Karnataka Plans Coastal Ferry Between Mangaluru, Maravanthe

14 Jan 2026 CW Team

The Karnataka Maritime Board has unveiled plans to launch a dedicated coastal passenger ferry service linking Mangaluru with Maravanthe in Udupi district, offering an alternative to the congested NH-66 corridor.

The proposed ferry route will span around 110 km from Mangaluru to Maravanthe in Kundapur taluk, with services stopping at Old Mangaluru Port, Hejmadi, Malpe, Kota and Maravanthe. Officials said the corridor is expected to provide a faster and less congested travel option for coastal commuters and tourists.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 0.38 billion and will be implemented under a public–private partnership model, with a concession period of 20 years for the selected operator. Purpose-built jetties are proposed at all five locations, including Maravanthe, one of Karnataka’s most popular beach destinations.

Details of the ferry service and other maritime tourism initiatives were presented by KMB officials at the Coastal Karnataka Tourism Conclave organised by the Karnataka Tourism Department.

Alongside the coastal ferry, the board also outlined plans for a Water Metro project in and around Mangaluru city, with an estimated investment of Rs 1.8 billion. The project will cover major waterways under the Mangaluru City Corporation, linking Malavoor Bridge near Mangaluru International Airport with Jappinamogaru Bridge via the Gurupur and Nethravati rivers and Old Mangaluru Port.

The Water Metro is intended to create a seamless, multimodal urban transport system by integrating ferry services with city buses and intermediate public transport. KMB officials said the Gurupur and Nethravati rivers give Mangaluru strong potential for a PPP-based water metro, enabling cost-effective, sustainable and well-connected urban mobility.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..