Mangaluru, Sept 18: In a first in Karnataka’s political history, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his cabinet colleagues travelled in an open-top KSRTC Ambaari double-decker bus to attend the cabinet meeting, creating history at Padil Praja Soudha in Mangaluru on Thursday.
CM D.K. Shivakumar, after offering puja at the 4000-year-old Udbhava Shivalinga at Kadri Manjunatha Temple in the morning, arrived in a grand procession from Pumpwell Circle to Praja Soudha along with all ministers in the open bus. Folk artists and Congress workers gave a rousing welcome.
Key decisions taken in the 21st Cabinet meeting 2026 held outside Bengaluru:
- Tulu gets 2nd additional administrative language status:
Fulfilling a decades-long demand of coastal people, the Cabinet declared Tulu as the second additional administrative language limited to Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. “Criticisms die, work remains. Our government respects people’s sentiment. We do politics on life, not on emotion,” CM said. He recalled that former minister Ramanath Rai first raised the demand and Minister U.T. Khader and Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai had pressured by speaking in Tulu in the Assembly. - Rs 32,611 crore development package:
The cabinet approved projects worth Rs 32,611 crore. Of this, Rs 16,000 crore is for rural road connectivity and rural infrastructure. Remaining for coastal districts.
Renaming Dakshina Kannada as Mangaluru:* Draft notification to be issued to rename Dakshina Kannada as Mangaluru district due to its international brand value. One month time for public opinion.
- Coastal Malnad Tourism Policy 2026: Approved with infrastructure status for tourism projects, more subsidy and loan repayment time for investors.
- 150-acre Fisheries Park & Blue Economy University: Fisheries park in 150 acres, Fisheries seats increased from 60 to 200.
- Puttur Medical College: Rs 549 crore government medical college at Puttur. Demand for Kidwai, Jayadeva hospital branches in this region.
- Data Centre Policy 2026-31: Rs 1300.45 crore Sustainable Data Centre Policy approved, aiming for 1 GW capacity by 2031. Mangaluru to emerge as sub-sea cable landing hub.
- Cabinet meetings in 10-12 places:*
In next 15 months, cabinet meetings will be held in 10-12 different places in the state. Dakshina Kannada is a district that has given 6 nationalised banks to the nation and is a centre for education and health, CM said.
CM also participated in public opinion meeting on Kasturi Rangan report at Hebri today and will be in Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru tomorrow.
Deputy CM Dr G Parameshwara, Minister U.T. Khader, Rizwan Arshad, Vijay Anand Kashappanavar, Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai were present.
