Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s outreach to the BJP’s traditional coastal stronghold has taken a distinctly regional and cultural turn, with the state cabinet clearing a series of measures ranging from official-language status for Tulu in parts of coastal Karnataka to land for a Venkateshwara temple and major infrastructure projects.
The cabinet, which met in Mangaluru, declared that Tulu will be recognised as an additional language for official purposes, alongside Kannada, in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The government has also earmarked Rs 82 lakh every year for translation, training and other activities connected with the use of Tulu in administration.
Alongside the language push, the state cabinet has also approved Rs 10
crore in grants for the comprehensive development of eight prominent religious institutions in Dakshina Kannada. The highest allocation of Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned for Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur, while Rs 1 crore each has been earmarked for Odiyoor Mutt, Sri Dhama Manila Mutt, Kukkuje Kalikamba Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Kaniyoor Chamundeshwari Kshetra, Pilli Chamundi Daivasthana, Sri Rama Kshetra Kanyadi and Kemaru Mutt.
The cabinet has approved the allotment of 10 acres in Badaga Ekkaru village near Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada for the construction of a Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple and Kalyana Mantapa, with the land to be allotted in the name of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Tirumala.
The announcements assume significance as the Congress government seeks to make a larger political and developmental pitch in the coastal belt, where the BJP has maintained a strong electoral presence. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP retained both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru seats.
Rs 549.79 crore medical college in Puttur
One of the biggest announcements is the approval for establishing a government medical college, teaching hospital, hostel and allied infrastructure in Puttur at an estimated cost of Rs 549.79 crore. The Cabinet note says the project is intended to benefit poorer patients in the district.
The government has also cleared several road and connectivity projects across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Among them is a Rs 50-crore road project connecting Mangaluru–Moodbidri–Karkala, aimed at providing an alternative route to reduce pressure on the existing road network. Another Rs 75.68-crore road project has been approved in the Shreedharan–Kundapur Rajya highway stretch, while Rs 40 crore has been earmarked for maintenance of an existing state highway.
A Rs 33-crore project in Kateel has also been approved for a 16-km stretch of road, with the note specifically stating that the project will help reduce traffic pressure in front of the Kateel temple.
Fishing, tourism and blue economy push
The cabinet has also given an in-principle nod to upgrade Mangaluru Fisheries College into a fisheries university while increasing the student intake from 60 to 200.
A total of Rs 20 crore has been approved for maintenance of fishing-link roads in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada. Another Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned for various fisheries-related works, including facilities for traditional fishing boats.
The cabinet note also contains a substantial tourism and coastal-development package, including resort and adventure-tourism infrastructure at Trasi–Maravanthe, along with other tourism projects.
The government has separately approved the Karnataka Marine Biotechnology and Blue Economy Policy 2026-31, with the cabinet note proposing Rs 60 crore over five years for related initiatives.
A political and cultural outreach
Taken together, the decisions cover some of the key themes that dominate coastal Karnataka’s public discourse—language and cultural identity, temples and religious infrastructure, roads, fishing, tourism, education, healthcare and the blue economy.
The Tulu decision is particularly significant because the cabinet note records that demands for recognising Tulu as an additional official language had been raised by prominent individuals, organisations and the public, and that a report had been obtained from experts and officials before the decision.
The package therefore gives Shivakumar and the Congress government a broad set of regional issues to take to the coast, combining cultural recognition with large infrastructure and development commitments.
For a region that has remained a BJP stronghold electorally, the cabinet’s Mangaluru-focused package represents a wide-ranging attempt to put the Congress government’s development agenda and regional outreach front and centre.
