KOZHIKODE:The Kadalur Point Lighthouse near Koyilandy in the district is all set for a major makeover as officials aim to make it a major tourist destination. The Ministry of Shipping, along with the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) has drawn up an ambitious programme to develop 78 lighthouses in the country including Kadalur. These lighthouses will be boosted as centres of tourism in the first phase under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The Kadalur Point Lighthouse on the coast of Arabian sea started its operation in 1907.
The circular stone masonry tower has a height of 34 meters and the light source is a metal halide lamp. With the proposed makeover, more facilities will be installed and is expected to draw a large number of tourists.
“Traditionally, lighthouses have been beacons of navigation for mariners for centuries. But in the 21st century, lighthouses are going through a major transformation as tourist destinations. All over the world, lighthouses enthrall tourists with their scenic and serene surroundings and rich maritime heritage. Realizing the immense potential of lighthouses in the country, the Ministry of Shipping through the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) has decided to tap into the opportunities to promote tourism at these sites,” reads an official statement.
The identified lighthouses are in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The DGLL has already invited Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from prospective and potential developers for eight Lighthouses at Kadalur Point (Kerala), Aguada (Goa), Chandrabhaga (Odisha), Mahabalipuram, Kanya Kumari and Muttom (Tamil Nadu), Kanhoji Angre and Sunk Rock (Maharashtra) and Minicoy (Lakshadweep). An Expression of Interest (EOI) has also been issued by DGLL for another 70 lighthouses.
The decision to develop these lighthouses was taken following the successful development of four lighthouses as tourist attraction centres namelly Chennai and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and Alappuzha and Kannur lighthouses in Kerala. These lighthouses have been garnering substantial tourist footfall over the years, according to surveys.
India has 189 lighthouses dotting its vast coast line of 7517 Kms, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.