Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Dec 14: BJP state president and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel laid the foundation stone for the coastal berth and capital dredging worth Rs 65 crore and Rs 29 crore respectively under the Sagarmala project here at Bengre on Monday, December 14.

Coastal berth costs Rs 65 crore, in which the central government sanctions Rs 25 crore and state government approves Rs 40 crore. Capital dredging costs Rs 29 crore in which Rs 14.50 crore each comes from the central and state government.

Addressing the gathering, BJP state president and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Coastal berth and capital dredging was a long pending demand from 10 years for which the foundation stone has been laid. A time period of three years has been allotted for the completion of the same. The government has given importance to the fishing sector and accordingly developmental works have been taken up under the Sagarmala project."

"Even the foundation stone for a fishing jetty has been laid down at Kulai for which the works will begin from February. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rs 5,000 crore have been allotted for the development of Mangaluru port. The government also approved a coast guard training centre in the city and a foundation stone for the same will be laid soon," he added.

"There were several criticisms made regarding the Pumpwell flyover, but no one talks about the speed at which the Gurupura bridge was completed, the coast guard training centre that was brought to Mangaluru or the Kulai Jetty. In the utilization of funds under the Smart City project, Mangaluru was placed last, but in the last six months, the pace at which the work is being carried out, Mangaluru has jumped up to the second place," the BJP state president said.

Nalin Kumar Kateel also directed the engineers and contractors of the project to do their work efficiently and complete it in three years. "If I receive any complaint from the locals with regards to the work then I will blacklist the concerned workers," Nalin warned the engineers and contractors.

MLA Vedavyas Kamath, mayor Diwakar, zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shantigodu and others were present.