Mangaluru (TOI): In an effort to push for Port City's ambitious plans of boosting the old trade relations with Lakshadweep, a delegation led by Mangaluru City South MLA J R Lobo will visit the Island soon. The delegation will put pressure on Lakshadweep administration to invest on a pending project of constructing a jetty in Mangaluru exclusively to connect the Port City with the Island.

Lobo said, MoU has already been signed with the Lakshadweep administration to construct a dedicated jetty for their ships, passengers' waiting complex, goods sheds and other facilities at a cost of Rs 68 crore at Old Port in the city. However, Lobo said, the project has been stalled for nearly two years due to lack of interest from both sides

"Nearly 75% of our business went to Kerala since we do not have an exclusive jetty for Lakshadweep in Mangaluru. The proposed new exclusive jetty will ensure arrival of ships from the Island in Mangaluru regularly. It will also ensure a steady business growth in Bunder trade region in the city. The government has decided to send a delegation to Lakshadweep," Lobo said.

He said, "I will take a delegation, which will include officials, soon after government issues a circular in this regard. We will convince the Lakshadweep administration and put pressure on them to take up the project. They will have to bear the entire cost of the project while we will be providing them required land at Old Port in the city."

He said Dakshina Kannada Coastal Regulation Zone Management Committee has granted no objection certificate (NOC) to Lakshadweep Administration for the construction of their office and other amenities at the identified place in Old Port in June, 2015.

The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS), a society of Lakshadweep Administration, had introduced a cruise service between Lakshadweep and Mangaluru with a capacity to ferry 150 passengers to Kavaratii and back. However, the service is not regular and the infrastructure at the cruise lounge in Mangaluru is also not up to the mark. Meanwhile, lack of an entry permit approval centre in Mangaluru also hinders people from the coastal city to travel to Lakshadweep. All these issues are expected to solve through the visit of delegation from Mangaluru to Lakshadweep.