Mangaluru: With the Karnataka govt scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on Sept 18, expectations are rising across the coastal districts. People and stakeholders are hoping for decisions on a wide range of issues, from basic infrastructure and healthcare to education, information technology and tourism.
Officials from the department of tourism maintained that 11 beaches in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada had been identified for potential development under the Blue Flag certification programme. The tourism conclave had also announced 45 projects involving investments of Rs 718 crore for the coastal districts under the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2024-29. However, several of the announced projects are yet to take off.
For the people of Tulunadu, however, the long-standing demand for recognising Tulu as the second official language remains a key expectation. At the Coastal Karnataka Tourism Conclave held in Jan, projects involving investments worth thousands of crores were discussed. The beaches include Someshwara, Ullal and Sasihithlu in Dakshina Kannada; Asare, Kodi Kanyana, Padukere, Kodi Kundapura and Shiroor in Udupi and Ballur, Apsarakonda and Ravindranath Tagore beaches in Uttara Kannada. Tourism stakeholders expect the cabinet to announce concrete measures to expedite the development of these beaches.
The project, planned on 3.2 acres near Blueberry Hills Road in Derebail, requires immediate attention and govt support, stakeholders said. In terms of sanitation, only around 65% of Mangaluru city is covered by an underground drainage (UGD) network. Nearly 35% of the city, particularly peripheral areas, remains outside the network. Officials estimate that around Rs 1,250 crore would be required to extend UGD coverage to the entire city. Tourism stakeholders seek action on 45 projects worth Rs 718 crore under the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2024–29.
The Coastal and Malnad Karnataka Tourism Policy, which is under implementation, is also expected to receive a push during the cabinet meeting. The proposed IT Park in Mangaluru continues to be a long-standing demand in coastal Karnataka. Ullal, which is also home to district minister UT Khader, faces a similar problem, with several areas yet to be connected to the network.