Minister Mankal S. Vaidya visited Kavaratti in Lakshadweep and held a meeting with officials of the Union Territory.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Water Transport Board will work proactively to revive the historic trade routes between Karnataka and Lakshadweep, said Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport Minister Mankal S. Vaidya.
Minister Vaidya, who visited Kavaratti in Lakshadweep, held a meeting with the officials of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and discussed at length about strategic partnerships and infrastructure projects in the maritime sector.
He said that the progress of the project to develop a jetty dedicated to Lakshadweep in Mangaluru is being accelerated, and this project will be taken up under the Sagarmala project of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Union Government.
Officials of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep said that the Sagarmala project is being used to connect the islands of Lakshadweep to the mainland. Later, officials of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep informed the meeting about the current constraints and challenges faced by the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. He assured that Karnataka will focus on increasing the transportation of essential goods like milk products, medicines and fresh produce from Karnataka to the islands of Lakshadweep.
In addition, Minister Mankal S Vaidya requested UTLA to provide assistance in setting up necessary infrastructure near the old Mangalore port to further facilitate trade routes.
The meeting was attended by Dr. N. Manjula, Secretary, State Infrastructure Development, Ports and Inland Waterways Department, Jayaram Raipur, Chief Executive Officer, Karnataka Waterways Board, and officials of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep Administration, and other senior officials of the state government.
