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Mangaluru: Surfing extravaganza begins Friday; click here for schedule

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 25, 2017

Mangaluru, May 25: Bollywood action superstar and local boy Suniel Shetty was announced as the event ambassador for the second edition of the Indian Open of Surfing today.

Surfing1

The three day surfing extravaganza, that would witness over 120 surfers of national and international origin vie for top honours, beings tomorrow from 7:30 am onwards at the Sasihithlu beach, Mangaluru.

“Surfing is a thrilling sport which has now caught the eyes of the Indians. The sport has given a lot of opportunity to the locals around the coastal belt of India generating employment and revenue sources. It’s a great initiative by the Karnataka Government and Mantra surf Club in promoting our beaches and various adventure sports possible here. In its second edition, I can already see a considerable spike in interest amongst the locals as well as a lot of water sport lovers. It fills me with pride and honour to support the sport which I can proudly say has originated in India from my home town,” remarks Sunil Shetty about his association with the event.

The competition, which expects to see over 120 national and international participants, is a part of the ‘Karnataka Surfing Festival’. The championship is recognized by the International Surfing Association and Surfing Federation of India and is organized by Dakshina Kannada district administration in association with Karnataka Tourism, Kanara Surfing and Water Sports Promotion Council in partnership with the country’s oldest surf club, Mantra Surf Club.

“We are excited to have Sunil Shetty as the event ambassador. What adds on to the happiness is that he is also a local boy. Surfing as a sport needs this push and support for it to grow. The Event would not have been possible without the support of the Karnataka Tourism who, have made it a part of their annual Karnataka Beach Festival. I would also like thank Trip 360 by Cox & Kings, TT Group of Companies and Union Bank of India for lending their support to the event,” says Kishore Kumar, President, Surfing Federation of India.

The second edition of the ‘Indian Open of Surfing’ is open to public and is an effort by Karnataka Tourism to promote the state as an international surfing & water sports destination. Celebrities will be invited for the closing ceremony. The Government of Karnataka will be promoting the event nationwide with the intention of showcasing Mangaluru as the premiere surfing destination in the country. The event will also include some very interesting cultural and musical performances from local as well as national bands. A food festival along with activities like beach volleyball, Slack lining, and skateboarding and mixed martial arts demo would be the added attractions for both the surfers as well as visitors at the Sasihithlu beach.

Schedule for the Second Edition of Indian Open of Surfing:

Day - 1 May 26

• 7:30 AM - Surfing Contest Begins & continues till 12:30 PM
• 8:00 AM (Onwards)- Slack lining, Skateboarding activities will begin for the day.
• 9:00 AM (Onwards) - Inauguration Ceremony Preparation
• 10:00 AM - Inauguration Ceremony - Surfing Contest will stop
• 11:30 AM - Women's SUP Race - 1st Heat
• 12:30 PM - Lunch Break
• 1:30 PM - Women's SUP Race - 2nd Heat
• 3:30 PM - Finish of Day 1 Surfing Contest
• 4:30 PM - Stage Program Begins

Day - 2 May 28

• 7:30 AM - Surfing Contest Begins & continues till 12:30 PM
• 7:30 AM - Beach Volleyball
• 8:00 AM (Onwards)- Slack lining, Skateboarding activities will begin for the day.
• 12:30 PM - Men's SUP Race - 1st Heat
• 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
• 3:30 PM - Finish of Day 2 Surfing Contest
• 4:30 PM - Stage Program Begins

Day - 3 May 29

• 7:30 AM - Semi-Finals & Finals of all Men's & Women's Surf Categories.
• 8:00 AM (Onwards) Slacklining, Skateboarding activities will begin for the day.
• 9:00 AM - Interaction
• 12:30 PM - Lunch Break
• 2:00 PM - Start of Men's SUP Finals
• 3:00 PM - Finish of all Surf finals categories.
• 4:00 PM - Award Ceremony
• 5:00 PM - Live Music & Stage Programs Begins

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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