Tourist spots in Kodagu need basic facilities, says officer

Tourism Department Assistant Director V Phanish has said that there is a need for better facilities at tourist spots all over the district.

“About 30 lakh tourists visit Kodagu district every year and business transactions of Rs 700 crore take place in the district due to tourism related activities. With the completion of work on the Kannur international airport, the inflow of tourists to the district is only expected to increase,” he said.

The official was speaking after inaugurating the Kodagu District Tourist Vehicle Owners’ and Drivers’ Association.

Listing out the tourism-related work carried out in Kodagu, Phanish said, “In the last two years, works worth Rs 12.29 crore have been taken up in the district to support tourism. A proposal of Rs 5.19 crore has been submitted to develop the road leading to Mallalli waterfalls in Somwarpet. The work on the concrete road worth Rs 3.19 crore has also been taken up. A sum of Rs 40 lakh has been released to provide basic facilities at Mallalli waterfalls. In addition, Rs 60 lakh has been released to develop the road leading to Makkala Gudi Betta at Kiragandoor, while Rs 1.53 crore has been released to develop Kodava Heritage to introduce culture and tradition of the Kodagu people.”

Development work on the road and footpath on the Abbey Falls stretch will be taken up at a cost of Rs 20. Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector B S Rajashekar said that an insurance scheme for drivers of private commercial vehicles has been launched by the government.