Mangaluru to host upcoming State Cabinet meeting, says Speaker U.T. Khader

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 29, 2025: The next state cabinet meeting will be held in Bijapur, followed by one in Mangaluru. On this occasion, legislators and officials of Dakshina Kannada district should prepare a list of the region’s key demands, said Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader.

Addressing reporters at the Circuit House, he said that Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have already responded positively regarding the proposal to hold the cabinet meeting in Mangaluru.

He pointed out that such meetings have already been conducted in Kalaburagi, Chamarajanagar, and Chikkaballapur. After Bijapur, the session will be held in Mangaluru, raising hopes that several of the district’s long-pending demands will be addressed.

Speaking on coastal tourism development, he said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with ministers of the Mines and Tourism departments, and the district in-charge minister, had already held a review meeting. Local representatives had put forward their suggestions, and basic infrastructure as well as industrial development initiatives are necessary, he noted.

Highlighting a major project, he said approval from NABARD is awaited for the proposed ₹200-crore twin bridge of 1.5 km length from Kotepura to Bolara. Along with the bridge, three tourist viewing decks costing ₹33 crore will be built, with plans to provide access to the nearby island. On Sundays, vehicle traffic will be halted for a few hours on the bridge to allow families to enjoy the view. A technical report has already been submitted to NABARD, and tenders will be invited once approval is received, he added.

On another note, Khader said the Indian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will be held in Bengaluru from September 11–14. Speakers from nine Commonwealth countries will participate. After the three-day conference, on September 14, a tour to Chamundi Hills, Mysore Palace, and Brindavan Gardens has been organized. The conference will be chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

In Mangaluru constituency, plans are underway to implement an AI-based security system at a cost of around ₹60 crore. With technical support from institutions like Infosys, AI-powered CCTV cameras will be installed. If local industries and hospitals extend their cooperation, the project will be implemented at a faster pace, he said.

Responding to a media query on rules imposed during festival celebrations, Khader stressed that officials must exercise sensitivity and ensure that regulations are enforced in harmony with local culture, without causing inconvenience to people.

On the issue of sand and laterite stone scarcity in the district, he said three meetings have already been held. In the past, laterite was extracted illegally without permits, but this has now been curbed. To make laterite available to the public, permits should be issued within a month of application. Unlike other quarries, royalty should not be heavily levied on laterite since it is essential for house construction here. Discussions are also being held to reduce royalty charges. Once an application is filed, joint inspections by concerned departments must be carried out within a week. Necessary measures and regulations are expected to be approved in the meeting scheduled for September 4, he said.