Government mulls major tourism projects around Bhatkal including Kunda Island

Bhatkal: 18 January,2026 (Bhatkallys News Bureau) With the Karnataka government stepping up efforts to promote coastal tourism, plans are underway to expand large-scale tourism projects across Bhatkal taluk, which includes the popular Murdeshwar coast. Until now, tourism activity in the region has largely remained centred around Murdeshwar and Netrani Island, the latter widely known as one of India’s top scuba diving destinations. The government is now looking to extend tourism development to nearby coastal stretches such as Alvekodi, Tenginagundi and Bailur.

As part of the proposed expansion, Kunda Island and Mini Kunda Island, located about two to two-and-a-half kilometres off the Tenginagundi and Alvekodi coastline, are being considered for tourism-related activities. Sources said surveys of both islands have already been completed and preliminary discussions are ongoing on the kind of activities that can be introduced.

Officials said that since the islands are located close to the Bhatkal coastline, the state government is unlikely to face major legal obstacles in utilising them. Under the proposed plan, tourists visiting Bhatkal and Murdeshwar could be offered boat services to explore nearby islands. The move is expected to benefit not only tourists from outside the region but also local residents, many of whom visit beaches and coastal resorts with their families, especially on weekends.

Murdeshwar and Netrani Island have already earned international recognition for water sports and scuba diving. If new destinations such as the Venkatapur river stretch and the Kunda islands are added to the tourism circuit, officials believe overall tourism activity in the region could see a significant boost. However, authorities acknowledge that Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms pose a challenge, as no permanent construction can be taken up on the islands without prior approvals. Despite this, activities such as boating, sea cruising and scuba diving are said to hold strong potential.

It may be recalled that the state government had proposed mini cruise services in an earlier budget. While boating activities later picked up in riverine areas such as the Sharavathi at Honavar, sea cruising did not receive much attention. Fresh discussions are now underway to introduce mini cruise services connecting coastal hubs such as Mangaluru, Maravanthe, Murdeshwar and Karwar. Sources said construction work on a small port at Murdeshwar has already begun, and several private entrepreneurs have shown interest in investing in these projects with government support.

If the proposals are implemented as planned, Bhatkal and its surrounding coastal belt are expected to emerge as one of Karnataka’s key tourism destinations in the coming years.