Bengaluru: Congress MLC and KPCC working president Manjunath Bhandary has placed a comprehensive set of demands for coastal Karnataka before Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, including a proposed ₹5,000-crore special development package for Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada.

The demands come ahead of the Karnataka Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held in Mangaluru on September 18. According to Bhandary’s office, the Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to examine the key proposals and take steps to ensure that they can be placed before the Cabinet.

Bhandary has also requested that the proposals be included in the agenda for the special Cabinet sitting in Mangaluru. The memorandum covers a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, education, skill development, sports and preservation of the coastal region’s cultural heritage.

₹5,000-crore package for coastal development

The proposed ₹5,000-crore special package has been projected as a comprehensive development programme for the three coastal districts. The package places particular emphasis on strengthening infrastructure, promoting fisheries and developing the tourism potential of the Karnataka coast.

Bhandary has also called for a permanent and scientifically designed solution to coastal erosion, which continues to affect several stretches of the Karnataka coastline.

Rather than relying only on short-term protective measures, the memorandum seeks a long-term approach based on scientific assessment and sustainable coastal management.

The demand comes at a time when several coastal areas continue to face challenges related to erosion, infrastructure gaps and the need to balance economic development with environmental protection.

Brahmavar agriculture college proposed as university

One of the major education-related proposals is the conversion of the Agriculture Diploma College at Brahmavar in Udupi district into an agricultural university.

The proposal points to the institution’s existing 342 acres of land and buildings valued at around ₹20 crore. Bhandary has sought an additional ₹10 crore and 10 teaching posts on a contractual basis to enable the institution to begin degree-level education.

Under the proposal, the existing agriculture diploma courses at Brahmavar would subsequently be shifted to the university campus at Kattalgeri in Davanagere district.

The proposed university is intended to strengthen higher education and training in agriculture while making use of infrastructure and land already available at Brahmavar.

Separate fisheries university sought in Mangaluru

Fisheries has received significant attention in the memorandum, with Bhandary seeking the conversion of the Fisheries College in Mangaluru into a separate fisheries university.

The proposed university would focus on higher education, research and specialised training in areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine science, fish processing and value-addition technologies.

The memorandum also proposes the establishment of a Karnataka Fisheries Council. The council would coordinate government schemes, address the problems faced by fishermen and improve coordination between departments working in the fisheries sector.

Bhandary has further sought an aquapark in Mangaluru and modern cold-storage facilities at major fishing centres across the coast.

Higher compensation and diesel subsidy for fishermen

The memorandum includes measures aimed at improving support for fishing communities.

One of the key demands is to increase the compensation provided to families of fishermen who die at sea from the existing ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

Bhandary has also called for an increase in the diesel subsidy provided to fishing boats, along with improved infrastructure and facilities for the fisheries sector.

The proposed cold-storage network is aimed at improving post-harvest handling and reducing losses, while the aquapark proposal is intended to encourage development of fisheries-related activities and value addition.

Skill centre to train 50,000 students

Another major proposal is the establishment of an advanced skill-development centre in Mangaluru.

According to the memorandum, the centre would provide industry-oriented practical training to students from around 25 engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and hotel-management institutions in the coastal region.

Together, these institutions have around 50,000 students, creating a sizeable pool of young people who could benefit from specialised training aligned with industry requirements.

The proposed centre is intended to bridge the gap between classroom education and practical skills and improve employment opportunities for students across technical and professional streams.

Coastal tourism network proposed

Tourism forms another major component of the memorandum. Bhandary has proposed creating a coastal and regional tourism network linking several important religious, cultural and tourist destinations.

The proposed network would connect Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Kollur, Udupi Sri Krishna Matha, Sringeri, Horanadu, Kukke Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala and Mangaladevi.

The objective is to integrate destinations across coastal and Malnad Karnataka and promote them as part of a wider tourism circuit.

The memorandum also proposes a coastal parallel road from Talapady to Baindur, which would improve connectivity between major destinations along the coast while supporting tourism and economic activity.

More land and infrastructure for tourism

Bhandary has sought around 150 acres of land along the coast for tourism development.

The proposal also calls for private hotels of international standards based on the model followed in Bekal in neighbouring Kerala. An international convention centre and public parks have also been included among the tourism-related demands.

The proposed convention centre could support business events, conferences and other large gatherings, while public parks would add recreational infrastructure for residents and visitors.

Together, the tourism proposals seek to utilise the coastline’s natural, cultural and religious attractions while expanding supporting infrastructure.

Cabinet meeting expected to consider coastal priorities

The memorandum comes ahead of the September 18 Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, which is expected to place a special focus on development issues affecting coastal Karnataka.

By seeking the inclusion of the proposals in the Cabinet agenda, Bhandary has sought government-level consideration of projects spanning multiple departments.

The demands cover both long-term institutional reforms, such as proposed agricultural and fisheries universities, and infrastructure-focused initiatives involving roads, tourism, fishing facilities and skill development.

If taken forward, the proposals would represent a broad development agenda for the coastal districts, with emphasis on infrastructure, livelihoods, education, tourism and economic opportunities.

The proposed ₹5,000-crore package, along with sector-specific initiatives, reflects the demand for focused state investment to address the region’s longstanding development requirements and unlock its potential across agriculture, fisheries, tourism and human-resource development.