Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)

Udupi, Dec 18: “Padukere beach area in the district is ideal for Marina. Construction of Marina here, will be the first of its kind in the district. The complete blueprint of the project that will strengthen tourism and economy will be sent with the proposal to the department of tourism,” said the deputy commissioner G Jagadeesh who addressed a gathering after presiding over a meeting over the implementation of Marina project which was held at the office of the deputy commissioner on Tuesday.

“The only Marina in Cochin at present does not have facilities for parking international boats and tourist boats. Three kilometers in Padukere beach is backwater area. Marina for parking foreign boats can be constructed there. The project will be useful to attract tourists and promote tourism,” he said.

“Boats from various countries sail through south Asia for different reasons and anchor there. Nearly 4000 boats sail on this route in a year. There is a scarcity of shore where those can be anchored. The Marina that is being built for commercial purposes will bring about crores of income for the government. Employment opportunities will also rise in the vicinity of Malpe-Padukere beach,” he said.

The deputy commissioner responding to the suggestions by officials that hanging bridge, hotel, restaurants and houses can also be constructed said that a detailed project report along with the details of benefits will be submitted to the department of tourism.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat, Nirmithi Kendra project director Arun Shetty, tourism department assistant director Chandrashekar Naik, tourism department consultant Amith, tahsildar Pradeep Kurdekar, inland and water transport executive engineer Jagadish Bhat, tourism and travel association president Nagaraj Hebbar, ACT secretary Gaurav Shenav, Kaup beach maintenance committee’s Yathish Bykampady, Malpe beach committee’s Sudesh Rai and others were present.