Bengaluru: A 2.5-km-long queue of customers formed in Bengaluru on Saturday to purchase special-edition watches released by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) to mark the 80th Independence Day.
HMT Chairman and Managing Director Ramesh said the company had launched a limited-edition series of watches on the occasion of Independence Day. The overwhelming response to the iconic HMT watches, which have a special place in the hearts of Indians, particularly Kannadigas, has enthused the company. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D.
Kumaraswamy, who is working to revive the HMT factory, said he was surprised by the strong public demand for the watches. “The sight of people standing in a queue for nearly two kilometres to buy HMT watches shows how deeply the popularity and legacy of the HMT brand remain rooted in the hearts of people,” Mr Kumaraswamy said. The special watches featuring the Tricolour and the Gandaberunda emblem were completely sold out, he said.
Later, in January 2026, HMT filed a final application with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to officially strike off the legal entity. HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) stopped its main watch manufacturing operations in 2016 after the Indian government approved the closure due to heavy financial losses.
“More watches will be manufactured and released by the end of next month. Customers lined up outside the HMT factory outlet at Jalahalli to purchase the watches. HMT has three outlets in Bengaluru, and stocks at the Jalahalli outlet and the HMT Bhavan outlet near Mekhri Circle were sold out within a day. “We all grew up seeing HMT watches.
We will also introduce high-quality automatic watches for sale,” he said. Kumaraswamy said he was delighted to see people queueing up to buy HMT watches. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I am working to revive this factory,” he said.
I am amazed to see that people continue to have such strong affection for these watches even today.
