The Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB), under the Government of Karnataka, has approved the development of an integrated multipurpose harbour and shipyard through a PPP model with private-sector participation at Manki in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, along with a greenfield shipyard at Gangolli Beach in Kundapura, Udupi district.

The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared two maritime projects with a combined investment of ₹7,247 crore (US$757 million) under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, aimed at enhancing the state’s port infrastructure and cargo-handling capacity. The package comprises a ₹6,925-crore (US$723 million) integrated port-cum-shipyard at Manki in Uttara Kannada district and a ₹322-crore (US$33.6 million) greenfield shipyard at Kundapura in Udupi district. The Manki project will be developed under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model with a 45-year concession period. The first phase, estimated to cost ₹4,505.12 crore, will comprise a 15 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) all-weather deep-water multipurpose port. The facility will be designed to handle a range of cargo, including thermal and coking coal, iron ore, limestone, fertilisers, liquid bulk, containers and steel products, and will have the capacity to accommodate vessels of up to 180,000 DWT.

The second phase will give the private developer the option to expand the port’s capacity or develop a commercial shipyard capable of producing 0.3–0.5 million gross tonnes of vessels annually, including bulk carriers, tankers and specialised vessels. The Manki project is planned across 221 hectares of predominantly reclaimed land and will be supported by road and rail infrastructure, including a proposed 3-km rail siding connecting the facility to the Konkan Railway network.

The Manki port’s location between New Mangalore and Mormugao ports is expected to enable it to efficiently cater to the industrial regions of central and northern Karnataka. Its connectivity to NH-66, supported by a proposed 3.1-km road link, will facilitate road-based cargo transportation. Multimodal connectivity will be further enhanced through Manki railway station, the proposed Hubballi–Ankola railway line, and a dedicated 3-km rail siding connecting the port to the Konkan Railway network, enabling more efficient cargo evacuation.

Meanwhile, the ₹322-crore shipyard at Gangolli Beach in Kundapura will also be developed under the DBFOT model. The facility is planned to manufacture three Handysize vessels annually, with vessels of up to 55,000 DWT. The Karnataka Maritime Board is expected to invite private-sector developers through a formal Request for Proposal (RFP), paving the way for the implementation of both projects.