2,500 coffee kiosks to be set up at Rs 25 crore: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): The state government has sanctioned Rs 25 crore to set up 2,500 coffee kiosks (Akka Cafe), which will be operated by women trained under SHGs, Minister M B Patil said on Thursday.
The initiative aims to strengthen the coffee value chain and promote economic empowerment through employment generation, he added.
The minister was speaking after inaugurating the India International Coffee Festival, organised by the Speciality Coffee Association of India (SCAI), at Palace Grounds in the city.
According to Patil, the Coffee Board, in collaboration with the National Rural Livelihood Mission–Karnataka, is providing training in coffee brewing, cafe management, and entrepreneurship to one lakh women associated with Self-Help Groups across the state.
ALSO READ: Mangaluru: Intoxicated bank employee creates disturbance at Kavoor police station, arrested
The government is also extending scholarships to children of workers employed in coffee estates and large plantations in Kodagu district, he said.
"It is encouraging that coffee growers themselves are branding their produce and showcasing it at the festival," Patil said in a statement issued by his office.
At the ‘Kala Loka’ outlet set up by the Industries Department at Kempegowda International Airport, coffee is being showcased and sold alongside more than 45 other GI-tagged products from the state, featuring distinctive packaging and branding, he noted.
The minister highlighted that coffee is cultivated over 2.2 lakh hectares in Karnataka, making the state the largest producer in the country.
Nearly 75 per cent of India’s total coffee production comes from the districts of Hassan, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru.
The Large and Medium Industries Minister said the festival has brought together growers, processors, exporters, roasters, cafes and hospitality service providers, equipment manufacturers, professionals, and consumers under one roof—a commendable initiative.
On the occasion, he visited several stalls at the festival, interacted with exhibitors, showed keen interest in various coffee varieties, and purchased some products.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Air India Express introduces late-night Bengaluru–Mangaluru service
International services at M’luru cancelled on March 7
Mangaluru: Air India Express will introduce a late-night daily flight service on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru–Bengaluru sector starting March 10, 2026.
According to the sources, flight IX 5971 will depart from Bengaluru at 9.25 pm and arrive in Mangaluru at 10.40 pm. The return flight, IX 5972, will depart from Mangaluru at 11.10 pm and reach Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, at 12.20 am.
The additional service will operate daily and will remain in effect until March 28, 2026.
Meanwhile, Air India Express has cancelled all its scheduled international flights from Mangaluru International Airport (IXE) on March 7 due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The Bengaluru–Mangaluru sector already has multiple daily services. Apart from Air India Express, IndiGo also operates flights on this route.
