Mangaluru: Karnataka is shifting from conventional port development to an integrated maritime growth model to fully leverage its 343-km coastline, Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) CEO Balachandra HC said at the second edition of the CII Karnataka Port and Logistics Conference on Tuesday.Balachandra said Mangaluru has historically been a key maritime gateway for the state, but modern ports must go beyond cargo handling and rely on robust road and rail connectivity, logistics infrastructure, coastal shipping, digital systems and trade facilitation.“Our focus must be to move cargo faster, more efficiently and at a lower logistics cost,” he said.The state govt has approved maritime projects worth an estimated Rs 8,437 crore, including a Rs 6,925-crore multipurpose port and shipbuilding facility at Manki. The initiatives cover ports, logistics, shipbuilding, tourism, mobility, investment and employment.Balachandra said public-private partnerships would be crucial in implementing the projects by combining govt support with private capital, technology and operational expertise. He stressed stronger road and rail links, better integration between ports and industrial clusters, greater use of coastal shipping and inland waterways, and digital systems to improve cargo visibility and reduce turnaround time.KMB’s priorities include strengthening multimodal connectivity between ports and the hinterland, developing industry-specific logistics solutions, accelerating private investment in maritime infrastructure, promoting coastal shipping and inland waterways, and improving transparency and predictability through technology. These priorities align with PM Gati Shakti, the National Logistics Policy and the Sagarmala programme.He also highlighted proposals for tourism and ecotourism development across 12 islands in coastal Karnataka and a shipbuilding financial assistance scheme.Pawan Kumar Singh, convener of the CII Infrastructure and Urban Mobility Panel and executive director, Transportation and Electronics Business Group, 3M India Ltd, said India’s economy had remained resilient despite global geopolitical challenges and rising input costs.Citing 7.8% economic growth in the latest quarter, Singh said capital expenditure had risen from Rs 2 lakh crore to Rs 12 lakh crore over the past 12 years, while infrastructure spending increased from 1% to 4% of GDP. He said infrastructure and lower logistics costs would be critical to improving India’s global manufacturing competitiveness.Dakshina Kannada DC Darshan HV and CII members were present.
