New Mangalore Port Authority to Build Satellite Port at Pavinakurve, Karnataka.

The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPT), the Union government-owned entity that operates the major port at New Mangalore, will develop a new port at Pavinakurve in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district after three previous attempts by the state government to build the port failed due to lack of bidder interest.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal informed the Lok Sabha on December 5 that a proposal has been initiated to develop Pavinakurve as an independent port in collaboration with NMPT.

The Karnataka Maritime Board, responsible for port development in the state, had made three attempts over two years to develop the port through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with private investment of ₹3,047.86 crore. The proposed port will be located on the banks of the Sharavathi and Badagani rivers near Pavinakurve village in Honnavar taluka.

According to the state’s plan, the port will have an initial cargo handling capacity of 14 million tonnes (mt), which could be expanded to 37.4 mt by 2050. The port will feature water depths capable of accommodating Capesize vessels, the largest dry bulk carriers.

In September 2022, the Karnataka government floated global tenders to develop deepwater greenfield ports at Keni-Belekeri and Pavinakurve. While JSW Infrastructure Ltd was awarded the Keni port project as the sole bidder, Pavinakurve failed to attract any bidders. Subsequent attempts to find a PPP operator also drew no participants.

NMPT had earlier expressed interest in developing Pavinakurve as a satellite port and formally requested a site from the state government. The port authority is expected to hire a consultant to conduct a techno-economic feasibility study before moving forward with the project.