Invest Karnataka: Volvo to invest Rs 1,400 crore at Hoskote near Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 13 (PTI): Sweden-based bus and truck manufacturer Volvo has decided to expand its manufacturing plant in Hoskote near Bengaluru city and has announced an investment of Rs 1,400 crore.
The company expects that this investment would create over 2,000 direct jobs.
An agreement to this effect was signed on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence ‘Kaveri’.
The process was completed in the presence of Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil. Principal Secretary of Industries Department Selvakumar and Managing Director of Volvo India Kamal Bali signed the agreement during the Invest Karnataka-2025 summit.
Siddaramaiah said on the occasion that Volvo came to the state 25 years ago, invested and started a change. Now Volvo is another name for high-quality buses in the country.
The chief minister assured Volvo of providing necessary facilities and assistance. In return, the company should employ more Kannadigas. This can achieve both security and economic growth for the locals, he said.
Volvo CEO Martin Lundstedt said the company has manufacturing units in Peenya, Hoskote and Pithampur near Dharwad in Karnataka.
"Now we are manufacturing 3,000 buses and trucks here per year. With the expansion of the Hoskote plant, we can manufacture 20,000 buses and trucks per year. This capacity increase will also create jobs and further strengthen the position of India and Karnataka in the global supply chain. In addition, it will be possible to meet the local market needs smoothly," the Volvo CEO said.
He said Bengaluru is Volvo's fourth largest international location. The Global Capacity Centre here employs over 3,500 people and handles Research and Development, procurement, logistics and financial services.
He told the chief minister that the company has a joint venture in Madhya Pradesh. The company's turnover has now crossed USD 50 billion per annum, he added.
"The new facility is expected to create over 2,000 direct jobs, significantly boost exports, and enhance India’s position in the global supply chain. Production capacity at the Hosakote facility is set to soar, from 3,000 to a massive 20,000 trucks and buses annually, catering to both Indian and international markets," a statement issued by the company said.
Karnataka-Volvo Collaboration Takes Another Big Leap
— M B Patil (@MBPatil) February 13, 2025
Volvo Group to Set Up 4th International Manufacturing Hub in Hosakote, Karnataka
Over ₹1,400 Cr investment | 2,000+ direct jobs@VolvoGroup has signed an MoU with the Karnataka government to establish its 4th International… pic.twitter.com/xPrqd1ZfnE
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
