Minister seeks ₹600 crore for development of 12 ports

Ports in the State lack basic, necessary infrastructure

H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister for Public Works and Inland Water Transport, inspecting works of the first phase of the Asian Development Bank project, from old port to Kotepura in Ullal, near Mangaluru on Tuesday.

A grant of ₹600 crore will be sought from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the development of ports in Mangaluru and 11 other places, Minister for Public Works, Ports and Inland Transport H.C. Mahadevappa has said.

Speaking to reporters after an inspection of works at Mangaluru Fishing Harbour on Tuesday, Mr. Mahadevappa said owing to lack of grants, ports in the State lacked basic infrastructure necessary for development. “Not enough money has been spent in the last 10 years for the improvement of basic infrastructure at the ports,” he said. Hence, he was seeking ₹600 crore from the Chief Minister.

He said that following a report by an expert committee, the department had prepared a scheme for the development of 12 ports. The government has planned to first take up the work in Mangaluru and Karwar – the two major ports in the State. Then, the government will take up work in the remaining 10, he said.