Helicopter service to Kanyakumari, Ramand soon to boost tourism

Helicopter services will soon be introduced in Madurai covering three major tourist attractions in southern Tamil Nadu to draw more foreign tourists and provide better transport facilities, said Minister for Tourism S.P. Shanmuganathan.

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural of a 10-day summer festival and two-day flower show at Bryant Park here on Saturday, he said that helicopter services will be introduced to Kanyakumari, Mandapam in Ramanathapuram and to Kodaikanal from Madurai.

To begin with, the service will be introduced in Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari. A four-acre site was identified in Kodaikanal for helicopter tourism.

After constructing the helipad, helicopter service will be introduced to Kodaikanal. Such fast services will help foreign tourists visit these places in short time and make it a most-favoured destination, he said.

Tamil Nadu was top in the country in attracting maximum number of domestic tourists and second ranked in the country in attracting foreigners, Mr. Shanmuganathan said.

Allays fears

Inaugurating the festival, Minister R. Viswanathan allayed the fears of farmers and local people in Kodaikanal and urged them not to believe the false propaganda by a section of people and some political parties on the proposed wildlife sanctuary in Kodaikanal and its eco sensitive zone.

He clarified that no farmer or local person would be affected on the hill. The eco sensitive zone and wildlife sanctuary would be established only within 27 reserved forests of Kodaikanal. No habitations or villages are present within the proposed sanctuary area.

Already, all existing villages, tourist spots and agriculture lands, roads leading to all villages and farms were excluded. There would be no ban on the use of fertilizers and raising crops on the hill.

Not even a single individual would be affected. Any proposal that would affect the people would not be implemented by the government, he said.

Minister for Agriculture R. Vaidhyalingam said that the Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Israel would bring the latest technologies to the farmers of the State.

Collector T.N. Hariharan said that administrative sanction was given for laying road to Periyakulam from Kodaikanal through Adukkam at an estimated cost of Rs.70 crore.

A four-acre site has been identified in Kodaikanal for helicopter tourism