BHATKAL: Bhatkal and the wider Uttara Kannada region are set to figure prominently in a series of projects approved at the Karnataka Cabinet’s special meeting in Mangaluru, with eco-tourism development on two Bhatkal islands, a Rs 6,925-crore multipurpose port and shipbuilding centre at Manki in neighbouring Honnavar taluk, and expansion of Karwar airport among the key decisions.
The Cabinet approved projects and proposals worth Rs 32,611 crore at its September 18 meeting, covering rural development, infrastructure and a range of initiatives for the coastal region.
For Bhatkal, the most direct proposal is the inclusion of Hog and Kirikund islands in a Rs 307.71-crore eco-tourism project covering seven islands in Uttara Kannada.
The seven islands — Madhyalingad, Devgad, Hog, Mongergudda, Kirikund, Ankane Cheggudu and Kurumgad — are located across Karwar, Bhatkal and Ankola taluks. Hog and Kirikund are in Bhatkal taluk, while the remaining five are in Karwar and Ankola.
The project covers about 59 acres and 31 guntas and will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis, subject to statutory approvals.
The development of the two Bhatkal islands could add new tourism infrastructure to a taluk that has a long coastline and several tourism attractions. However, the specific facilities and activities to be developed on each island will be determined through subsequent planning and statutory approvals.
Manki port
Another major project with potential implications for Bhatkal and the surrounding coastal belt is the proposed multipurpose port and shipbuilding centre at Manki in Honnavar taluk, estimated to cost Rs 6,925 crore.
The project will be developed under the PPP model on a DBFOT basis and will have a capacity of 15 million tonnes per annum. The government estimates that it could create about 44,800 direct and indirect employment opportunities, provide an economic stimulus of around Rs 28,000 crore and generate assured government revenue of Rs 2,902.69 crore.
The proposed Manki port and shipbuilding facility, located roughly 25 km from Bhatkal, could create opportunities in logistics, transportation, shipbuilding and allied activities along the Bhatkal-Honnavar coastal belt, although the actual local impact will depend on its implementation and associated infrastructure.
Karwar airport expansion
The Cabinet has also revised the estimated cost of the Karwar airport expansion from Rs 98.24 crore to Rs 250.05 crore. The runway is proposed to be extended from 2,000 metres to 3,250 metres to facilitate operations by larger aircraft, including Airbus A320 aircraft. The expansion is subject to the required statutory clearances, including approval from the Indian Navy.
Improved air connectivity at Karwar could provide an additional transport option for northern coastal Karnataka, including Uttara Kannada’s tourism and business sectors.
343-km coastal ferry system
The Cabinet has given in-principle approval for a 343-km Coastal Passenger Ferry System connecting 12 coastal centres. The proposed network will run from Mangaluru towards Maravanthe, Murdeshwar, Gokarna and Karwar.
If implemented, the network could provide an additional passenger and tourism connectivity option for Bhatkal and other coastal towns.
Fisheries and marine zones
The Cabinet has also sanctioned Rs 20 crore for fisheries-related roads and connectivity infrastructure in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada. The government has also decided to notify the coastal areas of the three districts as Special Marine Zones to expand fisheries-related economic activity.
Education
In the education sector, 17 Karnataka Public Schools in Uttara Kannada are among the schools planned across the coastal districts, as part of a combined estimated investment of Rs 245 crore.
Taken together, the decisions place Bhatkal and Uttara Kannada within a broader package focused on tourism, port infrastructure, connectivity, fisheries and education across Karnataka’s coastal belt.