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Kanyakumari, Mahabalipuram to be developed as major tourist spots

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL DEC. 22. Efforts to make Kanyakumari and Mahabalipuram as international tourist spots were underway and necessary infrastructure was being created, the Tourism Minister, A. Miller, has said.

Inaugurating a five-day Cape festival organised by the Tourism department in Kanyakumari yesterday, he said the Government was keen on promoting both the scenic spots and the allocation to the tourism department has been increased from Rs.17.5 crores during 2001-02 to Rs. 33 crores in 2002 - 03.

The Government has proposed to lay a pucca road up to the Sunset point from the Gandhi Mandapam, a walkway at the view tower, putting up dustbins and sign boards, constructing bus shelters, establishing an aquarium and floodlighting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial were among the projects envisaged at a cost of Rs. 5.42 crore.

Mr. Miller said the Government would launch an advertisement campaign to exploit the tourism potential at Thirparappu falls, the Hanging Trough at Mathur, the Udayagiri Fort, the Muttom and Thengapatnam beaches in the district. Efforts would be made to attract foreign tourists, he added.

The former Revenue Minister, N. Thalavai Sundaram, who inaugurated the cultural programmes, said the entire district had the potential to be developed as a tourist spot. The CPI (M) MLA, J. Hemachandran, urged Mr. Miller to make Kanyakumari town declared a tourist village and create infrastructure accordingly. The District Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, said on an average at least 15 lakh tourists visit Kanyakumari annually and the administration was taking measures to improve the facilities.

Creation of wayside amenities for tourists' benefit at Vattakottai at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs was nearing completion.

Besides a sanitary complex at a cost of Rs. 16.25 lakh near the View Tower and the work to improve amenities on the Thiruvalluvar rock was apace.

The AIADMK MLAs, K. T. Pachammal and S. Austin among others spoke.

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