R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, said on Monday that there was good response from tourists to the measures taken by the Malpe Development Committee to promote tourism on Malpe Beach and St. Mary’s Island. He was chairing a meeting of the Malpe Development Committee at the District Offices Complex here.
Dr. Vishal, who is also the president of the committee, said that repairs to toilets and an information kiosk had been completed on Malpe Beach. CCTV cameras would be installed on the beach to enhance security. The objective was to improve basic facilities.
All the petty shops on the beach would be removed and in their place, shops of a uniform design would be constructed with fibre material. These shops would be provided to eligible beneficiaries. However, the opinion of the beneficiaries would be sought before implementing the scheme.
The issue of holding water sports festival on Malpe Beach on May 7 and 8 too was discussed at the meeting. The committee decided to reduce the fee for collection of garbage on the beach.
The committee directed the self-help groups running the pay-and-use toilets on the beach to be keep them open from 6 a.m. onwards. It was decided to construct an attractive welcome arch and an autorickshaw stand at the entrance on the beach.
Already, two police constables had been provided with two motorcycles and they were being called “Tourist Cheetahs”. A Tourist Cheetah each had been stationed on the beach and at the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple to provide security for tourists.
Dr. Vishal directed the officials of the Tourism Department to install three big hoardings on tourism promotion at three vital places in the city.
D. Manjunathaiah, CMC Commissioner, Arun Kumar, Project Director of Nirmiti Kendra, P. Nagaraj, Assistant Director of Tourism, and Prashanth Amin, Vijay K. and Yashpal Suvarna, municipal councillors, were present.
