Centre promises Rs 200 cr for ports in State

 The Centre on Saturday promised Karnataka government to release Rs 200 crore for the development of ports in the state.

Karnataka Port and Inland Water Development Minister Baburao Chinchansur, who met Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari here, told reporters that the Union minister has promised to release the funds to the state under Central scheme for development of ports and inland waterways.

The minister said that the money will be utilised for the development of ports including Karwar, Malpe, Kundapur and Honnavar he said. Gadkari has also agreed to sanction around Rs 60 crore for the development of Old Mangalore port which involves construction of a dedicated berth for Union Territory of Lakshadweep (UTL) vessels at port, he added.

 The Karnataka government and Union Territory of Lakshadweep had already signed an MoU for setting up of dedicated berth for UTL vessels at Old Mangalore port, said the minister. The berth will be utilised for supplying essential commodities in Lakshadweep.