Coastal Economic Zone Project to Make Karwar-Ankola A Hub

Bengaluru: Karnataka is pursuing a Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) project in an about 50-km stretch along the west coast to make the Karwar-Ankola region a hub for economic development.

The proposed CEZ project would incorporate works that were already in the pipeline for air, water and rail connectivity, including development of the Belekeri port, a civil enclave at the planned Karwar naval airport and the Hubballi-Ankola railway line.

The state’s infrastructure development department (IDD) has prepared the proposal streamlining major infrastructure projects in the region, which it says will give a push to the development potential of Karwar and attract investors. Chief minister BS Yediyurappa heads the IDD One of the proposals is to develop an all-weather port at Belekeri, 30 km from the Karwar port with the proximity to the existing Konkan Railway line and the proposed Hubballi-Ankola railway line.

“Lack of major ports except NMPT (Mangaluru) in Karnataka has resulted in diverting cargo to neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The Belekeri port would attract the hinterland traffic from JSW steel plant, KIOCLNSE -3.59 % and other industries from Ballari and the central Karnataka region which is presently moved towards Krishnapatnam and Chennai ports,” according to the proposal discussed at a preliminary meeting of various department officials and chaired by the chief secretary on Tuesday.

The department plans to develop the Belekeri port under the public-private partnership model.

The state has already got inprinciple approval from the Indian Navy to develop a civil enclave on a runway that the navy has planned to build at Ankola near the Belekeri port. According to the proposal, the runway will allow operation of civil aircraft with 19- to 72-seat capacity.

While the Konkan Railway line connecting Mumbai and Mangaluru already passes through the proposed CEZ stretch, the state has also cleared the Hubballi-Ankola railway project. The project has drawn flak from environmentalists as it requires felling of an estimated 2.2 lakh trees including those in forest areas. The project is awaiting approval from the National Board for Wildlife.

“These projects were in the pipeline for long but now we are giving an integrated approach to develop Karwar as a potential economic zone. We have also proposed to set up a CEZ authority to supervise the work and regulate the development,” IDD principal secretary Kapil Mohan told ET. The long-term project also involves developing tourism-based economic activities in the coastal area.

The proposal will have to now get in-principle approval from the state government to set up the CEZ and declare it as a planning area. It also needs allocation of funds for preliminary activities.

Source:ET