Mangaluru – The lack of reliable connectivity continues to be a significant barrier to Mangaluru’s transformation into a digital powerhouse under initiatives like Silicon Beach and Beyond Bengaluru. This was the key concern raised at the Infrastructure & Logistics Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Mangaluru on Thursday.
Delivering the keynote, New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) chairman Venkata Ramana Akkaraju pointed out that despite Udupi and Dakshina Kannada jointly contributing ₹1.2 lakh crore to Karnataka’s GDP—with a high per capita income of ₹4.92 lakh—the region still lags in infrastructure. “Even after 75 years of Independence, internal connectivity remains poor,” he said, citing ongoing issues with NH 75 to Bengaluru and NH 275 to Mysuru, both prone to closures during monsoon. He also noted that Mangaluru-Hassan rail services are frequently disrupted due to rains, and rising airfares—now touching ₹10,000—reflect this connectivity crisis.
Akkaraju highlighted that NMPA has boosted cargo handling from 34 to 46 million tonnes over five years, with profits climbing from ₹110 crore to ₹550 crore. “With better transport infrastructure, we could have crossed 65 million tonnes and earned ₹150 crore more,” he added.
S Selvakumar, principal secretary, commerce and industries department, emphasized Karnataka’s strong economic position, ranking No. 1 in per capita GSDP and No. 2 in FDI and GST contributions. He stressed that the state’s Industrial Policy 2025–30 focuses on building world-class infrastructure across regions.
Suyog Shetty, CEO of Niveus Solutions, noted a strong desire among professionals to return to their hometowns. “About 92% of coastal Karnataka’s tech migrants are ready to come back—if they find the right opportunities and compensation,” he said.
Rohith Bhat of Robosoft and Wipro Research’s G Sundararaman both backed Mangaluru’s potential as a tech destination. They cited cost advantages, a rich talent base, and room for data centre development, thanks to the region’s infrastructure readiness and energy access.
Suvin Narayan of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) outlined plans to accelerate digital infrastructure in Tier-II cities, positioning Mangaluru for strategic tech growth.