Heritage Backwater Cruise circuit project of Kerala in limbo – ET TravelWorld

The proposed Heritage Backwater Cruise Circuit, envisioned to revitalize tourism by connecting three major lakes in the district, has stalled indefinitely. First introduced seven years ago as a transformative project for district tourism, it remains unfinished.

Originally, the project included the construction of six boat jetties and a boat terminal at an estimated cost of INR 8.5 crore. However, due to inaccuracies in the detailed project report, work has come to a standstill. Issues such as incorrect lake depth measurements, insufficient dredging requirements, and misaligned jetty designs led contractors to withdraw. As a result, the project’s administrative sanction expired before any significant progress was made.

Tourism department officials have acknowledged the practical issues and confirmed that steps are underway to address them. A review meeting will be held to correct these obstacles and seek renewed administrative approval. Once resumed, the project will link Veli, Akathumuri, and Kadinamkulam lakes, aiming to enhance tourism around Varkala and Thiruvananthapuram. While several private operators expressed interest in launching cruise services, delays in jetty construction have stalled these plans.

The proposed six boat jetties were planned at Puthankadavu, Panayilkadavu, Veli (Welcome Arch), Poundkadavu, Pulimoottil Kadavu, and Kayikarakadavu, along with a boat terminal at Murukkumpuzha. However, the Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department, responsible for implementing the project, managed to initiate work on only three of these jetties—Kayikarakadavu, Puthankadavu, and Panayilkadavu.The remaining jetties, particularly at Veli, Poundkadavu, and Pulimoottil Kadavu, remain untouched due to project report errors, while the INR 4.20 crore terminal at Murukkumpuzha also remains incomplete.

“The project estimate was prepared in 2020, and the tender awarded in 2021. Just as work was set to begin, the agency identified discrepancies in lake depth data at three jetty sites, which necessitated additional dredging and design modifications.

This delayed the start of construction, and the administrative sanction lapsed in 2022. We’re planning a meeting to resolve these issues, renew the administrative sanction, and get work back on track,” an official from the tourism department stated.