New Mangalore Port halts breakwater construction due to protests by fishermen, with concerns about potential material displacement from the Northern Breakwater.
The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has halted the ongoing construction of the Kulai Fishing Harbour’s breakwaters following protests from the local fishing community. The project, valued at ₹147 crore, involves the construction of an 831-meter-long Northern Breakwater and a 262-meter-long Southern Breakwater. While the Southern Breakwater is nearly complete, the Northern Breakwater has reached 560 meters in length.
The halt came after a meeting on October 16, 2024, attended by MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MLAs Y Bharath Shetty and Yashpal Suvarna, NMPA Chairperson Dr. A.V. Ramana, and representatives of the fishermen’s community. The traditional fishermen expressed concerns that the project, in its current form, did not benefit them and requested an immediate stop to the construction.
NMPA’s Chief Engineer (civil) warned of potential risks from abruptly stopping the project. The core material placed along the Northern Breakwater’s western arm, which is yet to be protected by tetrapods and armour stones, could be displaced by strong waves and currents. The strength of the core material alone is not sufficient to withstand these forces, which may result in delays and increased costs if the materials are washed away. The third-party inspection agency, NITK, confirmed these concerns.
Despite these risks, the NMPA has complied with the fishermen’s requests and paused the project, cautioning that delays could prolong the construction timeline and expose the core material to further damage.
