Karnataka Government unveils plan to boost tourism across coastal belt: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar

Mangaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 11 (ANI): The Karnataka government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to boost tourism across coastal Karnataka, with a focus on the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Saturday, Shivakumar said the state government will appoint a Special Nodal Officer to ensure effective execution of tourism-related projects in the region.
"To ensure the successful execution of this initiative, the government will appoint a Special Nodal Officer dedicated to overseeing and accelerating tourism projects in the region," he said.
Shivakumar's remarks come amid the Congress government's broader outreach programme across the state against the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) law, also known as the VB-G RAM-G law.
While speaking to reporters, Shivakumar reiterated that the Congress will hold a statewide padyatra to highlight concerns related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He said a special session of the Karnataka Assembly will also be convened to discuss issues related to the scheme.
As per the plan, the Congress will organise padyatras in every Assembly constituency from January 26 to February 2. Each padyatra will cover a distance of five to ten kilometres and will include panchayat members, labourers and party workers.
Shivakumar said the initiative aims to "save MGNREGA" and to inform people about the possible impact of replacing the existing scheme with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) law.
"Now, I think, they want to kill this entire project. So we want to encourage all stakeholders. We will call them, educate them. We want to see that the act will be rolled back," he told reporters.
He added that the padyatras will focus on explaining how rural employment and livelihoods could be affected if MGNREGA is replaced by the new legislation.
In December 2025, Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 during the Winter Session. The government has proposed an allocation of Rs 1,51,282 crore for the scheme, which is aimed at facilitating employment opportunities and supporting the overall development of villages. (ANI)