New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs 80.37 crore for the 'Development of Rural Circuit: Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project' in Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam announced here on Wednesday.
The project will be undertaken in public-private partnership mode and will focus on development of three thematic cruise experiences in and around Valapattanam and Kuppam rivers in Kannur.
Muthappan Cruise – Malabari cuisine and culinary cruise on the Valapattanam – will start from Valapattanam and reach Munambu Kadavu with an effective cruise length of 40 km. Theyyam Cruise, also on the Valapattanam, will end at Pazhayangadi covering 16 km. Mangrove Cruise on the Kuppam will begin from Pazhayangadi and cover 16 km.
Development of infrastructure facilities like passenger terminals, boat terminals, jetties, boat race gallery, restaurants, food courts, performance areas, open air theatres,cycle tracks, bio toilets, Wi Fi, and is also a part of the project.
The project is aimed to be ecologically effective. For that purpose floating markets for local produce, solar lamps, solid waste management, and bio toilets will also be set up.
Kerala is blessed with wide stretches of water bodies – 44 rivers and 7 backwater regions. However, the potential of these is not tapped properly. Total length of the navigation route in the Kerala is 1900 km.
