Mangaluru: A new riverfront park featuring an amphitheatre, viewpoint, drive-in facility and children’s play area is set to come up on 84 cents of land near the bridge-cum-saltwater exclusion dam at Harekala in Dakshina Kannada district.

The Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) is expected to begin the tender process shortly for the project, estimated to cost around ₹2 crore.

The park, proposed by Mangaluru MLA and district minister U T Khader, will be developed along the banks of the Nethravati River with the aim of creating a recreational space for residents as well as a new tourist attraction.

The proposed facilities include an amphitheatre, viewpoint, drive-in area, walking track, children’s play area, seating arrangements and a food court.

MUDA chairman Santhosh Kumar Shetty said Khader had initiated the process to make the government land available for public use. The land was formally handed over to MUDA through a government order last week.

Shetty said the location already attracts visitors, particularly in the evenings, and offers scenic views of the Nethravati River. The area is also frequented by a large number of birds from Pavoor and Uliya Island, making it suitable for tourism-oriented development, he said.

Khader, who recently inspected the proposed site, said local residents had been seeking a public recreational space in the area for a long time.

“A well-equipped park for children, senior citizens and families will be developed here on behalf of the government,” he said.

The minister said the park, surrounded by greenery and located along the river, would become an important public amenity for Harekala. He directed officials to take up the work at the earliest and ensure quality execution, adding that development of villages remains a priority.

The bridge-cum-barrage connecting Harekala and Adyar was constructed at an estimated cost of ₹192 crore.