Mangaluru: The Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) will soon develop a park on 84 cents of land near the bridge-cum-saltwater exclusion dam at Harekala in district minister UT Khader’s constituency. The bridge-cum-barrage connecting Harekala and Adyar was built at an estimated cost of Rs 192 crore.MUDA chairman Santhosh Kumar Shetty said the tender process for the project, estimated to cost around Rs 2 crore, will begin shortly. The park, proposed by Mangaluru MLA Khader, is planned along the banks of the Nethravati River and aims to transform the area into a major tourist attraction.The proposed facility will include an amphitheatre, viewpoint, drive-in facility, walking track, children’s play area, seating arrangements for visitors, and a food court. Shetty said the project is the brainchild of Khader, who initiated steps to convert the adjoining government land for public use. The land was officially handed over to MUDA through a government order last week.According to Shetty, the site already attracts visitors in the evenings and is known for the large number of birds that flock to the area from Pavoor and Uliya Island. Its scenic surroundings make it an ideal location for a tourism-oriented development, he said.Khader said he recently inspected the proposed site and noted that local residents had long demanded a public recreational space. “A well-equipped park for children, senior citizens and families will be developed here on behalf of the government,” he said.The minister added that the park, with its green surroundings, would become a key public amenity for Harekala. He has directed officials to begin work at the earliest and ensure high-quality execution, reiterating that village development remains a priority.
