Karnataka Cabinet Approves Rs 32,611 Crore Package in Mangaluru Outreach Meet
The Karnataka State Cabinet approved development projects worth Rs 32,611 crore during an outreach meeting held recently in Mangaluru. The sanctioned package directs major funding toward coastal infrastructure, healthcare, rural development, and public services as part of an effort to extend administrative decision-making beyond Bengaluru.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar detailed plans to conduct 10 to 12 such meetings across the state to address regional aspirations directly rather than through occasional interventions from the capital. Similar Cabinet meetings have previously taken place in Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Male Mahadeshwara Hills. During his visit to the Malnad region to speak with locals regarding the Kasturirangan panel report, Shivakumar noted that holding meetings solely in Bengaluru does not serve the purpose.
A significant portion of the approved expenditure is aimed at coastal connectivity and logistics. The Cabinet approved a 343-km coastal ferry system alongside the Rs 6,925-crore Manki multipurpose port and shipyard project. The package also incorporates a feasibility study for a water metro in Mangaluru and clears the expansion of the Karwar airport.
Healthcare infrastructure in the coastal belt received multiple allocations under the plan. The Cabinet cleared proposals to set up Kidwai and Jayadeva healthcare facilities in Mangaluru to expand specialised medical services. Additionally, the state sanctioned Rs 425 crore specifically for the Puttur Medical College.
To support economic growth, the government approved a new Coastal-Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy and proposed the creation of a fisheries and blue economy university. Culturally, the Cabinet decided to recognise Tulu as an additional administrative language across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, addressing a long-standing demand.
The government also moved a proposal to rename Dakshina Kannada as Mangaluru district, which is now scheduled to undergo a public consultation process. The meeting was preceded by a political roadshow through Mangaluru, situated in a coastal region where the Congress party secured two of the 13 Assembly seats in 2023 while the Bharatiya Janata Party won 11.
