KOCHI: With the season set to start, the Tourism Department has decided to speed up all pending projects in the district. Recently, a committee headed by the MLAs identified the projects pending in their constituencies for several years due to various technical issues.Tourism Joint Director P G Sivan said 14 tourism projects are pending and some of the projects are 'ongoing'. "The first level meeting was held with MLAs in their constituencies, along with agencies carrying out the construction work and local representatives. Tourism projects were identified and steps discussed to speed up the construction works. Tender proceedings have not been initiated in some projects and it has been decided to speed this up," he said.
The cost of the 14 pending projects is pegged at around Rs 15 crore. In some projects, the fund has been issued to the agencies concerned and projects stranded due to fund crunch will be reported to the government. It was decided to hold a constituency-level tourism development committee meeting each month. After the Onam celebrations, the second round meeting will be held in each constituency to evaluate the status of the projects.
Fort Kochi lags behind
A majority of the pending projects are in Fort Kochi. The renovation of Nehru Park has been stalled and the Tourism Department has sought the cooperation of the Kochi Corporation to complete the project, with a proposal being sent to the Corporation recently. The department has decided to speed up the development and the renovation work on the Parade Ground for which a fund of Rs 1.76 crore was granted. The walkway washed off at the beach side will also be renovated soon.
However, the renovation of 13 Chinese nets has been pending for the past several years due to the non-availability of teak wood from the Forest Department.
Mattancherry picks up pace
The renovation of two historic sites - the Chempittapally (mosque) and the Hari Shenoy Bungalow - will be completed soon. The mosque dates back to 1300 while the bungalow was built in 1874. "Some construction work remains and we have directed the agency carrying out the work to speed it up," a tourism official said.
Kothamangalam looking up
The Tourism Department will introduce a tree house and a children's park in Bhoothathankettu. The park will be developed with a fund of nearly Rs 1 crore. The department is also looking at sprucing up the boating facility there. Currently, boating is conducted mostly by the Irrigation Department under the Periyar Valley Irrigation Project.To promote religious tourism, a tourist felicitation centre will be constructed at Kurishumudi, Malayattoor. The Tourism Department will also develop other facilities here; a Rs 2.3 crore fund has been allocated.
City centre on the move
The renovation of Durbar Hall Ground assigned to the DTPC is being carried out at a cost of Rs 47 lakh.
By the Piravom riverside
A riverside beautification project is being undertaken at Kallidumbil in Piravom constituency. A fund of Rs 1.5 crore has been allocated for the project and construction work will be initiated soon. A park will be constructed on the banks of the Piravom river as part of the project. Similarly, a project for developing tourism sites in Kanjiramattom was given the green flag and a fund of Rs 2 crore was allocated. However, the construction work is yet to take place.
Vypeen corridor
A 'beach corridor', connecting nine beaches from Vypeen to Munambam over 23 km, has been undertaken. Even though the fund for the project was allocated last year, due to delayed paperwork, the tender procedure could only be completed recently. The sketches for developing the beaches have been prepared and the agency to conduct construction work has been asked to get through the works fast. A fund of Rs 4.5 crore has been allocated for the project.
Angamaly diary
The renovation work of Prakrithigramam at Ezhattumugham is being carried out. A fund of Rs 50 lakh was allocated for the project and the Tourism Department is expecting large tourist numbers here once it is set up.
The cost of the 14 pending projects is pegged at around Rs 15 crore. In some projects, the fund has been issued to the agencies concerned and the projects stranded due to fund crunch will be reported to the government.
To promote religious tourism, a tourist felicitation centre will be constructed at Kurishumudi, Malayattoor. The Tourism Department will also develop other facilities here; a Rs 2.3 crore fund has been allocated.
Rs 1.76 Crore was granted to speed up the development and the renovation work on Parade Ground at
Fort Kochi.
Hop on-hop off tourist bus service stalls
Kochi: Tourists arriving in Kochi will have to wait a little longer to get a ride on the hop on-hop off bus service connecting different tourist spots. The initial plan was to roll out the bus service before Onam, but the bus is still in Thiruvananthapuram. According to a Tourism Department officer in Thiruvananthapuram, three buses were procured by the department to be operated in the capital, Kochi and Thrissur. A fund of Rs 1.5 crore was utilised for the purpose.
"We are looking to procure more buses so a full-fledged operation can be carried out, as one bus can accommodate only a limited number of tourists. The buses will be handed over to the DTPC within a month or two," he said. The department will soon chart out the tourist circuit that will form the bus route. "The plan is to cover all tourist destinations, shopping places and also halt at the Kochi Metro. The bus will start from Fort Kochi in the morning and complete the route by evening. The ticket price and route of the air-conditioned bus will be fixed once the bus is received," the officer said.