Lakshadweep visit to strengthen old ties with Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 03, 2017: Pursuing Mangaluru Port City’s ambitious plans of boosting the old trade relations with Lakshadweep, a delegation led by Mangaluru City South MLA J R Lobo will visit the Islands.  The delegation will persuade Lakshadweep administration to invest on a pending project of constructing a jetty in Mangaluru exclusively to connect the Port City with the Island.

MLA said, MoU has already been signed with the Lakshadweep administration to construct a dedicated jetty for their ships, passengers’ waiting complex, goods sheds and other facilities at a cost of Rs 68 crore at Old Port in the city. However, MLA Lobo said, the project has been stalled for nearly two years due to lack of interest from both sides.

Around 75% of our business went to Kerala since there is no exclusive jetty for Lakshadweep in Mangaluru. The proposed new exclusive jetty will ensure arrival of ships from the Island in Mangaluru regularly. It will also ensure a steady business growth of trade in the region and the city. The government has decided to send a delegation to Lakshadweep to further matters. 

The MLA said, "I will lead a delegation, which will include officials, soon after government issues a circular in this regard. We will convince the Lakshadweep administration to take up the project. They will have to bear the entire cost of the project while we will be providing them required land at Old Port in the city."

He said Dakshina Kannada Coastal Regulation Zone Management Committee has granted no objection certificate (NOC) to Lakshadweep Administration for the construction of their office and other amenities at the identified place in Old Port in June, 2015.

The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS), a society of Lakshadweep Administration, had introduced a cruise service between Lakshadweep and Mangaluru with a capacity to ferry 150 passengers to Kavaratii and back. However, the service is not regular and the infrastructure at the cruise lounge in Mangaluru is also not fit.  Meanwhile, lack of an entry permit approval centre in Mangaluru also hinders people from the coastal city to travel to Lakshadweep. All these issues are expected to be addressed by the visit of delegation from Mangaluru to Lakshadweep HQ Kavaratti island.