The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) is set to celebrate its Golden Jubilee on November 13 with a grand ceremony in Mangaluru that will see the dedication and launch of multiple infrastructure and community development projects worth over ₹1,500 crore. The event, to be held at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Stadium in Panambur, will be graced by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who will serve as the chief guest.
Several dignitaries, including Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi, Minister of State for MSME, Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, Karnataka Minister for Ports and Fisheries Mankal S. Vaidya, Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, and former MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, will also attend the celebration, according to NMPA Deputy Chairperson S. Shanthi.
As part of the jubilee celebrations, a host of new facilities and development initiatives will be inaugurated or have their foundation stones laid. These include the new building for the Mercantile Marine Department’s Mangaluru office, the Srinivasa Port Hospital, a four-lane concrete road from Kuri Katta Gate to Baikampady Tank Bund Road, the KK Gate Truck Terminal with parking for 300 trucks, and several major private sector projects such as the Santoshimathaa Edible Oil Refinery, Aegis Vopak Oil and Gas Terminal, and SSPP Petro Products’ bitumen and edible oil storage facility.
The event will also mark the dedication of a hospital built under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and the handover of two vehicles to the Karnataka State Police under NMPA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. These vehicles, provided at the request of the Mangaluru City Police, will support traffic regulation and enhance road safety in the city.
Dignitaries will also lay foundation stones for upcoming projects including a GAIL booster pump for direct Paraxylene transfer, a shelter over Rail Lines 1 and 2 at the Marshalling Yard, and an oil and gas handling facility at Plot No. 5. In a symbolic gesture, the KK Gate will be renamed after Rani Abbakka, the legendary coastal queen known for her resistance against colonial powers.
A major highlight of the celebration will be an exhibition showcasing NMPA’s 50-year journey, chronicling its transformation into one of India’s premier ports through displays of key milestones, technological upgrades, and contributions to the maritime sector. An exhibition van depicting the port’s five-decade evolution will also travel across the hinterland in the coming months to raise awareness about NMPA’s legacy and role in regional development.
Marking five decades of service to India’s maritime trade, the Golden Jubilee celebrations reaffirm NMPA’s commitment to growth, sustainability, and community engagement as it looks ahead to the next era of port-led development.
