CAMPCO Welcomes Proposed Prof. U.R. Rao Science Centre in Udupi
Mangaluru, May 25, 2026: S.R. Sathishchandra has welcomed the proposed establishment of the Prof. U.R. Rao Advanced Science Centre in Udupi, describing it as a major step forward for scientific education and research in the coastal region.
In a statement, Sathishchandra said the project, once implemented, would become an important milestone in promoting science education, innovation and research among students and young researchers in the region.
Recalling earlier efforts in this direction, he said former CAMPCO president A. Kishore Kumar Kodgi had submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 seeking the establishment of an Indian Space Research Organisation laboratory unit in Udupi district. The proposal was aimed at honouring scientists associated with India’s Chandrayaan missions and encouraging advanced space science research in the coastal belt.
He noted that scientists from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have made notable contributions to India’s space programmes. The proposal had also sought the establishment of a scientific institution in memory of the late Udupi Ramachandra Rao, the internationally renowned space scientist from Udupi who played a key role in strengthening India’s space research capabilities.
The proposed science centre, expected to be developed at an estimated cost of ₹6.2 crore on a five-acre campus, is likely to include an aerospace gallery and other science-based attractions designed to inspire interest in science, innovation and space technology among students.
Sathishchandra also expressed hope that more premier scientific and research institutions would be established in the coastal region in the coming years.
