(Rptg with corrections in paras two and four)

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 6 (UNI) Kerala Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today said the government proposed to make the Bakel Fort in Kasaragod district one of the important tourist destinations in the state.

Replying to a submission by K V Kunhiraman in the State Assembly, he said a sum of Rs 6.66 rpt crore 6.66 crore was released for land acquisition and providing basic infrastructure for the purpose.

Mr Balakrishnan said the Pallickal railway station would be renamed as ''Bakel railway station'' and necessary orders in this regard had been received from the Union Railway Minister.

The Tourism Minister said one of the five rpt five proposed tourist resorts in the private sector would be opened at Bakel in five months and the work of the remaining resorts would be started after getting clearance from the Union Environment Ministry.

He said the government would also take steps to develop the Malappuram Kottakunnu as a tourist centre and Rs 98.05 lakh had been spent for its first phase.

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