Mangaluru Cityscape Set To Transform; Work On Nethravati Waterfront Promenade Development, Sulthan Bathery- Tannirbavi Hanging Bridge Begins

Mangaluru's cityscape is set to transform with the launch of three major urban renewal projects

• A waterfront promenade development project from Nethravati railway bridge (near Morgan's Gate) to Bolar sea face at an overall cost of Rs 60 crore

• A pedestrian sea-river link hanging bridge from Sulthan Bathery to Tannirbavi that will be developed at the cost of Rs 40.31 crore

• A new Central Market will be constructed on 3.6 acres of land, under the PPP model, at a cost ₹114 crores.

The projects are being implemented by Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL), a special-purpose vehicle created under the Union Government's Smart City Mission.

An event was organised on Sunday (March 8) by MSCL and Mangaluru City Corporation to lay the foundation stones for a slew of projects under Smart City Mission. State BJP president and Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel presided over the ceremony.

Waterfront promenade development project

Through the promenade project, the MSCL has plans to develop the waterfront as an active recreational and commercial hub, with gardens, parks, pedestrian-friendly walkways, a bicycle track, boardwalks, a nature park and adventure sports to promote tourism.

MSCL has received the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the proposed waterfront promenade project. MSCL has already awarded the contracts for all ten packages of the waterfront promenade project.

The project includes setting up a biodiversity park and creating a bird-watching area near the Netravati railway bridge, building a pathway of 6 m width for a stretch of 2.1 km and laying a cycle track of 3 m width from the bridge to the Bolar sea face. 

The other facilities to be created include:

• Establishing an outdoor gym.

• Creating a cycle stand and a buggy point to introduce buggies.

• Setting up a play area for children.

• A pet park.

• Developing a park with seating arrangements and landscaping.

In addition, there will be a ghat to enable the visitors to touch the water. A boardwalk facility will be created inside the waters at the South Point. It will have a boat-making experience yard. The entry and exit plaza will be built near the Netravati bridge. There will be decks, kiosks for shops, ticket counters, security, washrooms, and other public amenities. A sewage treatment plant too will be constructed. The treated water will be used for watering parks and gardens.

The promenade development component of the project, which will be taken up in two phases, will cost ₹60 crore. The phase I will be from Netravati bridge to South Point, covering 1.3 km and phase II will be from South Point to Bolara sea face, covering 0.75 km.

Sultan Battery-Tannirbhavi hanging bridge.

MSCL will develop a pedestrian-only hanging bridge between Sultan Battery and Tannirbhavi across the Phalguni river.

MSCL has earmarked Rs 45 crore for the project that was originally planned two decades ago. In 2010, the then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone for a hanging bridge, and the construction began in 2012. But the Congress government shelved it, citing a shortage of funds.

The hanging bridge will have a 3m wide pedestrian pass that will be constructed at the height of 15m. The bridge connects Sultan Battery and Tannirbavi.

The hanging bridge will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 45 crore. The remaining funds under the Sea Link project will be utilised to implement various tourism development initiatives at Sultan Battery, Tannirbhavi and at the jetties in the area. 

The hanging bridge will be constructed near the historic Sultan Battery watchtower. Once the bridge is built, tourists arriving at Sultan Battery may walk on the hanging bridge to Tannirbavi Beach on the western side. 

Central Market building

The new market will be constructed on 3.6 acres of land under the PPP model at the cost of Rs 114 crores.

The re-development of the Central Market and Fish Market project is being undertaken on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis under the PPP model.

The road in and around the Central Market has already been developed, and the foundation will be laid shortly. The new market will have five floors and parking space in the basement per the plan. 

The Mangaluru-based concessionaire Somayaji Estates has been awarded the contract for the project.

After the High Court vacated a stay order, the city corporation demolished the 60-year-old Central Market building to facilitate the new building work in April 2022.

The demolition paved the way for MSCL to re-construct a new modern market building under the Smart City Mission.