Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh invited aerospace companies to consider Andhra Pradesh after the Karnataka government withdrew its plan to acquire land for an aerospace park near Bengaluru following prolonged farmer protests.Posting on X, Lokesh described Andhra as a more attractive destination, citing a dedicated aerospace policy, best-in-class incentives, and over 8,000 acres of ready-to-use land near Bengaluru. “Why don’t you look at Andhra Pradesh instead?” he wrote, sharing a report on Karnataka’s decision.His remarks came shortly after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the withdrawal of the proposed land acquisition in Devanahalli taluk, citing agricultural viability and sustained opposition from farmers. Devanahalli taluk, near Bengaluru and home to the international airport, holds strategic importance. To boost the state’s economy through industrial growth and capital investment, the government had proposed acquiring 1,777 acres there for an aerospace hub, following industry requests for land near Bengaluru.Lokesh also pointed to Andhra’s planned 2,600-acre Space City near Tirupati, located close to key infrastructure like the Tirupati airport and Sriharikota spaceport, as a significant opportunity for the sector.Following Lokesh’s post, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya briefly praised his “business acumen” on social media. The MP however, later deleted his post. Karnataka's aerospace park project near Kempegowda International Airport faced over 1,000 days of farmer protests. The Congress government fulfilled its pre-election promise by cancelling the land acquisition, citing the need to protect fertile farmland and ensure inclusive development. - EndsPublished By: Preeja Published On: Jul 16, 2025