In a significant development for coastal Karnataka, the pontiffs of Sri Paryaya Puttige Mutt have presented a comprehensive proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the holistic development of Udupi district. The sacred seat of the Jagadguru Shrimad Madhvacharya Moola Samsthanam submitted the detailed plan on behalf of local devotees and citizens during the PM's recent visit to the region.
Major Infrastructure Projects Proposed
The centerpiece of the proposal is the establishment of an international airport in Udupi district. The religious leaders highlighted that approximately 1,000 acres of land is already available and ideally suited for airport development in the district. Currently, the existing Mangaluru airport offers limited international connectivity, creating the need for a more robust aviation facility in the region.
The proposal suggests developing the airport under either a public-private partnership (PPP) model or through the Greenfield Airport framework. This strategic infrastructure project aims to significantly boost trade, education, healthcare, and spiritual tourism in coastal Karnataka.
Enhanced Connectivity and Urban Mobility
Addressing the critical transportation needs between major urban centers, the proposal includes a request for metro rail or rapid transit connectivity between Mangaluru and Udupi. The 55-kilometer coastal stretch between these two cities experiences high daily commuter traffic and frequent congestion problems.
The district administration has expressed readiness to prepare an initial project report for a mass rapid transit or metro corridor. Leaders have requested inclusion of the Mangaluru-Udupi metro corridor under national urban mobility programs to ensure safe, green, and time-efficient regional connectivity.
Comprehensive Development Initiatives
Beyond transportation, the proposal encompasses multiple sectors for development. It requests the establishment of an international-standard port with a cruise terminal along Udupi's coastline. The religious leaders also sought expeditious approval of pending coastal tourism projects and revision of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms to encourage sustainable coastal infrastructure and hospitality investment.
In the technology sector, the proposal includes establishing an IT & AI innovation park with incubation support under the Digital India and Startup India programmes. Support for data security and cloud computing infrastructure was also sought to strengthen India's technological independence.
The educational and healthcare sectors feature prominently with requests for notifications of AIIMS under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) for Udupi, allotment of a new IIT campus, and approval of an IIM under the ministry of education.
Cultural preservation also found mention in the proposal, with a request to grant national sports status to kambala by the ministry of youth affairs and sports, along with financial assistance and infrastructure development support through central schemes.
The proposal was formally presented by Sri Sugunendra Tirtha pontiff and Sri Sushrendra Tirtha swami, representing the collective aspirations of Udupi's citizens for comprehensive regional development that balances modern infrastructure with cultural heritage and sustainable growth.
