Kerala Budget 2016: Tourist spots, pilgrim centres get a boost

Thiruvananthapuram: The budget has allocated funds for the tourist destinations and pilgrim centres in  the capital city  and a small portion of this will be provided during the current  financial year. A ropeway has been planned from Ponmudi hill station entry to the hill top cutting across forest land that will provide a glimpse to the wildlife. An amount  of Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for the project to the hill top.  Of this,  Rs 5 crore will be available during the current  financial year to lay the ground for the project

The blight-hit Veli tourist village will be developed under tourist basic facilities scheme. The scheme envisages development of 20 tourist sites across the state at a cost of Rs 400 crore. Of this,  Rs 50 crore will be released this financial year. The Padmanabhaswamy temple development and Attukal township project will also get a boost.

An amount of Rs 100 crore has been planned for Attukal development plan of which Rs 5  crore will be released this financial year.  A sum of  Rs 20 lakhs will be earmarked for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to develop areas around Padmanabhaswamy temple on the lines of Attukal project. A new fire station has been allotted to the temple. The Attukal project involves development of 50 acres of land near the temple as a pilgrim sub-centre with shopping space, parking lots and cultural centres among other facilities.