Government to develop master plan for Chottanikkara temple

Considering the increasing influx of devotees to the Chottanikkara temple, the state government will develop a master plan for the comprehensive development of the temple, A P Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism and Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes,  has said.


He was inaugurating the Chottanikkara Pilgrimage Tourism Facilitation Centre here on Sunday. The Minister said that a meeting would be soon held at Thiruvananthapuram in this regard. “To boost tourism to the pilgrim centres in the state, the government will implement the multi-faith pilgrimage tourism package,” he said.


He noted that as a part of the package, people in India and abroad will get a chance to experience the spiritual heritage of the state.


Considering the shortage of funds to complete the project, he also announced an additional amount of `25 lakh, along with the Rs 72 lakh allotted for the same.


On the occasion, Excise Minister K Babu  said that combined efforts of the  Tourism Department and the Cochin Devaswom Board are needed to develop the pilgrim centre.   The Chottanikkara Pilgrimage Tourism Facilitating Centre will have 1,500 square-feet space,   providing restrooms and sanitation facilities to the pilgrims.  The tender for the proposed pilgrim centre, worth Rs 72.5 lakh, has been handed over to Murthy Construction and the work is expected to be completed in six months.