Karnataka to Establish Dedicated Drone Testing Facility Near Bengaluru Airport

Karnataka Government Plans Dedicated Drone Flight Testing Facility

The Karnataka government is set to establish a dedicated drone flight testing facility, spanning 10 acres in Chikkaballapur near Bengaluru airport, as part of its efforts to bolster the state's drone ecosystem.

A high-level drone industry consultation, chaired by Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge on May 15 in Bengaluru, discussed the proposal. The meeting, organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT in collaboration with Drone Federation of India, brought together startups, industry stakeholders, and ecosystem enablers to discuss infrastructure creation, policy support, and sector-wide adoption of drone technologies.

Accelerated Operational Approach

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The government plans to adopt an accelerated operational approach for the proposed testing facility, enabling early-stage access for industry players while parallel work on institutional frameworks, partnerships, and supporting infrastructure continues. This will facilitate the development of drone technologies and foster innovation in the sector.

Policy and Regulatory Enablement

The state government is also focusing on policy and regulatory enablement for the sector through streamlined approvals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and enabling frameworks for emerging drone applications.

Strengthening Talent Pipelines and Government Adoption

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The consultation also discussed strengthening talent pipelines, workforce training programs, and startup support mechanisms to build a stronger drone innovation ecosystem in Karnataka. The government aims to expand the use of drone technologies across sectors to improve governance and public service delivery.

Leading India's Drone Economy

Karnataka aims to lead India's drone economy by moving decisively on infrastructure, policy enablement, and real-world adoption. The government is committed to creating shared testing facilities, simplifying regulatory pathways, and enabling a strong ecosystem for startups and industry to innovate and scale.

Bengaluru Drone Festival Proposed

Another proposal discussed during the meeting was the launch of an annual 'Bengaluru Drone Festival', envisioned as a flagship event combining drone racing, hackathons, innovation showcases, and public engagement activities. The initiative aims to position Bengaluru as a national hub for drone technology and innovation.

Industry Participants

Industry participants included representatives from companies such as ideaForge, Asteria Aerospace, Aereo, Newspace Research & Technologies, and several other drone startups and ecosystem players.

Comparison of Proposed Drone Testing Facilities

Note: The existing facilities are not specified in the article, but this table can be used to compare the proposed facility with other existing facilities in the future.