Mangaluru to get three new projects at Rs 695 crore budget under PM Gati Shakti: NMPA
Mangaluru: The New Mangalore Port Authority Chairman, Dr A V Ramana on Tuesday said that three new projects will be implemented at a cost of Rs 695 crores under PM Gati Shakti.
The projects include mechanization of Berth No.14 for handling container and other cargos in DBFOT basis in collaboration with JSW, at a cost of Rs 281 crores, construction of new Berth No.17 for handling bulk & dry-bulk cargos at Rs 217 crores and construction of fishing harbour at Kulai at Rs 197 crores.
The PM Gati Shakti was launched in October 2021 at a cost of Rs 100 lakh crores as a National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity aimed at developing infrastructure while reducing logistics costs and boost economy. This includes 16 various ministries such as shipping, waterways, railways, roadways and so on for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
Speaking at the press meet here, Dr A V Ramana noted that the PM Gati Shakti incorporates the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Inland Waterways, Dry/Land Ports, UDAN, textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defense corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters and Agri-zones. He also said that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has identified 101 projects under the National Master Plan to enhance port connectivity with consumption and production centres.
Adding to it, he noted that as many as 111 waterways sprawling in 24 states across the country have been declared as National waterways.
“Due to semi-mechanized handling of containers, there was tremendous need for the augmentation of the port capacity in handling containers. Mechanized handling of containers at Berth No. 14 will satisfy this and boot the economy of Karnataka’s hinterlands,” he said.
Further, he added that NMPA has signed a Concession Agreement with JSW Infrastructure Limited to develop and operate container terminal on PPP model at a cost of Rs 281 crores which will generate a considerable amount of direct and indirect employment.
“As the containers are clean cargo, higher containerization will lead to environmental benefits for the port maritime and shore ecosystems. The mechanization is also expected to increase efficiency and thereby reduce turnaround time, pre-berthing delay and dwell time in the Port. Thus, mechanization facilitates multi-modal connectivity by reducing logistics cost and seamless supply,” said Dr A V Ramana.
Explaining the need for mechanization, he further noted that the Port will need a deep draft Berth to handle the dry bulk and break-bulk cargos arriving through large ships of 60,000 dwt and above.
“The modern-day vessel sizes require 14 meters draft or above and lack thereof would bring down the trade potential of the hinterland. As it is necessary to build sufficient infrastructure so that the trade can be facilitated, the Port proposed to construct a new Berth No.17 for multi-purpose cargo handling,” he said.
Also, he added that the estimated cost of the project is expected to generate employment opportunities to around 2000 people. As per the DPR, berth number 17 is expected to handle 131 vessels for different types of bulk cargo and generate total tonnage of 4.73 MTPA. The Port stands to earn wharfage amount of Rs 16.52 crore and VR income of Rs 17.92 crore. According to the aims of the project, the implementation of it will satisfy the requirement and provide necessary infrastructure for improving trade and employment in the region.
In addition to it, the NMPA is working towards construction of a Fishing Harbour at Kulai near the Port vicinity at a cost of Rs 197 crores.
“It will contribute to increasing the fish and crustacean supplies to domestic and foreign markets. The project is estimated to employ 2720 sea-going fishermen and 1280 persons in shore-based establishments and allied industries. Fishermen are expected to earn an income of about Rs 55.27 crores. The sale of fish and other products will bring in revenue of Rs 192.20 crore with an export bill of Rs 33.88 crores,” said the NMPA Chairman.
He added that, “the project will decongest the over-crowded old fishing harbour at Mangaluru and offer safe sanctuary for fishing boats, especially during monsoon and rough sea conditions.”
The Kulai fisheries harbour is expected to handle about 27,100 tons of fish valued at Rs 172.56 crore at boat side prices, bestowing socio-economic benefit to the society.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
