Jeans park to be set up in Ballari, says Karnataka Minister Patil

Bengaluru: Industries Minister M B Patil announced on Thursday that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) would set up a jeans park at Sanjeevarayanakote near Ballari for which 154 acres of land have been acquired.

The establishment of a jeans park at Ballari was a promise Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had made during his Bharat Jodo Yatra before the 2023 Assembly polls.

On the potential of the project, Patil said globally-renowned companies are expected to establish their presence in the proposed park.

"Political uncertainty in Bangladesh has created an opportunity to bolster the jeans industry in Ballari. The unstable situation in Bangladesh has prompted investors and exporters to explore alternatives, and Ballari has emerged as a favorable destination. We aim to capitalise on this by attracting significant investments in the jeans sector," Patil said in a statement.

Ballari is home to over 500 jeans manufacturing units, which Patil said generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Patil said his department plans to develop the area into an organised export hub with assistance from the Textiles Department. Patil added that a meeting will soon be held with Textiles Minister Shivanand Patil to discuss possible incentive options for jeans manufacturing units.

After promising the jeans park during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul wrote to the industries department on August 1, 2023 about it.

CM Siddaramaiah had announced the initiative in the 2024-25 budget. "The project aims to elevate the jeans industry in Ballari to global standards," Patil said.