DK MP mulls ship tourism between Mangaluru-Goa-Kochin

May 3, 2015

Mangaluru, Apr 3: Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has said that a plan for the overall development of the district is being chalked out involving different stakeholders.

Speaking at an interactive meeting with members of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here, Mr. Nalin said that the promotion of tourism—cultural (religious), beach and educational, enhancing educational infrastructure, special agricultural zone etc., are some of the proposals.

Creation of water fronts near beaches and introduction of ship tourism between Mangaluru-Goa-Kochin are some other proposals, he added.

Road works

Mr Kateel said that the four-laning of the Talapady-Kundapura stretch of the national highway would be completed by this month-end, except three flyovers in Mangaluru—Thokkottu, Pumpwell and Nanthoor. The Thokkottu flyover should be complete by November.

Similarly, the work on four-laning Mangaluru-Karkala-Sringeri-Shivamogga National Highway is likely to start by December this year.

He said the Rs. 1,800-crore project would involve construction of a bypass road at Moodbidri and a new bridge across Gurupura River.

On the other hand, work on four-laning of the national highway between B.C. Road and Hassan, except the Shiradi Ghat stretch, would also commence by this December.

In a matter of three years, all four-laning works of NHs in the district should be complete, the MP said. As far issues regarding Railways are concerned, Mr. Nalin said there is a loud thinking to bring the entire Mangaluru Railway region under the Konkan Railway Corporation.

The modalities are being worked out, he added. Meanwhile, the Union government has sanctioned world-class station at Mangalore Junction, wherein the Railways would provide 60 acres of land and the Mangaluru City Corporation 30 acres. The station would come up at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,000 crore under public-private partnership, he said.

Responding to the demand for smart cities, Mr. Nalin said a port smart city is in pipeline while another private smart city on 400 acres too is on the anvil.

As far as government-promoted smart city, efforts are being made to send a proposal through the State government to the centre, Mr. Nalin added.

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Udupi school girl Shagun Verma Hegde to lead India U-15 volleyball team in China

coastaldigest.com news network

December 2,2025

Udupi, Dec 2: A wave of regional pride is sweeping through Udupi district as Shagun S Verma Hegde, a talented Class 9 student from Christ King English Medium High School, Karkala, has been named the captain of the Indian National Team for the Under-15 Girls’ Volleyball Championship.

Shagun holds the unique distinction of being the sole player from Karnataka selected to represent the country in the prestigious international tournament. The championship, organized by the School Games Federation, is scheduled to take place in Shangluo, China, from December 3 to 13, where Shagun will lead the national squad.

A Remarkable Journey to the Top

Shagun’s selection is a testament to her dedication and exceptional skill on the court. Her journey included several rigorous rounds of selection:

• She was the only player from Udupi district to qualify for the state-level selection camp.

• Out of eight players from Karnataka who advanced to the national selection camp in Pune, Maharashtra, Shagun was the only one to secure a place in the final national squad.

• The national camp saw participation from approximately 200 players, which was shortlisted to 23. Shagun not only made the final cut but was also ranked as the second-best player overall, solidifying her leadership role.

Shagun, who is the daughter of Sandesh Verma and Shruthiraj of Kallotte, Karkala, has trained under experienced coaches Santosh D’Souza, Jeevan D’Silva, Jairaj Poojary, and Ramesh. Her selection as the team captain has brought profound honour to her family, school, the Udupi district, and the entire state of Karnataka.

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International Airport in Udupi, Metro to Mangaluru…: Pontiffs present comprehensive Udupi development plan to PM

News Network

November 30,2025

Udupi: The pontiffs of Sri Paryaya Puttige Mutt, the sacred seat of Jagadguru Shrimad Madhvacharya Moola Samsthanam, have submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister seeking comprehensive development for Udupi district.

Proposal for International Airport

A key request is the establishment of an international airport. Highlighting that around 1,000 acres of land are available and suitable, the pontiffs noted that the existing Mangalore Airport provides limited international connectivity. They suggested the airport be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or as a Greenfield Airport to boost trade, education, healthcare, and spiritual tourism.

Metro and Rapid Transit Connectivity

The proposal also calls for Metro Rail or Rapid Transit between Mangaluru and Udupi. The 55 km coastal stretch experiences heavy daily commuter traffic, causing congestion. The district administration is ready to prepare an initial project report for a Mass Rapid Transit corridor and requested inclusion under national urban mobility programmes to ensure safe, green, and time-efficient regional transport.

Port and Coastal Development

The pontiffs urged the development of an international-standard port with a cruise terminal along Udupi’s coast. They also requested fast-tracking of pending coastal tourism projects and revising Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms to encourage sustainable infrastructure and hospitality investment.

IT, AI and Technological Infrastructure

Support was sought for an IT and AI Innovation Park with incubation facilities under Digital India and Startup India initiatives. The proposal also emphasized the need for strengthened data security and cloud computing infrastructure to boost India’s technological independence.

Sports and Education Initiatives

The pontiffs requested national sports status for Kambala, along with financial and infrastructure support. They also sought the establishment of an AIIMS in Udupi, a new IIT campus, and approval for an IIM to promote higher education in the district.

Representation to the Prime Minister

Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Pontiff and Sri Sushrendra Tirtha Swamiji represented the pontiffs in submitting the comprehensive development proposal to the Prime Minister during his recent visit.

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