Karwar: Belekeri port in Uttara Kannada district is all set to become one of the busiest in Karnataka. If the Central Government’s plan goes as expected, it will be the second major port after New Mangalore Port.

Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has already announced a plan to develop Belekeri port at an estimated cost of `4,000 crore.

Belekeri port is located 26 km from Karwar and is a fairweather lighterage port. It is open to traffic for about eight fair weather months. The port has got a vast stacking area and good network of roads.

A number of shipping agencies have taken interest to upgrade the port by developing their own infrastructure to handle export of mineral ore and the government has allotted land on lease basis.

With the Hubballi-Ankola railway line expected to be laid in the near future, development of the port is expected to open a new door for the growth of north Karnataka.

According to a note in the Karnataka Minor Ports Development Policy of 2014, the state has a maritime coastline of 155 nautical miles studded with 12 minor ports like Karwar, Belekeri, Tadadi, Pavinakurve, Honnavar, Manki, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Hangarkatta, Malpe, Padubidri and Old Mangalore.

Why does Belekeri port need development?

While most of the ports lack adequate facilities, majority of the state’s cargo is exported/imported by ports in the neighbouring states. This problem is highlighted in the port policy of the state government. The lack of development of ports has caused limited growth of agro-based and other industries.

This in turn has caused the socio-economic development to be dependent on the services sector (largely IT) and the broad-based development did not happen. At present, Belekeri port has three jetties developed by private companies. However, the state government has cancelled the lease of the land following violation of the lease norms by the companies. The port lacks basic amenities and hence, the new plan of the Centre has come as a boon for the port.