Early start for boat services to St. Mary’s Island sought

Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said on Tuesday that the boat service from Malpe beach to the sought after tourist spot of St. Mary’s Island should be started from 7 a.m. on weekends and holidays.

Chairing the Malpe Development Committee meeting at the District Offices Complex, Ms. Francis said that presently the boat service from Malpe to St. Mary’s Island began at 9 a.m.

But it should begin at 7 a.m. to deal with the rush of tourists on weekends and holidays.

The meeting also decided to purchase a jet ski and an ambulance as part of safety measures to save people from drowning near the beach. The road from the Karavali Junction to the Malpe port here, which was now a part of National Highway 169A, would be widened, she said.

She also directed the officers to submit proposals for the development of sea walkways at the breakwaters at Kundapur Kodi and Gangolli on the lines of the sea walkway developed at Malpe. This would give a boost to tourism in these places.

The district administration wanted to develop vacant places available with the Department of Ports into tourist spots.

Already the State government had appointed consultants to identify places where tourism could be promoted. The Department of Ports had many vacant places which had the potential for tourism development.

The Department should give a list of vacant places with it to the Administration. The officers of the Department of Ports could not give the vacant places with them directly to tourism agencies, Ms. Francis said.