Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar directs officials to identify five cities other than Bengaluru for industrial development

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has directed officials to identify five cities other than Bengaluru for industrial development in Karnataka.The Chief Minister issued the instructions at a review meeting of the Commerce and Industries Department in Bengaluru on Friday. Mr. Shivakumar directed the officials to identify five suitable cities with airports and other infrastructure facilities for this purpose.“With the aim of creating job opportunities in various cities of the State, it is intended to encourage industries by providing special incentives to investors,” said an official release.To further strengthen the single-window approval system for establishing industries, he directed all the departments concerned to complete the approval process within the stipulated time-frame. He stated that he would discuss this matter with the Ministers concerned.Under the single-window system, 22 departments and 119 services have been integrated, with an emphasis on digital and timely approvals. Karnataka ranks ninth in the NITI Aayog’s Investor-Friendly Index.Measures being taken to attract investments from States such as Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh were also discussed. Consultations were held regarding the reforms that investors expect from the State, says the release.Officials explained that over the last three years, Karnataka stands third in the country’s manufacturing sector by attracting investments worth ₹5.58 lakh crore and efforts were on to further improve this position. Published - August 29, 2026 12:32 am IST