Munnar: Kerala government, which expects around 8 lakh tourists visiting Munnar to see the blooming of neelakurinji (Strobilanthus Kunthiana), has decided to extend the visiting hours to Rajamala by 2 hours. The tour will be open from 7am till 5pm in the next season.
In a recent meeting, attended by officials of various government agencies and local bodies, it was also decided that half of the tickets will be sold online.
The Forest Department of Kerala has already convened two major meetings to resolve matters regarding arrangement of basic amenities to the tourists. Devikulam Sub Collector and Munnar Wildlife Warden will oversee the arrangements by coordinating the different departments. It was decided that a coordination committee would also be formulated.
The Kerala government is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure a pleasant and enjoyable experience for the tourists, who will visit Munnar from August to October 2018 to see the blooming of neelakurinji.
More people will be hired at Rajamala to assist the tourists. Presently the forest department has 7 buses to take the tourists from the entrance at Anjaam Mile to Rajamala. In the upcoming season, 5 more buses will be added to the fleet.
Parking spaces in Munnar will be enhanced anticipating the increase in the number of vehicles arriving at the hill station. Traffic would be regulated by the transport and police departments.
Efficient waste disposal systems will be introduced with the cooperation of the three tier panchayat system. E- toilets too would be installed.
Tourism minister K Raju, who presided over the meetings, said that extensive campaigning would be done to prevent the visitors from plucking the neelakurinji bushes to take it away.
