Mangaluru: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry felicitated Mangaluru North MLA D Vedvyas Kamath at KCCI office here on Friday, August 3.

After presenting the memorandum on various demands to the Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Vathika Pai urged the MLA to set up a greenfield container terminal at NMPT.

“The current facility is cumbersome to handle the likely surge in traffic in the future. Developing a new greenfield container terminal is the only option to meet the demand. This is also a long pending demand”, she said.

Pai urged the MLA to appeal to the government to install Precision Approach Lighting System (PALS) at Mangaluru International Airport that can reduce the visibility requirement to 550 meters to reduce the recurring issue of flight diversions due to poor visibility at the airport. She said the present simple approach lighting system that assists the advanced Category-I Instrument Landing System (ILS) can facilitate landing with a visibility of at least 1000 meters.

KCCI president also sought the intervention of the MLA to set up a Maritime Board for Karnataka to promote coastal shipping and inland waterways in the state and draw investment from the private sector.

“The Mangaluru city should be promoted as a brand and help in creating a suitable environment for more industries to set up a base and thrive, and subsequently create wide employment opportunities to our youth,” she added.

MLA Vedavyas Kamath assured that he would make sincere efforts to meet the demands of KCCI. He said that he would seek the co-operation of various MLAs, District In-Charge Minister U T Khader and MP Nalin Kumar to sort out the matters highlighted by KCCI.