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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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
