Mangaluru: In a major political and developmental outreach to the coastal and Malnad regions, the Karnataka government on Friday held a historic special Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, rolling out a massive wave of infrastructure projects, policy overhauls, and cultural recognitions. Focused heavily on boosting the coastal economy and addressing long-standing local demands, the Cabinet approved a series of landmark decisions spanning language, health, tourism, and marine biotechnology.
Cultural And Administrative Historic Moves: Tulu Made 2nd Add’l Language
Tulu Declared Additional Official Language: In a historic nod to local sentiments, Tulu has been officially declared as an additional official language of Karnataka. To support this, the government will grant ₹82 lakh annually for training and translation activities.
Proposal to Rename Dakshina Kannada: The Cabinet has approved a draft notification to rename Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru. A 30-day window will be opened for the public to submit their opinions and feedback on the proposed renaming.
Infrastructure & Healthcare Boost
New Medical College in Puttur: Reaffirming its commitment to regional healthcare, the Cabinet gave the green light to set up a brand-new government medical college at Puttur in the Dakshina Kannada district.
₹322-Crore Greenfield Shipbuilding Yard: A major greenfield shipbuilding yard will be developed at Gangolli in Kundapura taluk (Udupi district). The project will run under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on a Design-Build Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
Modern Wholesale Fish Market: To tackle severe congestion at the Mangaluru fishing harbour, a modern wholesale fish market will be built at Ekotiri on 3 acres of land belonging to the Fisheries College at an estimated cost of ₹30 crore.
Strategic Marine & Tourism Shifts
Karnataka Marine Biotechnology Policy 2026-31: The government officially approved this five-year policy, under which it will establish the Karnataka Institute of Marine Biotechnology and Blue Economy in Udupi. The hub will feature advanced laboratories, a biobank, and incubation centres, drawing an investment of ₹60 crore over the next five years.
Special Marine Zones (SMZs): The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada will be notified as Special Marine Zones to aggressively expand fisheries-based industries.
New Regional Tourism Policy: The Cabinet decided to frame a dedicated tourism policy tailored specifically for the Coastal and Malnad regions.
Island Development: As part of the tourism push, 12 local islands across Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and Udupi will be developed on par with premier international tourist destinations.
