Controversial Bridge slows Tourism Development in Malayattoor Tourism Circuit Project

In order to develop tourism sector and to connect the important tourism centres, several developments plans are initiated by the tourism department and government. The ambitious Malayattoor tourism circuit project is one of them which have been ruled as controversial by the Malayattoor Neeleeswaram Panchyat and the Tourism department and it has not reached anywhere. 

The project has become controversial due to the 250 metre Kodanad Malayattoor Bridge, which is yet to be completed. The proposed bridge which was passed in the year 2010 was to be completed by December 2012 and it was to connect Malayattoor Pilgrim centre to Kodanad and channel pilgrim tourism from Malayattoor to other important tourist sites in Perumbavoor. 

With the construction of the bridge, the distance between Munnar and Athirappally waterfalls and spot like St Thomas Church Malayattoor, Ezhattumugham nature village, Mulankuzhi waterfalls, forest tracks of Panyeli Poru, sacred groves of Iringole Kavu, Kalil Cave temple and Kodanad Elephant Training Centre.  

But even after three years of the commencement of the project, the bridge is not yet completed. It looks like it will take one more year for completion of bridge as the work is taking place at a snail’s pace. The construction of the middle pillar will not            finish anytime soon, according to the sources. 

Radhakrishnan Chengattu, president, Malayattoor-Neeleeswaram panchayat, said, that the Malayattoor tourism circuit project is yet to take off as the bridge work is yet to be completed. We have meet all the important person, ministers and officials taking the issue to them, but their promises are yet to be fulfilled. Once the bridge work is over, there will be all round development in the entire tourism sector. 

 For bridge, the foundation stone was laid in December 2010, but the 15 crore bridge work is yet to be completed even after the span of 3 years. More of all, the construction of the roads to the bridge is also pending. 

  “Looking at the work, it seems it will get completed only by beginning of next year”,” Radhakrishnan said.  But however the contractor of the project that delay is unfortunate for the tourism development and it is delayed due to unfavorable weather construction, which is making the further delay in the construction work. 

Ref: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Malayattoor-Tourism-Circuit-Project-in-Limbo/2014/02/19/article2064419.ece#.UywUkKiSxAm