Foundation stone laid for Marina project

Kochi, Mar 1 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today laid a foundation stone for the Kochi International Marina, country's first full-fledged Marina, at Bolgatty here.

Addressing a gathering, Mr Achuthanandan said the marina, implemented by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) with the assistance of the Central Government, would underline the state's prominence in the world tourism map.

The Chief Minister said the KTDC and other related organisations were working earnestly for the last two years to take the State tourism Industry to a higher trajectory of growth.

'' Last year, KTDC had clocked record profit and was able to open guest houses in Mumbai and Chennai, and an information office in Mysore,'' he noted.

Mr Achuthanandan said the government was giving importance to the development of IT and Tourism industry and trying to create more job opportunities in the two sectors.

He said the Kovalam-Neeleshwaram waterway would be opened in three years and this would augur well for the State's Tourism Industry.

The proposed marina project, to be operated by a separate management, would provide docking, storage, maintenance amd other facilities for yachts.

The marina, which could accomodate 50 luxury yachts, would have a club house, recreation centre, convention centre and a banquet hall.

The Centre had alloted Rs four crores for the project and the first phase of the project would be conmpleted within a year.

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