Karnataka has identified around 125 projects under its State Maritime and Waterways Masterplan aimed at attracting investments worth ₹23,000 crore to transform the state’s maritime and coastal economy, said Manjula N, Secretary, Infrastructure Development, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department, Government of Karnataka.
Speaking at the Karnataka Session during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai on Tuesday, she highlighted that the state — with its three coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada — holds immense untapped potential for maritime investments.
“Karnataka was the first state in India to formulate a State Maritime and Waterways Masterplan, identifying over 125 projects backed by a comprehensive maritime policy,” Manjula said. “The fulcrum of this initiative is to translate these policy goals into reality through public-private partnerships (PPP), driving investments exceeding ₹23,000 crore across sectors such as port and fishing harbour development, coastal tourism, and connectivity.”
She revealed that a new port at Keni in Uttara Kannada district, with a proposed capacity of 30 million tonnes per annum, is among the key projects, expected to attract investments of around ₹4,000 crore.
Balachandra H.C., Chief Executive Officer of the Karnataka Maritime Board, said the state has a portfolio of 10 ready-to-launch PPP projects offering investment opportunities worth ₹7,500 crore. Of these, nine are greenfield ventures and one is a brownfield project.
“Four of these projects relate to port development, two focus on inland waterways, and four are dedicated to island and coastal tourism,” he said. Key initiatives include:
A multipurpose port at Manki in Uttara Kannada
An international cruise tourism port at Mangaluru
A water metro network in Mangaluru
A coastal passenger ferry service between Mangaluru and Maravanthe
A maritime museum in Karwar
A.V. Ramana, Chairman of New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), speaking on ‘PPP Synergies for a Sustainable Blue Economy’, emphasized that PPPs are crucial for bringing investment, enhancing efficiency, and improving competitiveness in the maritime sector.
He noted that Karnataka, with 12 minor ports, holds significant potential for coastal and hinterland development, underscoring the importance of improving last-mile connectivity.
The session also featured Mankal S. Vaidya, Karnataka’s Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport, who reiterated the state’s commitment to positioning Karnataka as a maritime growth hub through sustainable and inclusive development.
