Union Budget 2026: KCCI flags absence of dedicated Coastal Economic Corridor for West Coast

KCCI highlights missed opportunities for coastal Karnataka in Union Budget 2026, urging a dedicated Coastal Economic Corridor to enhance connectivity and development.

While the Union Budget 2026 laid a strong national foundation, the absence of a dedicated Coastal Economic Corridor for the West Coast was a significant missed opportunity for Mangaluru and coastal Karnataka, the Mangaluru-based Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has stated.

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In a statement on Sunday (February 1, 2026), KCCI President P.B. Ahmed Mudassar said Industry expected targeted fiscal support for the proposed “Silicon Beach” initiative, deeper investment in underutilized deep-water ports, and a mission-mode push for the blue economy to integrate the region more effectively into global supply chains. The exclusion of coastal Karnataka from the proposed high-speed rail growth corridors limits connectivity-led development.

Without focused incentives for technology clusters and port-based industries in Tier-II coastal cities, the region’s strategic potential remains under-leveraged. The government should address this gap in subsequent policy actions, he said.

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“Despite strong maritime development support in the Budget, there was no announcement on establishing a Central Maritime University or dedicated maritime higher education institute in Mangaluru, which was a long-standing demand to leverage coastal skills and trade potential. The stakeholders had hoped budgetary backing would formalise maritime education, boost specialised training, and strengthen the city’s role in shipping, logistics and ocean economy sectors,” he said.