Mangaluru : Karnataka is shifting from conventional port development to an integrated maritime growth model to fully leverage its 343-km coastline, Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) CEO Balachandra HC said at the second edition of the CII Karnataka Port and Logistics Conference on Tuesday.
The state govt has approved maritime projects worth an estimated Rs 8,437 crore, including a Rs 6,925-crore multipurpose port and shipbuilding facility at Manki. Citing 7.8% economic growth in the latest quarter, Singh said capital expenditure had risen from Rs 2 lakh crore to Rs 12 lakh crore over the past 12 years, while infrastructure spending increased from 1% to 4% of GDP.
Balachandra said public-private partnerships would be crucial in implementing the projects by combining govt support with private capital, technology and operational expertise. Pawan Kumar Singh, convener of the CII Infrastructure and Urban Mobility Panel and executive director, Transportation and Electronics Business Group, 3M India Ltd, said India’s economy had remained resilient despite global geopolitical challenges and rising input costs. He said infrastructure and lower logistics costs would be critical to improving India’s global manufacturing competitiveness.
The initiatives cover ports, logistics, shipbuilding, tourism, mobility, investment and employment. He stressed stronger road and rail links, better integration between ports and industrial clusters, greater use of coastal shipping and inland waterways, and digital systems to improve cargo visibility and reduce turnaround time. KMB’s priorities include strengthening multimodal connectivity between ports and the hinterland, developing industry-specific logistics solutions, accelerating private investment in maritime infrastructure, promoting coastal shipping and inland waterways, and improving transparency and predictability through technology. These priorities align with PM Gati Shakti, the National Logistics Policy and the Sagarmala programme.