Jithender Reddy Seeks Defence Corridor Status for Hyderabad-Bengaluru Route

A.P. Jithender Reddy, Special Representative of the Government of Telangana and Advisor to the Government for Sports Affairs, met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his official residence in New Delhi to advocate for the formal notification of the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Defence Industrial Corridor.

The meeting aimed to secure central recognition for the route as an official Defence and Aerospace Corridor of the Government of India. During the interaction, Jithender Reddy was accompanied by Khammam Member of Parliament R. Raghuram Reddy and Mahabubabad Member of Parliament Sri Balram Naik.

During the discussion, Jithender Reddy reiterated a previous request submitted by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The state leadership is seeking to establish the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Defence Industrial Corridor on par with existing national defence corridors operating in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Jithender Reddy highlighted Hyderabad's critical position as one of the country's largest aerospace and defence manufacturing hubs. He noted that the region houses more than a dozen major defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) along with multiple strategic laboratories operated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Beyond large public sector institutions, the state ecosystem supports over 1,500 aerospace and defence micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Demonstrating the sector's momentum, Telangana recorded a 100 per cent growth rate in aerospace and defence exports during the 2025–26 fiscal year.

According to Jithender Reddy, formally notifying the Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor would bolster indigenous defence manufacturing and accelerate technological research and development. Furthermore, official recognition would facilitate targeted infrastructure creation, enhance capacity building, and boost national defence preparedness while supporting the Union Government's Make in India initiative.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded positively to the representation submitted by the Telangana delegation and assured them that the proposal to notify the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Defence Industrial Corridor would be duly considered by the Centre.