[BolliBatlu]

NMPT registers 15% rise in cargo throughput
New Mangalore Port handles record traffic of 39.94MT during fiscal 2016-17

Following abbreviations are used below

BRTS - Boat/Bus Rapid Transit System
HSB - Highspeed Boat
HSR - Highspeed Rail
MIA - Mangalore International Airport
TOD - Transit Oriented Development

Mangalore International Airport should be developed as a 'Highspeed Multimode Transportation Hub' connecting airline services with highspeed rail services and highspeed boat services (1). For this MIA terminal has to be connected with HSR terminal and Highspeed Boat terminal through a common elevator or escalator. HSR & Metro terminal can be underground inside the hill. Both terminals should be connected to HSB terminal on Gurupura river through elevator. HSB terminal should provide HSB services to seaports in neighbouring districts. The boats can have a pick up point at Oldport so to have good frequency of HSB services. The good frequency should enable HSB timings to match with arrival and departure time of aeroplanes. I don't know whether current bridges on proposed waterways support easy movements of cargoes and HSBs. But new bridges including one proposed at Sultan Battery should have enough height and gap between pillars to support easier movements.

'Boat Rapid Transit System' can also be developed along Netravati & Phalguni rivers for public transportation and to promote tourism. (can we abbreviate it as BRTS?, 1) For this there should be 'Multimode Transportation Terminals' on both banks of the rivers. (Marinas could also be passenger boat terminals). Better to have Bus terminals on land side of Mangala Corniche connected to Boat Terminals through 'pedestrian subways' and there could also be busbays on river side for buses moving on river side of Mangala Corniche road. (Even Metro/LRTS station can be integrated say at old port if track is running till that point). The banks on the other sides of the rivers can also have similar arrangement. Bus terminals should have parking facilities for bicycles, autorickshaws, taxis and other vehicles. Busbays can also have limited parking arrangement for bicycles, autorickshaws. It would be interesting to research on how to design the movements of boats so that both banks of the rivers are covered. One possible way is zigzag movements of boats to boat terminals on both banks placed in zigzag manner. In addition, there could be boats tranporting on single bank only. Of course we should not forget to connect this BRTS to HSB Terminal at airport and old port and even NMPT if port authorities allow. NMPT Boat terminal can be outside port area near South Gate or North Gate so that people can commence towards cruise terminal easily and buses running from here can further connect to industrial areas around NMPT. The South Gate boat terminal can be on Phalguni river itself. Since dense development is only along NH66 & NH75; BTRS can be developed along Mangala Corniche side of the rivers in the first phase. And similar boat services can be there all along sea shore apart from High Speed Boat Services which have limited stops for enabling MIA HS (Mangalore International Airport High Speed) connectivity. Small ports on rivers can be used as halting points for BRTS along seashore. Crucial element for success of BRTS or HSB services is how easy it is to manoeuvre boats to & from pick up points. One more disadvantage could be how much this system will interfere with other activities in the rivers and the sea whether it is fisheries or other tourism related activities like boat based recreational or adventure sports activities. And how system is affected by floods is also be studied and mitigation measures should be incorporated. As per Transit Oriented Development (TOD) guidelines denser developments can be allowed around these 'Multimode Transport Terminals' if CRZ rules allow. Relevent news - Gadkari seeks Belgian companies participation in Sagarmala (in the areas of coastal shipping, inland water transport, cruise, ...).

There may be a need for waterproof underground water canal to reach exact spot below the hill so that MIA, HSR, HSB terminals can be connected by a single lift. (approximately 400m open + 400m underground + ?m turning length). Boats can either move in reverse direction to come out or else canal should have a turning area. Or else it could be a curved canal with entry and exit points at river in different points. But in first phase, we can just have shuttle service from MIA terminal to a temporary HSB terminal on river bank. To give priority to HSBs BRTS terminal can be outside to avoid congestion inside the underground water canal but should have a walkway by the side of canal to reach lift. Anyway walkways are always useful in case of emergencies. But BRTS terminal can be brought as close to underground canal by having enough width in open canal area of BRTS terminal for manoeuvring boats. In any case if we don't want underground part of canal we can just have walkway. But just imagine landing on table top airport, getting to bottom of hill by lift, travelling through underground water canal, then river, then sea, what an exciting experience for a visitor! And possibility of check-in/check-out at Malpe, Kundapur, Bhatkal, Kasargod!

Check also 'Smart Mangaluru' post above for Marina & passenger boat services.

Suppose 'Boat Rapid Transit System' connect main city and airport with Amblamogru-Pandeswara-Harekala area then how easy to develop non-agriculture land in this area as health city or Marine Biotech Park or IT SEZ if enough land is available? This area can even be considered for institutes mentioned in MIA post. We can even extend connectivity by constructing canal.

Maritime Board formation will add favour to city development

Summa: Maritime Board Bill is pending for presidential signature for last five years. Will help in development of small ports and creation of inland waterways in coastal Karnataka. Renovation of Old Mangaluru Port, which is identified for Smart City project will get much needed boost.

High Speed Boat (HSB) services from MIA airport to mini seaports along with underground canal, Boat Rapid Transit system (BRTS) along Mangala Corniche may also be implemented by Maritime Board. But question is, who will provide lift connectivity from HSB terminal to MIA terminal?

Maritime Board can also encourage tourism activities like long distance sail boats etc by developing islands which international sailors may like to visit.

Does Mangalore MP know the reasons for which Maritime Board Bill is pending with the central government? Does he at least know that there is something called Maritime Board Bill? (He is going on promising on Agricultural Zone, Coconut Park, Plastics Park, etc. He might have totally forgotten about 2014 Lokasabha election promise of IT Park. As far as Plastics Park is concerned main focus of Plastics Park should be 'Medical Devices' to support 'Medical Tourism' Industry. Plastics Park for other material for use in hinterland can come up in Hassan.)

For airport highspeed boat connectivity if Kalmadi-Nittur-Kalsanka gutter is developed as a canal then speed boat can even enter inside Udupi city.

Mangaluru facility would be Concor’s second inland container depot in the State

With a view to expand containerised traffic between coast and hinterland, the Container Corporation of India (Concor) has acquired the infrastructure of KIOCL located at the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT).

Besides the railway siding, Concor would also get about 47,000 sq m adjacent NMPT land to provide a warehousing facility.

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Commenting on linking the airports with waterways, he said that “We want to examine the possibility of linking the airports with waterways.”

“Once a tourist arrives in Goa, he can be taken through a cable car to the waterways from there he can be travel to his hotel,” he said adding the state government is examining the feasibility of connecting the Mopa airport through waterways, like the way Venice Marco Polo Airport in Italy is connected with waterways.

But for Mangalore Airport as I wrote above let it be lift and underground canal so to have highspeed connectivity to neighbouring districts. The goal should be to Highspeed Network with Multi-Mode Highspeed Hubs. For example, Goa Airport should be not only connected to hotels by waterways but neighbouring cities like Karwar, Gokarna, Malvan etc through highspeed boats. If Goa is not interested then MIA itself can provide HSB services to Murudeshwara, Gokarna etc. Apart from passenger boats there could be rented or chartered boat services also. Tourist packeges can include visit to Tonse-Par & Netrani islands. Why not Mangaluru MP request the Transportation Minister for an HSB tunnel pilot project for Mangaluru just like Hyperloop tunnel project for Nagpur. He has to remind the minister that Mangaluru is considered as Nagpur of South India!

If Makeover for Mumbai waterfront (Mumbai to get building taller than Burj Khalifa, road bigger than Marine Drive) allows supertalls near sea then there should not be much problem in allowing TOD along CRZ.

Goa is acting fast while Mangaluru MLAs are sleeping - Goa Tourism Development Corporation Board has proposed to buy high-speed boats of 30-40 seats to provide waterway as a mode of transport for people from the hinterlands to travel to Panaji, Margao and Vasco.