Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons reviews the work on the Cochin Port Trust’s avenue walkway project on Willingdon Island on Monday. | Photo Credit: Picasa more-in Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons has criticised the ‘slow pace’ of implementation of tourism projects in Kerala. Talking to the media after reviewing the Swadesh Darshan and Prasad schemes of the Centre here on Monday, he said the Centre would grant more funds if project implementation got accelerated. The Centre had allocated ?350 crore for four projects under the Swadesh Darshan, Prasad schemes, but they were being held up owing to delay in obtaining permission from the Forest Department. The Sabarimala High-power Committee chairman had assured securing the permissions by approaching the High Court, he said. The ?90-crore basic infrastructure project for Gavi-Wagamon-Thekkady would be completed by September 30. Works worth ?64 crore were tendered for the Sabarimala-Erumely-Pampa-Sannidhanam circuit for which ?99.99 crore was allocated, he said. Mr. Alphons said he was dismayed about work not starting in Aranmula where ?5.94 crore was allotted as part of the Sree Padmanabha Swami temple-Aranmula-Sabarimala Swadesh Darshan project. While ?46 crore was allotted for the development of Guruvayur temple under the Prasad scheme, the only progress made was in installing CCTVs. Work hadn’t begun on multilevel car parking and tourist amenity centre. He said the Centre had received recommendation from the State for inclusion of the Malayattoor church and the Cheraman Juma Masjid in the Prasad scheme. “But they have been asked to rework the recommendation regarding the Malayattoor church as destruction of the hill path of the church and paving the way with concrete is not acceptable,” he said. Reviews walkway project Mr. Alphons reviewed the work on the Cochin Port Trust’s avenue walkway project on Willingdon Island on Monday. The 2.1-km waterside walkway is being constructed between the BOT Bridge and Kannanghat Bridge with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism and ?9 crore has already been sanctioned for it. According to a pressnote, the Ministry has sanctioned ?23 crore for the development of a cruise terminal at Ernakulam wharf of port trust. The new terminal, with an area of 2,285 sq m, will be equipped with 30 immigration counters and all other facilities to cater to up to 5,000 cruise passengers. It may be noted that Samudrika, the cruise passenger facilitation centre on the Mattanchery side of the port area, was also funded by the Ministry of Tourism. A.V. Ramana, chairman in-charge of Cochin Port Trust, briefed the Minister. G. Vaidyanathan, chief engineer and C. Premakumari, secretary, Cochin Port Trust, were present during

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