The Union Tourism Ministry has given its nod to Kerala Tourism for the first phase of the Rs.400-crore master plan for the comprehensive development of backwaters of Alappuzha, including creation of a backwater circuit.
Work on the first phase, costing Rs.50 crore, will be completed in two years. More houseboat terminals, rest points, night-halt centres to provide a new experience of culture and shopping to tourists, and new routes for houseboats are proposed in the phase.
“The first phase of the master plan, to be launched very soon, involves developing a comprehensive backwater circuit linking more places and carving out more routes for houseboats,” Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said.
The department had identified the places for night-halts of houseboats. “New shopping centres, handicraft stalls, restaurants and live performances of traditional art forms will give a real feeling of the local culture and cuisine to the visitors at these places,'' he said.
Hundreds of houseboats taking tourists for a cruise ride now have no fixed place to anchor in the night and cannot offer any entertainment to the tourists in the evening as they are led to narrow canals in deserted locales as dusk falls. The master plan also seeks to address the safety concerns of the tourists.
The new facilities that will come along the backwaters will be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The State will lay the necessary infrastructure for the purpose while the private players will create and run the shops and other ventures to woo the visitors.
“Another highlight of the plan is to link more places by charting new routes for the houseboats. Many have become monotonous for the repeat tourists. This will further spread the benefits of tourism in more areas of Kuttanad,'' the Minister said.
The development of the tourist spots from Aroor to Kayamkulam will benefit 58 panchayats and three municipalities. The master plan also suggests South and North Vembanad, and certain areas alongside the Pampa, in Kayamkulam and Kuttanad as possible new routes. Concerns about some bridges at Kidangara, Vattakayal and Pulinkunnu obstructing free movement of boats will be addressed. There will also be provisions for waste management with focus on eco-friendly tourism.
The government will consider proposals for allowing luxury houseboats and floating restaurants. The master plan for Alappuzha stresses on provision of basic infrastructure for development of backwater tourism in the district with special focus on protection of the environment.
