Mangaluru: Key road and rail infrastructure upgrades in coastal Karnataka, including improvements to NH-75 and NH-66, railway electrification on the Mangaluru–Bengaluru ghat section, a proposed Mangaluru bypass and plans for a new railway station, were highlighted at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (KCCI) Industry Leaders’ Forum held recently at the Mangalore Club.Addressing the gathering, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said railway electrification on the Mangaluru–Bengaluru ghat section has been completed, while work is progressing on the detailed project report for the Mangaluru bypass between Surathkal and BC Road. He also spoke about an upcoming lane-widening project on NH-66 near the New Mangalore Port Authority, plans for a new railway station between Padil and Jokatte, and ongoing efforts to shift Southern Railway operations to South Western Railway.KCCI president PB Ahmed Mudassar said the Chamber has consistently raised issues related to connectivity, taxation and export challenges through its subcommittees and industry cells, with the support of the administration. He acknowledged the MP’s role in improving motorability on the Shiradi Ghat stretch of NH-75 and noted the transfer of key stretches of NH-66 to the National Highways Authority of India for better maintenance. Mudassar also referred to initiatives aimed at attracting investments, particularly in the renewable energy and pharmaceutical sectors.CA Abdur Rahman Musba, chairman of KCCI’s Large Industries Committee and its treasurer, outlined the Chamber’s strategic priorities and urged industries to use the KCCI Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre for arbitration.Jeethan Allen Sequeira, secretary and chairman of the EXIM Cell, said NH-75, once a major bottleneck between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, has seen significant improvement, while works on the Surathkal–BC Road stretch and the Mani–Sampaje four-laning are progressing steadily.The MP also spoke about his ‘Back to Ooru’ initiative and released the latest KCCI journal detailing the vision. He said efforts are under way to establish a campus of the Indian Maritime University in Mangaluru.
