The state government targets advanced aerial mobility expansion with a dedicated testing facility in Chikkaballapura.
Karnataka is set to bolster its aerial mobility ecosystem by establishing a state-of-the-art Drone Testing Hub in the Chikkaballapura district.
The project, valued at approximately $5.1 million (Rs 42.8 crore), will span 19.26 acres in Jeedarahalli village, situated within Chintamani taluk.
“The hub will provide dedicated runways, segregated airspace and testing infrastructure for advanced drone technologies. It will facilitate testing and validation for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations, endurance, safety and certification trials,” said Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology.
The Drone Federation of India will act as the primary implementation partner for the site.
According to state officials, the facility aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial deployment. The site will support startups, commercial manufacturers, academic researchers, and defense entities in validating next-generation unmanned aerial systems, reinforcing Karnataka’s status as a regional technology centre.
