The Ernakulam District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) will come up with a slew of projects to develop areas closer to the forest areas and islands along the Periyar in the eastern parts of the district. As part of this, the DTPC has started steps to draw a master plan for developing Okkal Thuruth into a tourist centre.
The agency Tourism Researches Kerala Ltd has been selected for completing the master plan of the tourism project in Okkal Thuruth. District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth said that the construction work would start once the master plan is finalised. The DTPC would invest Rs 25 crore for the developmental activities here. The DTPC officials in a press release said that the Okkal Thuruth would become a centre of attraction for foreign tourists. The DTPC is planning to develop the Okkal Thuruth on the lines of the Bolgatty Palace.
A new tourism circuit connecting Kalady, Okkal Thuruth, Malayatoor, Kodanad, Paniyeli Poru, Kallil Temple and Iringole Kavu would be developed. These development projects would be carried out with the participation of the local bodies and the Forest Department. In the wake of the completion of the work on the bridge on the Periyar connecting Malayatoor and Kodanad, the DTPC expects that the tourism circuit would become popular among tourists. The DTPC is also planning to start a dairy farm in Aluva.