M’luru to see waterfront area development

Mangaluru: A major thrust will be given for the development of waterfront areas in the city under the Smart City mission, said Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil speaking at an interactive session on the mission projects with the councillors of Mangaluru City Corporation here on Monday.

The DC said that the waterfronts and inland water transport played a pivotal role in the growth of trade and economy of Mangaluru for long. Goods were being transported from Mangaluru to Uppinangady on the Netravathi.

The waterfront development projects proposed in five packages at an estimated cost of Rs 235 crore under the mission are still in concept stage, he informed.

Mr Senthil said that a total of 65 projects at an estimated cost of Rs 2,354.60 crore have been proposed under the mission in the city. Of them, 50 projects are area based development ones covering the jurisdiction of eight wards and hence will be taken up within the jurisdiction of only those wards. They cover a total area of 1,628 acres including the Court, Central Market, Bunder, Port, Cantonment, Mangaladevi, Hoige Bazzar and Bolara wards. The remaining 15 projects proposed are applicable to the entire city.

The DC explained that Mangaluru was selected under the mission on September 20, 2016 and a company named Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. was constituted for implementing the projects proposed on April 6, 2017. Dakshina Kannada district in-charge secretary and also a former Deputy Commissioner of the district V. Ponnuraj is now the chairman of the company.

Mr. Senthil, who is also a director of the company, said that the company is not in a haste to take up all projects. They would be implemented only after studying the pros and cons, and also the feasibility factors. All details of the projects proposed would be made available to the people through a website soon, he added.

The Dc pointed out that it is not binding on the company to take approval of the city corporation council for all projects proposed. But its details would henceforth be placed before the council for the information of councillors.

Mr Senthil urged the councillors to extend their cooperation in the implementation of the projects proposed by keeping aside their political affiliations.