The picturesque Malpe beach here will undergo a major makeover making it even more attractive and friendly to the tourists.
The Malpe Development Committee, which is overseeing development activities both at Malpe and St. Mary's Island, which is about 6 km from the (Malpe) beach, has drawn up several projects to meet its goal of providing a “tourism friendly environment” at both places.
The most ambitious of these plans is the construction of a jetty at South side of Malpe and another jetty at St. Mary's Island. At present, tourists wanting to go to St. Mary's Island have to enter Malpe fishing harbour and take a boat. There is congestion at the harbour as boats of fishermen keep entering and exiting the harbour.
Again, after nearing St. Mary's Island, the tourists have to take a small boat and then reach the Island as it does not have a jetty.
Connectivity
Secretary of Malpe Development Committee (MDC) Gokuldas Nayak told The Hindu on Sunday that the Department of Tourism had sanctioned Rs. 1 crore for the construction of a jetty at the south side of Malpe beach. Talks were on with the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) on the exact location for construction of the jetty at the beach. A proposal of Rs. 1 crore for the construction of a jetty at St. Mary's Island had been sent to the Tourism Department.
“The construction of jetties at the beach and island will provide direct connectivity between them without the hassles of entering the harbour. Both these jetties are expected to be ready in two years,” Mr. Nayak said.
Interlock road
A new parking lot would be built on the northern side of the beach for four-wheelers and two-wheelers. An interlock road and a small bridge would be built on the northern side so that this road touched the Thottam Road.
The petty shops of different sizes and shapes would be converted into attractive kiosks. The committee had introduced two water scooters for tourists at the beach about a week ago. “We will introduce two more water scooters in about 10 days”, Mr. Nayak said.
The committee would hire expert swimmers who would be on the stand-by every evening to help rescue those who go to swim in the sea, in spite of warnings not to enter it. A watch tower with a telescope would be built to keep a watch on all activities at the beach. The tower would alert the expert swimmers or the police depending on the case.
There is a plan to erect a statue of the exponent of Dwaita philosophy Sri Madhwacharya at the beach as it was here that Sri Madhwacharya found the idol of Lord Krishna, which he installed at the Sri Krishna Math in Udupi 800 years ago.
“We are yet to decide whether to use granite or other material for the construction of the statue because of the saline climate on the beach. This plan is in preliminary stages,” Mr. Nayak added.
