Kerala: Rs 92 crore for spiritual tourism circuit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Swadesh Darshan division of the Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs 92.44 crore for the development of ‘Sree Padmanabhaswamy-Sabarimala-Aranmula Spiritual Tourism Circuit’. The largest chunk of the sanctioned amount, Rs 76.26 crore, will be utilised for the comprehensive development and beautification of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and its premsies. Aranmula development will get Rs 5.76 crore and Sabarimala development, Rs 6 crore.

KTDC will be the implementing agency. Each of the four wings of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple will have different development components. The East Wing (kizhakkenada) will get the higest share, Rs 30.27 crore. The main works at this wing include: restoration of Padmathertha Pond (for which Rs 7 crore has been sanctioned), laying of a heritage Walk footpath (Rs 7.5 crore has been earmarked), construction of a tourist information centre, construction of a bus stop, toilets, cloak room, and waiting hall.

Heritage Walk footpath will cover the other three wings, too, each of which will have separate allocations. In the West Wing (padinjarenada), besides electrical works, providing granite paving for the pathways leading to 'nambi' dwellings and temple entrance will be the major work. The money earmarked for the wing: Rs 10.63 crore.

It is at the North Wing (vadakkenada) that hardware provision for security systems, including CCTV cameras, will be installed. Rs 13.48 crore is the amount sanctioned for the wing. At the South Wing (thekkenada) there will be solar panelling works. Most important work at this wing will be restoration works for the Fort gates and wall. '21.86 crore has been set apart. Besides augmenting basic facilities at Sabarimala and Nilakkal, the main work at Sabarimala will be the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Pampa next to the existing vehicular bridge.