Karnataka Maritime Board CEO H.C. Balachandra speaking at the inauguration of CII Karnataka’s Port and Logistics Conference in Mangaluru on Tuesday, September 29.
| Photo Credit: H.S. Manjunath
While stressing on the State government’s focus on integrated development of ports and waterways along the 340-km long Karnataka coastline, Karnataka Maritime Board CEO H.C. Balachandra on Tuesday (September 29) invited investors to invest in the new projects approved during the Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on September 18.
Speaking at the inauguration of the day-long CII Karnataka Port and Logistics Conference, Mr. Balachandra said the State government was not just looking at the development of New Mangalore Port and 13 non-major ports in the coastal Karnataka region but also working on building stronger road and rail connectivity with the hinterland. It was also looking at efficiently using waterways, having ship building yards, and developing tourism in the region. The Maritime Board is committed to accelerating private investment in maritime projects and connecting the coastal region to the world, he said.
The State Cabinet approved nine maritime projects. It included the development of a multipurpose harbour at Manki in Uttara Kannada district; 12 islands in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model; three-star or above lodging facilities through the PPP model on the 1.5 acre land around the Mangaluru Light House; Mangaluru Water Metro; a green field ship building yard at Gangolli in Udupi district; and a passenger and freight ferry service facility in the waterways of the region. “We want investors to invest in these projects,” Mr. Balachandra said.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan said the government was looking at ports as the gateway to development. The government is keen to work with Special Economic Zones, MSMEs and other stakeholders to make ports and waterways more accessible. The government is also coming out with a Coastal Tourism policy, Mr. Darshan said.
Pawan Kumar Singh, convener of CII Karnataka’s panel on Infrastructure and Urban Mobility, said with urbanisation expected to grow by 15% in the next 15 years, it is necessary for the industry to be competitive and achieve a growth of 25% to match the needs of urbanisation. For this growth, the logistics sector should also become competitive, he said.
Guruprasad Mudlapur, CII Karnataka chairman and BOSCH managing director, was also present.
Published – September 29, 2026 08:05 pm IST
