A jewel for the Queen of Arabian Sea

Kochi: Not to be outdone by other enterprising states, Kerala is now determined to fully tap its naturally gifted tourism potentiality. And now the focus is on Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Apart from the Rs 122-crore project announced by Kerala Tourism Minister K V Thomas recently, the district tourism promotion council (DTPC) has started face-lifting projects in Kochi to promote tourism.

The project includes setting up a heritage village at Fort Kochi, the Chinese-net-Bridge at Marine Drive, a musical fountain at the Childrens Park, beautification of the Durbar Hall ground and a special ferry service in the backwaters.

Kochi district collector and DTPC chairman Gyanesh Kumar told domain-B that these projects will give the city a new look. "These projects are aimed at promoting tourism. We expect these to be completed before the monsoon starts. DTPC also plans to improve its services to foreign tourists. As part of this ongoing programme, we have conducted awareness classes for taxi and autorickshaw drivers."

After the Rainbow Bridge, the proposed Chinese-net-Bridge, which is aimed at linking the Childrens Park and the Taj Boat Jetty, will be another landmark at Marine Walkway. Thomas laid the foundation stone of the bridge at a function held at the project site recently. Estimated to cost Rs 32 lakh, the work is expected to be over in four months time.

The design of the bridge, designed by Sony Mathai Lalicha, is in harmony with the existing Rainbow Bridge. The stainless steel wire-rope ties in between the concrete frames will reflect the Chinese fishing nets at the bay. The structure will reflect the total portion of a traditional houseboat. The Greater Cochin Development Authority is carrying out the project for DTPC.

DTPC has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cochin Centre of Indian Institute of Architecture for bringing out a city map of Kochi. Kumar says the map, to be made available in bookshops and tourism promotion centres, will feature all minute details of the city. The expected cost of the map project is Rs 30 lakh.

DTPC has introduced a new backwater boat service from Kochi. The boat is designed in the modal of the Italian Gondola and is aimed at wooing foreign tourists. The service will offer a pleasure trip through the backwaters for a reasonable rate.

The city beautification work has already been started. The musical fountain at Priyadarshini Park is the major project under this scheme. The proposed project, at the cost of Rs 23 lakh, will be operational within six months, says Kumar. Beautification of the Durbar Hall ground is also included in the scheme, which is expected to cost Rs 50 lakh. The Kumar group has designed the project.

Thomas says apart from these projects, the state government has cleared a dozen tourism projects in the city. In a recent meting organised in connection with the foundation stone-laying function of the proposed Chinese-net-Bridge in the city, he announced tourism projects costing Rs 112.69 crore.

These projects include the preservation of Mattanchery and Jew the Town, the construction of food courts, a tourism complex at Vallarpadam, the development of the walkway and the boat jetty and the preservation of Chennamangalam Heritage Village. The projects also include the integrated development of Kalady and the Malayatoor Pilgrim Centre.

The development of Kumbalangi is another major project taken up by the tourism department. Under the proposed project, the boat jetties will be developed, spending Rs 5 crore. The water supply scheme and internal roads of the island will receive a financial assistance to the tune of Rs 10 crore each.

The total project cost of the preservation of Mattanchery and the Jew Town is estimated to be at Rs 5 crore, and the preservation of the Chennamangalam Heritage Village is Rs 4 crore. Thomas says the government has sanctioned Rs 120 crore for the Vallarpadam Tourism Complex.

Kerala has sanctioned Rs 267 crore and Rs 1.59 crore for the Innovative Water Sports and the development of Ernakulam Boat Jetty, respectively. An amount of Rs 1.20 crore has been allotted for setting up the food courts at Broadway, and Rs 12 crore has been approved for the Golf Course project.