THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A master plan will be prepared for the comprehensive development of Kovalam, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the renovation work of the craft village at Vellar. Service of architects of international repute will be roped in for this.
Necessary infrastructure facilities will be set up at Kovalam before the next tourism season. They include toilets, parking facility, waste management system, safety measures and street lighting. Rs 24 lakh was sanctioned for the renovation of Kovalam beach. Rs 1.20 crore was spent for lighting facilities. Rs 70 lakh was sanctioned for the renovation of the footpath.
The government is giving special focus for developing tourism centres in Thiruvananthapuram. Blueprint for the heritage street project at Chalai is being prepared. Expression of interest was called for the PPP model development of Veli tourist village. Construction work will start this year itself. A big tourism project has been started at Madavoorpara. Akkulam tourist village will be renovated.
The minister said that Vellar crafts village has huge scope. It can attract travellers to Kovalam. Facilities to be set up at the village include museum, light and sound show, amphi theatre, children park, food court and art gallery.
M Vincent, MLA, presided over the function. Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society is executing the work. The function was attended by Tourism Secretary Rani George, director P Balakiran and Venganoor panchayat president G S Sreekala.
