Captain Brijesh Chowta.
Credit: DH Photo
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, on Tuesday, met the Secretary of Ministry of Ports and Shipping T K Ramachandran and urged for the establishment of a maritime university in Mangaluru.
The said university he proposed be named after Rani Abbakka as a tribute to the warrior queen who fought valiantly in safeguarding the coast. “The Rani Abbakka Maritime University will pay homage to an iconic national figure as well as create a future-ready workforce trained in marine engineering, maritime law, port and terminal management, and maritime informatics,” said Capt Chowta.
In a letter seeking the same, he highlighted that the establishment of the university aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Maritime Amrit Kaal vision and the nation’s strategic goal to emerge as a global maritime hub. Drawing attention to Mangaluru’s geographic advantages, historical significance, and proximity to major ports and educational institutions, Capt Brijesh Chowta said it would hence make it an ideal location for such an institution.
He proposed that the university would offer a wide range of programmes including BTech, BSc, BBA, MTech, MBA, MSc, and diplomas, catering to the skill development, research, and policy innovation needs of India’s maritime advancement.
The proposal also seeks active participation of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, in commissioning a Detailed Project Report (DPR).
He also appealed to the ministry to constitute an expert committee to develop the university framework; commissioning of DPR by NMPA and initiation of inter-ministerial consultations for stakeholder alignment.