KKCCI asks Patil to speed up PM MITRA Park and revive GE plant
A delegation from the Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCI) met M.B. Patil, the Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, in Kalaburagi on Wednesday (July 22). The group, led by president Sharanabasappa M. Pappa and honorary secretary Shivraj V. Inginshetty, presented a memorandum to the official. Their primary focus was on two major industrial projects intended to boost growth in the region.
Speeding up the PM MITRA Mega Textile Park
The memorandum requested that the State government accelerate the construction of the PM MITRA Mega Textile Park in Kalaburagi. The chamber acknowledged the efforts of the district in-charge Minister, Priyank Kharge, and the financial aid provided for infrastructure development. Despite these supports, the KKCCI noted that the Kalaburagi site continues to lag behind other PM MITRA parks approved across the country. The group asked for the early completion of pending infrastructure works, statutory approvals, and utility connections to open the park as soon as possible.
The textile park represents a significant step toward decentralising industrial activity in the state. By establishing a dedicated manufacturing zone in Kalyana Karnataka, the initiative aims to distribute economic opportunities beyond the traditional Bengaluru hub. This shift could help address regional disparities, ensuring that the benefits of large-scale industrialisation reach areas that have historically struggled to attract major investment. The success of such projects often hinges on the speed of regulatory approval and the availability of basic utilities, which the chamber believes must be addressed immediately.
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Reviving the Shahabad Heavy Engineering Plant
KKCCI also asked for the government’s help in restarting the dormant GE Heavy Engineering Plant at Shahabad. The facility, established in 1965, has been non-operational for over a decade. It sits on more than 300 acres of land and includes an integrated township. The closure of this site has negatively impacted local employment and the ecosystem of ancillary industries that rely on heavy manufacturing.
The chamber suggested that the existing infrastructure could be modernised for aerospace, defence, and energy sectors. They pointed to expansion plans by GE Aerospace in India as a reason to reconsider the site. The delegation urged high-level talks with GE or GE Vernova to discuss potential repurposing of the facility. If manufacturing does not resume, the memorandum asked the government to explore legal and policy measures to ensure the industrial land serves a productive purpose rather than remaining idle.
According to the memorandum, the expeditious implementation of the PM MITRA Mega Textile Park and revival of the Shahabad plant would complement the State government’s ‘Build Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative by promoting industrial decentralisation, attracting investments, strengthening MSMEs and creating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities in Kalyana Karnataka.
