Kannur: Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, will inaugurate the first phase of the Muzhappilangad-Dharmadam beach project on May 04, marking a new chapter in tourism development in north Kerala by ramping up the facilities and ambience of Asia’s longest drive-in beach.
Completed as the first of the three-phase KIIFB-funded project, the comprehensive development of the coastal Muzhappilangad-Dharmadam stretch envisages the elevation of Kannur into a major destination on the tourism map.
“The Muzhappilangad project, which raises the long stretch to international standards in a sustainable manner, will unlock the beach tourism potential of the entire Malabar region,” Tourism Minister, Shri Riyas said. The completion of the project’s first phase comes at a time when the government has been giving priority to the Malabar region through sustained plans aimed at tapping into the tourism potential of the region to attract both domestic and international tourists, the Minister said.
With an overall cost of Rs 233.71 crore, the completion of the first stage of the project comes amid BBC listing the Muzhappilangad-Dharmadam stretch among the world’s top six best beaches for driving in. “The scenic nature of the area has long been an attraction. Now, the development along the stretch will bring in more travellers,” he added.
The placid Dharmadam Island, which is surrounded by rivers on three sides and the Arabian Sea on one side, offers a picture-perfect view of the confluence of Anjarakandy and Thalassery rivers. The project, while being funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), is executed by the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation as a Special Purpose Vehicle.
As for Muzhappilangad, the 5.5-km beach lying parallel to NH-66 between Thalassery and Kannur also offers a variety of family-focused activities at the seaside, making it a favourite destination for domestic as well as foreign tourists.