 1,282-acre project with Andhra Pradesh's far larger acquisition of 10,000 acres for similar purposes, highlighting disparities in land cost and use. Patil expressed concerns over potential industrial losses if Andhra Pradesh attracts more aerospace and defence companies due to strategic land allotments. He pointed out similar moves by Tamil Nadu to bolster its industrial base near Bengaluru. Patil concluded by clarifying his comments were not directed personally at Prakash Raj, but rather a call for consistent advocacy across states to ensure fair industrial developments.