By Shivani
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal undertook the projects worth Rs. 880 Crore for Dakshin Kannada district under Sagar Mala Youjana. Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament informed that the projects will be taken up in tourism, fisheries, ports and waterways sector.
Sagar Mala Youjana is a government initiative to strengthen the logistics sector of the country by helping it perform better. The programme anticipates unlocking the potential of waterways and the coastline to minimize infrastructural investments required to meet these targets. The project was introduced in 2015 with the aim to develop post infrastructure along with the 7,500 kms coastline of the country.
The central govt. new proposed projects include the construction of a jetty, a cargo and a cruise terminal for vessels sailing between Mangaluru and Lakshadweep islands at the estimated cost of Rs.350 crore. The project also includes building a road to the old port at a cost of Rs. 98 crore, construction of an all weather port estimated to be of Rs. 100 crore, setting up a floating jetty on Mangaluru at a cost of Rs. 10.68 crore. Beach development at Bengree will also be taken care of. Waterways development along with the Netravathi and Phalguni rivers is also estimated at the cost of Rs. 280.58 crore, tourist attractions will also be constructed at the coast of Phalguni river at a cost of Rs. 30.50 crore.
The total expected investment of Sagar Mala Youjana was estimated to be Rs. 70,000 crore during the Apex Committee, chaired by Nitin Gadkari in 2015.