After multiple unsuccessful attempts by the Karnataka government to attract private investment, the Union government-owned New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) will now take the lead in developing a new port at Pavinakurve in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on December 5 that a proposal has been initiated to develop Pavinakurve as an independent port in collaboration with the New Mangalore Port Authority.
The Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB), responsible for port development in the state, had made three attempts over the past two years to develop the port on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with an estimated investment of ₹3,047.86 crore. However, the efforts failed to attract bidder interest. In September 2022, the state government had floated global tenders to develop deepwater greenfield ports at Keni Belekeri and Pavinakurve. While JSW Infrastructure Ltd emerged as the lone bidder and was awarded the Keni Belekeri project, Pavinakurve did not receive any bids. Subsequent tenders also failed to draw participation.
The proposed Pavinakurve port will be located on the banks of the Sharavathi and Badagani rivers near Pavinakurve village in Honnavar taluka of Uttara Kannada district. As per the state government’s plan, the port is designed to handle 14 million tonnes (mt) of cargo in its initial phase, with capacity expandable to 37.4 mt by 2050. The port will feature deep drafts capable of accommodating Capesize vessels, the largest class of dry bulk carriers.
The New Mangalore Port Authority had earlier expressed interest in developing Pavinakurve as a satellite port and had formally requested the state government to allocate a suitable site for the project. According to sources, NMPA is now expected to appoint a consultant to conduct a techno-economic feasibility study before moving ahead with the next phase of development.
The move marks a significant step towards unlocking the maritime potential of Karnataka’s northern coastline and strengthening port-led development in the region.
