Thiruvananthapuram: The cruise project is being carried out along the rivers of Mayyazhi, Valapattanam, Ancharakkandi, Kuppam, Perumba,of Kavvayi, Thejaswini and Chandragiri rivers besides the sprawling Valiyaparamaba backwaters.
Kerala Tourism is launching the Malanad-Malabar River Cruise project on February 15. It will be launching the first of the 11 types of boat-rides to less explored areas. The Kerala tourism that was predominantly based in the south is all set to expand to the northern part as well.
The inaugural cruise boat will attract tourists to the hitherto unseen waterways in the northern districts of Kannur and Kasaragod.
The first service will be on the route linking Parassinikkadavu and Pazhayangadi. The project will also help showcase the Malabar regions culture, rich with local legends and folk arts. In all 48 boat terminals and jetties along seven rivers across the districts of Kannur and Kasaragod would be operational.
“It guarantees a better livelihood to the people around.They include the fisher folk, farmers, drivers of cabs and auto-rickshaws, handicraft workers and handloom labourers,”said Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
KTDC will run the boats, six of which are being manufactured, in the first phase, by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation. The project is being implemented by the governments.
Inland Navigation Department and state-owned KEL, with T V Madhukumaras the architect. Principal Secretary of Kerala Tourism, Rani George said the state-of-the-art boat terminals at Parassinikkadavu and Pazhayangadi in Kannur district have been completed at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore.
“As for the rest of the project, 90 per cent of the work on the terminals and jetties is complete. The cruise project had, in September 2018, been sanctioned Rs 80.37 under the Swadesh Darshan scheme that promotes rural tourism circuits.” Kerala Tourism Director P Bala Kiran said the developmental work was fast progressing under the scheme. “The Malanad-Malabar project will get world-class cruise packages once the Swadesh Darshan enters its second phase,” he said.
Discussion about this post