Fri Dec 27 14:47:11 UTC 2024: ## ₹59.71 Crore Approved for Ashtamudi Lake Tourism Development

**Kollam, Kerala – December 27, 2024** – The Ministry of Tourism has approved a ₹59.71 crore project to boost tourism in Kerala’s Ashtamudi Lake and its surrounding areas, Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi announced. The funds, allocated under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, will be used to create an Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco-recreational Hub.

The project, slated for completion within two years, includes several key components: a Kollam Marina (₹6.01 crore), Punarjani complex (₹5.19 crore), a floating restaurant (₹5.4 crore), a biodiversity heritage trail (₹7.08 crore), an adventure park (₹9.6 crore), a children’s park (₹11.31 crore), and an Ashtamudi Lake walkway (₹6.01 crore). An additional ₹9.11 crore is allocated for GST.

The Kerala state government is responsible for project implementation, including land acquisition (which cannot be private land) and obtaining necessary environmental, pollution control, and archaeological clearances. Funding will be released until March 31, 2026, and both state and central governments will monitor progress. A special SASCI monitoring mechanism will ensure timely completion.

MP N.K. Premachandran urged the state government to expedite land acquisition and other arrangements to ensure the project’s success.

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