Mangaluru : J.R. Lobo, former MLA of Mangaluru City South, on Friday said the Congress, if elected to power at the Centre, will transform Mangaluru as the ‘gateway to Karnataka’ by developing it on all fronts.

Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Lobo said the Congress in its manifesto has promised to build expressways connecting Mangaluru to Goa and Bengaluru.

Despite the city having an all-weather port, its full potential was not exploited because of infrastructure constraints.

An expressway to Bengaluru thus would help complete exploitation of the port’s capabilities, he said.

Besides the New Mangalore Port, the Congress also wants to fully utilise the potential of the Mangaluru Old Port and re-establish trade with Lakshadweep.

The Congress also has plans to link the new and old ports by waterway, he said.

Mr. Lobo said the Congress has been the party fulfilling its promises which brought about the welfare of the people as well as the nation.

“It is not just wishful thought but the party has vigorously worked for the welfare of people,” he said, adding India was among the top 10 countries during the 10-year UPA rule.

Now its position at the global level has come down, Mr. Lobo claimed. The BJP, on the other hand, has failed to deliver on promises it made, Mr. Lobo alleged and said many public sector companies, including BSNL, are at the verge of closure.

Yet the BJP’s manifesto promises to revive BSNL. The ‘smart city’ project, of which Mangaluru is also a beneficiary, is not moving forward, he said.

Congress leaders Suresh Ballal, Mahabala Marla and others were present.