Mega Projects for Alappuzha Backwaters and Tourism on the Way

It all started after the Deccan Chronicle report titled ‘Monsoon is near, but safety of house boat still far away’. Acting very fast on the Deccan Chronicle report on the lack of safety measures for backwater tourism in Alapphuzha, K C Venugopal has said that the first phase of the Alapphuzha Mega Tourism Project will be completed within three years.

K C Venugopal the Union Minister State Civil Aviation of Kerala as well explained about the decisions taken at the meeting of people’s representatives and official to prepare a draft of backwater circuit project.

It is estimated that the first phase of the project will bring in development worth Rs 52.25 crores through the projects lined up from Aroorkutty in the north to Kayamkulam in the south of the district. Already the central fund of Rs 47.62 crore has been sanctioned and the rest of the amount would as well be sanctioned soon by the government of Kerala. The procedure of inviting tenders and awarding them has been started.

This project will include setting up seven houseboat terminals and the cost estimated for this is Rs 14.95 crore at select places from Aroorkutty to Kayam-Kullam. Aroorkutty, Than-eerm-ukk-om, Nedu-mudi, Kanjipadam, Thotta-ppally and Kayam-kulam are the places where the houseboats terminal are to be built. Vattakayal in Nedumudi and Vialak-Kumaram in karumadi are the places where night halt to be set up.

Added plans include development of Arthungal Beach at an estimated cost of Rs 1.59 crore and Thottappally Beach at a cost of Rs 1.02 crore. In this massive tourism schemes worth Rs 2.59 2.59 crore will be used at Vyayyachira near Mavelikara, Pandi near Harippad, Kuthir­avattom­chira near Chengannur and Thazhappu near Aroor.

Tourism Minister A. P. Anil Kumar along with the N. Padmakumar the district collector, DTPC Secretary c Pradeep and ADM K P Thampy were also present at the meeting.