Karnataka to set up five aerospace, defence parks: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Nov 11 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday announced that the state government is developing five world-class aerospace and defence parks in strategic locations across Bengaluru and Mysuru.
He said the parks will offer “plug-and-play” facilities to drastically reduce setup time for industries.
“We are developing five world-class Aerospace & Defence Parks in strategic locations — Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru, Tumakuru and Chamarajanagar. These parks will offer ‘plug-and-play’ facilities to drastically reduce setup time for industries,” Siddaramaiah said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Collins India Operations Centre developed by Collins Aerospace at the KIADB Aerospace Park in Devanahalli.
The chief minister said the new 26-acre facility marks a major milestone in Karnataka’s journey as a global hub for advanced aerospace manufacturing.
“The decision by Collins Aerospace, a global major with over a century of aviation legacy, to establish this comprehensive centre in Bengaluru is a powerful endorsement of Karnataka’s robust industrial ecosystem and its future potential,” he said.
“Collins Aerospace is investing USD 25 million in Karnataka. This new facility will create over 2,000 skilled jobs in research, development and advanced manufacturing. Karnataka contributes nearly 65 per cent to India’s aerospace and defence sector,” Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying in a statement.
He described the centre as a “shining example” of a successful public-private partnership that aligns with the state’s goals and the national ‘Make in India’ mission.
Siddaramaiah said more than 2,000 small and medium enterprises are engaged in the aerospace and defence sectors across the state.
“Companies such as Mahindra Aerospace and Rangsons have made substantial investments here, and 48 agreements have been signed in this sector. Rangsons, in partnership with Boeing, is investing Rs 2,915 crore. The state aims to attract Rs 45,000 crore in investments and create 60,000 jobs over the next five years,” he said.
Inviting global aerospace leaders to invest in Karnataka, the chief minister added, “Our policies, our people and our proven track record make us the ideal partner for your success.”
Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil, who also attended the event, said this is Collins Aerospace’s first facility in India under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
“The unit will cater to leading global aviation majors such as Boeing and Airbus,” he said, adding that KIADB and Karnataka Udyog Mitra provided all necessary approvals, infrastructure and support to operationalise the facility.
Patil said Karnataka’s new industrial policy places strong emphasis on high-tech sectors such as aerospace, defence and electronics.
“The investment by Collins Aerospace is a historic milestone and aligns with the state government’s long-term vision. This manufacturing facility stands as a fine example of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and demonstrates Karnataka’s industry-friendly ecosystem,” he added.
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DSP’s red hair earns criticism, Odisha Police asks him to maintain decorum
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Odisha Police has found itself in a spot after some of its personnel, including senior officers, were criticised on social media for sporting coloured and unconventional hairstyles.
The latest incident was reported from Jagatsinghpur district, where a DSP-rank officer was trolled online for his red-coloured hair, putting the police administration in an awkward position, a senior officer said.
The officer, identified as Rashmi Ranjan Das, saw his hairstyle go viral on social media, drawing criticism from several quarters.
Some users termed the look "unprofessional", while others questioned whether such an appearance befitted a uniformed officer, alleging it undermined the authority and seriousness associated with the khaki.
"After finding the DSP being trolled on social media, I have instructed the Jagatsinghpur SP to tell the officer to maintain decorum and keep his hairstyle decent, befitting a man in uniform," Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Satyajit Naik told PTI.
Naik, however, said the police department has not yet issued any circular or order in this regard.
"We have told the officer to maintain decency. Everything cannot go by written orders. From constables to senior officers, everyone in the police service should respect the uniform and give utmost priority to decency," he said.
Another senior police officer said women police personnel across the country, including Odisha, are also seen colouring their hair in shades such as coffee, chocolate, ash, auburn, caramel and golden.
"One cannot issue an order to keep hair black always. There are people who have natural brown hair. This apart, greying is also a natural phenomenon. What can be done in these cases? Therefore, no order can be issued with regard to hair colour," the officer said, adding that it depends on individual police officers.
A woman police officer in the city, who has coloured her hair ash, said no law or rule prohibits such choices.
"We are in the police and perform our duties responsibly. People should not comment on a person’s hairstyle. We welcome criticism if we commit mistakes, but colouring hair is not a crime," she said.
A retired IPS officer said that while the police manual does not explicitly prescribe hairstyles, personnel are expected to maintain the image of a security force.
"Creating a controversy over a non-issue serves no purpose," another serving officer remarked.
