In an eye-opening address, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar conceded that Karnataka has squandered opportunities along its coastline. The revelation underscores the untapped potential of the shoreline for economic boom. Shivakumar lamented the lack of vision in fisheries modernization and cruise tourism, blaming policy inertia for the current state of affairs. He called for the expansion of Mangaluru and Karwar ports to handle larger vessels and emphasized that eco-sensitive zones demand balanced development. Analysts predict that a focused coastal push could significantly increase the state’s GSDP, signaling a turning point for Karnataka’s maritime frontier.
