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The Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has announced plans to tender four berths at non-major ports for privatisation and to develop seven islands into resort destinations under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model in the state. The move comes as part of a broader effort to attract investment into the maritime sector, with memoranda and definitive agreements worth INR 5,000 crore expected to be signed during the India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025. The state is also working on greenfield port proposals and inland-waterway projects, underlining its ambition to expand maritime infrastructure and tourism simultaneously.
The Karnataka Maritime Board will shortly issue tenders to privatise four berths spread across its non-major ports. This step is part of a larger strategy by the state government to bring in private-sector expertise and financing into its maritime assets. At the same time, KMB intends to develop seven islands under the PPP model, aiming to turn them into premier resort destinations. Advertisement
According to official data, the state will sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and definitive contracts totaling around INR 5,000 crore during the upcoming India Maritime Week. This signals a substantial commitment to expanding the maritime economy in Karnataka. The development will come alongside earlier initiatives by KMB, which already manages 13 non-major ports and has been advancing greenfield port proposals along with inland waterway transport projects.
Industry observers say the development of islands for resort tourism marks a novel extension of maritime infrastructure beyond cargo and logistics. The state has previously identified more than 100 islands along its 320-km coastline as having "vast untapped potential" for tourism and job creation.
In terms of berth privatisation, the move intends to bring in private operators under an operation-and-management basis, thereby enabling the state to handshake with operators who will run port assets efficiently. Historical precedent includes earlier attempts by the state to attract private participation in port infrastructure, notably the greenfield deep-sea port tenders for Keni/Belekeri and Pavinakurve in earlier years.
The timing coincides with India Maritime Week, where Karnataka will host a dedicated session under the theme 'Exploring PPP Synergies for a Sustainable Blue Economy'. The state's initiative is being positioned as part of India's broader ambition to become a maritime superpower by 2047, with private-sector involvement being central to that vision.
Karnataka's coastal districts-Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada are expected to reap benefits in terms of improved infrastructure, tourism facilities, and cargo handling capacity. The doubling up of tourism-oriented island resort development with logistics infrastructure underscores a blended maritime strategy. That said, past commentary has warned that rapid port development must remain sensitive to coastal communities and environmental impacts.
In summary, the state is taking a dual-track approach: privatising existing berth assets for operational efficiency, while launching hospitality / tourism ventures on islands via PPP. With the INR 5,000 crore pipeline of deals and the MoUs to be signed at India Maritime Week, the maritime sector in Karnataka is gearing up for a new phase of growth.
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