DK DC announces riverfront corridors for local tourism

DK DC announces riverfront corridors for local tourism

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 14, 2019: DK DC Sasikanth Senthil S stated that the district administration is focusing on the riverfront areas by developing corridors from Bengre to Kuloor bridge and from Bunder-Tile factory-Nethravathi bridge for promoting tourism.

 

The DC in an interaction on tourism potential in Dakshina Kannada district, organised by Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Association, district administration, Forest Department and Tourism Core Committee at Thannirbavi Tree Park on May 13,  Monday, said a series of activities will be taken up on a 23-acre land at Bangra Kuloor, which hosted the river festival here recently, after the monsoon.

He said developing a few jetties, landing point and seating arrangements along with the riverfront areas from Bengre to Kuloor bridge will be wonders from the point of view of tourism development. From Bengre to Kuloor bridge, there is a river and pristine beach which will make a good corridor as far as tourism is concerned.  The tourism potential will be developed along with the culture of the city to make the city better liveable, he said.

The DK DC said the district administration is not keen on the commercialisation of tourism in the district. “Tourism should sync with the life of the city so that the natural beauty, resources are not over-exploited. Heritage and religious tourism are already happening in a big way in the district. Sasihithlu will be developed as a surfing destination in the district. Another surfing destination will be developed in Bengre area,” he explained.

DC Senthil stressed on the need for political will power and pressure from civil society in order to make the city people-friendly.

Tourism development :  He went on to add, tourism will be developed by involving all  stakeholders. It should be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders. The privatisation of public places and issues in CRZ have led to a decline in urban development, he said and added that a policy should be framed to retain public places, including the playgrounds.

He said the civic society should impress upon the urban local body towards implementing a policy not to privatise public places. Mangaluru should not lose its USP of a livable city, he felt.

He said, “We were developing the city for roads in the past. There is a need to develop the city for the public by making it pedestrian-friendly,” he said.

Hanging bridge : To a question on the jinxed hanging bridge across the Phalguni (popularly called the Gurupur) river (connecting Tannirbavi with Sulthan Bathery), Senthil said the project is being pushed under Smart City Mission.

“We want to make it an iconic hanging bridge where people can visit as a destination,” he stated.

Tourism Core Committee member Yathish Baikampady said though cruises visit Mangaluru Port, there is no embarkation point from Mangaluru to travel to a different destination on the cruise line.

Marine museum planned at Thannirbhavi  :

 The Forest Department is contemplating to set up a marine museum in Thannirbhavi area.  Range Forest Officer (RFO) Sridhar, while interacting with medi said that a detailed project report on the marine museum will be drafted.  The museum will come upon three to four acres of land in close proximity to the sea.

The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 5 crore, the RFO added.  He said the department has already taken up the work on developing a Tree Park in Kumaradhara.

The tree park will have a trekking track as well. A sum of Rs 50 lakh was released by the government for the Tree Park.  In addition, there is a proposal to develop another tree park with trekking track at Periyashanthi, he said.

Kayaking  : District Tourism Core Committee member Gaurav Hegde said there has been an increase in the demand for Kayaking and stand-up paddling in the Shambhavi river during the weekends from people as well as tourists.  Efforts are on to teach local kids surfing so that they can become surfing instructors. Attempts have been made to popularise surfing, Kayaking and stand-up paddling in the area, he added.

No scuba diving :  DC Sasikanth Senthil, while speaking about scuba diving, said, “Though the district administration has given permission for scuba diving, we were not able to find a suitable spot in our area.”

“The scuba diving spots were identified in Udupi and Karwar,” the DC pointed out.