The Government of Kerala recently gave sanction to 57 new tourism projects at various destinations in Kerala. Minister for Tourism, Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the new projects would begin in a month and the cost of these projects, already mentioned in the current budget, will be Rs. 460 million. 

The projects that have been given the go ahead are a tourism development centre at Kallar and a tourism park focusing on non-conventional energy at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki district; the development of the first phase of a transit yard near Sabarimala - the famous pilgrim centre - and the area around Mannom Sugar Mill as a tourism spot in Pathanamthitta district. 

Other sanctioned projects in the first stage of development include the construction of a music hall at Chembai in Palakkad district; construction of a bridge over the Kayippuram-Pathiramanal Jetty road in Alappuzha district under the Pathiramanal Bio-park; construction of a hanging bridge across Beeyam Kayal in Malappuram district and developing city squares at Thrissur and Sultan Bathery in Wayanad. 

Some of the projects for augmenting existing facilities include setting up of a walkway, cultural centre and a lake-view platform at Kumarakom in Kottayam district. Besides these projects, modernization works of Putharikandam ground in Thiruvananthapuram City and the Durbar Hall grounds in Ernakulam would also be taken up.

Among the projects moving into the second stage of their development are the Iringal Craft Village in Kozhikode district; Payyambalam and Kizhunna beaches in Kannur district; development of beaches in Kasaragod and Kottumburam in Malappuram district and developing Gosaikunnu at Vadakara in Kozhikode district. Rs.10 million would be spent for the development of Nallathanni tourism project in Idukki district.