New Paths to Tourism Success

P.A. Mohamed Riyas Minister for Public Works and Tourism

Over the past decade, Kerala has transformed its infrastructure and tourism landscape, marking a significant shift in development and economic progress.

Kerala has witnessed significant progress in overall development over the last nine years, with improvements across sectors like employment, industry, agriculture, and tourism. Infrastructure development projects have played a crucial role in advancing these sectors and enhancing the quality of life for the people. What was once considered unattainable is now being realised through successful development efforts. The interventions made by the Government in the Public Works and Tourism sectors have helped reshape the state’s image.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

National Highways

T he government’s firm commitment has revived Kerala’s national highway development ambitions. The expansion of Kerala’s national highways, which had been stalled for years, was once thought to be a lost cause. The primary obstacle was land acquisition for expanding roads to a width of 45 meters. However, the Kerala Government, through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), allocated ₹5,580 crore to the central government, paving the way for national highway expansion. Work is currently underway to make National Highway 66 fully operational by the end of this year. In addition, Kerala has decided to bear an economic liability of ₹2,370.59 crore for the construction of the Trivandrum Outer Ring Road, Ernakulam Bypass, and Kollam Chengotta Greenfield roads. As per the central government’s request, the state has also provided ₹210.63 crore under GST and ₹10.87 crore as royalties for these projects. T he government has successfully completed the long-delayed Kuthiran Tunnel work. National highways like Munnar-Bodimettu and Nattukal T hannav have been completed under the state’s public works department. T he steps to widen the three hairpin bends on the Wayanad-Thamarassery Ghat road are nearly finished, with two bends already renovated.

The Kerala government is working on the construction of the Anakkampoyil Kalladi-Mepadi tunnel road as part of the KIIFB project

Level-Cross Free Kerala

Kerala is rapidly advancing toward a level-cross-free state. As part of this goal, eight railway overbridges have been constructed, with eight more in the final stages of completion. This is a historic achievement for the state, with 99 railway overbridges planned in total. In addition, the state has successfully completed the target of building 100 bridges within three years, as opposed to the originally planned five-year timeframe. The total number of completed bridges is nearing 150.

Tunnels

T he Kerala government is working on the construction of the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Mepadi tunnel road as part of the KIIFB project. Once environmental approvals are in place, the tender process will proceed. T his project, with an allocation of ₹2,043.7 crore, is set to bring a significant boost to the state’s agricultural, trade, and tourism sectors.

Hill Highway

T he 1,166 km long hill highway is being developed under the KIIFB project for 793.68 km. The remaining portion will be developed under other schemes. So far, ₹3,593 crore has been allocated for this project, and by 2025, more stretches will be completed.

T he coastal road development project, with a total length of 507.865 km, is being carried out via KIIFB funding. Three segments have already been completed, and land acquisition for 39 segments is ongoing.

Road Renovation

A significant achievement of the Public Works Department has been its focus on upgrading roads. Initially, the target was to improve 50% of roads to BMBC (Bituminous Macadam Black Concrete) standards, but this has now been raised to over 60%. Maintenance is also a key area of attention, with contractors responsible for maintaining the roads constructed under BMBC standards. The state has set up a “running contract” system for timely repairs once the maintenance contract expires, and currently, 19,500 km of roads in Kerala are under such contracts.

Kerala has become a popular wedding destination, with international recognition from Travel and Leisure Magazine as the best wedding destination.

People’s Rest House

A major public initiative has been the transformation of traditional rest houses into People’s Rest Houses. These now offer affordable accommodation to the public, with online booking options available for reduced rates. T his initiative not only provides affordable lodging for tourists but also generates significant revenue for the government.

PWD4U App

T he state has introduced the PWD4U app to allow the public to lodge complaints or provide suggestions directly to the department. A dedicated helpline has been set up, and a multi-tier system has been established for project reviews by teams like the Mission Team, DICC, and CMT.

TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Post-COVID Tourism Surge

Kerala’s tourism sector is on a remarkable recovery path after the pandemic, with record arrivals of tourists. In 2024, Kerala welcomed 22,246,989 domestic tourists, marking a 1.72% increase from the previous year and a 21.01% rise compared to pre-COVID levels. In 2023, the tourism sector’s revenue reached ₹43,647 crore.

New Directions in Tourism

In collaboration with public works, Kerala’s tourism sector has embraced innovative strategies such as the “Design Policy” for transforming spaces under bridges into public areas. The introduction of caravan tourism, following the success of houseboats, has attracted global attention, with 31 tourists from Germany and Switzerland visiting Kerala in 16 caravans. The state has 64 also launched helicopter tourism to connect key tourist destinations, along with cruise tourism linking coastal resorts. After successful trial flights, the state is moving forward with seaplane tourism, focusing on reservoirs. Additionally, Kerala has introduced new ideas like the Bio-Diversity Circuit and Literary Circuit.

Adventure Tourism

Kerala has emerged as a hub for adventure tourism, with the establishment of an adventure park in Vagamon . The international Malabar River Festival has gained global recognition, while the Thusharagiri Kayaking Academy is now operational. Kerala has also hosted the International Surfing Festival in Varkala and the International Paragliding Festival in Vagamon , marking key milestones in adventure tourism. The state has also inaugurated its first surfing academy at Gotheeshwaram Beach and has begun adventure tourism activities at Akkulam.

Cine Tourism

Under the Cine Tourism initiative, the state is transforming iconic filming locations into tourist spots, beginning with the renovation of the Kireedom Bridge in Thiruvananthapuram.

Beach Tourism

To promote beach tourism, floating bridges have been introduced, and the image of major beaches like Muzappilangad has been enhanced. An ₹80 crore development project linking Dharmadam Thuruth has been launched along . With the successful completion of the coastal road, beach tourism in Kerala is set to reach new heights. The International Water Festival held at Beypore has gained global attention, becoming a major tourist event.

Local Tourism

To enhance Kerala’s traditional boat races, the Champions Boat League has been a great success and expanded to Malabar. The state has also launched the Destination Challenge scheme to promote local tourism destinations, with 40 projects already approved. Kerala has become a popular wedding destination, with international recognition from Travel and Leisure Magazine as the best wedding destination.

A new initiative called “We Park” is transforming underutilized areas beneath bridges into community parks, with the first such park launched in Kollam.

Responsible Tourism

Kerala has made significant strides in responsible tourism, focusing on village, cultural, festival, farm, heritage, and food tourism. A notable achievement has been the involvement of women in tourism, which has not only fostered local economic growth but also empowered women across Kerala.

Bridge Lighting & People’s Parks

A program to light up old and new bridges has been successfully implemented, enhancing their visual appeal. A new initiative called “We Park” is transforming underutilized areas beneath bridges into community parks, with the first such park launched in Kollam.