Kerala Budget: major tourism and traditional industry push for Alappuzha
Alappuzha has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the maiden Budget of the V.D. Satheesan government, with a raft of proposals spanning tourism
Alappuzha has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the maiden Budget of the V.D. Satheesan government, with a raft of proposals spanning tourism, infrastructure, and traditional industries aimed at breathing fresh life into the coastal district’s economy. At the heart of the Budget is an ambitious plan to establish a Southern Economic Corridor linking Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha, while positioning the district as the country’s Blue Economy Capital. Tourism, the mainstay of Alappuzha’s economy, has received a major boost. The Budget promises the renovation of houseboat terminals and tourism amenity centres created under the Mega Tourism Circuit Project.
It also seeks to tackle the long-standing issue of houseboat waste by setting up a dedicated treatment plant in the district. Pilgrimage Tourism Circuit The government has also unveiled plans for a Pilgrimage Tourism Circuit connecting iconic destinations such as Arthunkal Basilica, Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Kakkazham Mosque, Mannarasala, Krishnapuram Palace, Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and Ochira Temple, seeking to tap into the growing religious tourism sector. Another headline proposal is the comprehensive development of the Pathiramanal island eco-tourism centre under a master plan. Adding a fresh attraction to the backwater tourism landscape, the Budget also proposes a ropeway linking Muhamma Jetty with the island.
Coir sector The coir sector, synonymous with Alappuzha’s identity, has not been left behind. The Budget has earmarked ₹35 crore as a Price Stabilisation Fund and outlines measures to strengthen exports of coir products to international markets. Besides, ₹107.64 crore has been allocated for various coir sector initiatives. An additional ₹10 crore has been set aside as market development assistance for coir and coir products, while ₹11 crore has been earmarked for schemes promoting the production, marketing, and export of coir products. Congress leaders were quick to point out that several of the announcements mirror proposals recently submitted to the government by Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal.
In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the MP had argued that the district had suffered a decade of developmental stagnation and called for focused investments in tourism, healthcare, coir development, and coastal protection. Health care, too, figures prominently in the district’s development roadmap. The Budget revives the long-pending proposal for a medical college at Haripad, a project long championed by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. The institution is expected to draw from the ₹100-crore allocation set aside for new initiatives in the health sector.
The BriefWire