Kerala
Eravikulam National Park is closing from 1st February 2022 to 31st March 2022 due to the calving season of Nilgiri Tahr.
India Today’s team was on the way to Kovalam, a top tourist destination in Kerala, to see the implementation of new restrictions in place for New Year celebrations. Police checking on the road was intensive and a large fleet of vehicles were waiting in line to be inspected.
A foreigner arrived on his scooter when the vehicles started moving. The vehicle was thoroughly checked, and the police found three bottles of alcohol. The police officers who spotted the bottles rather excitedly called their superiors, who were a little further away.
“He has three bottles on him,” one of the policemen commented. They all surrounded him to inspect the bottles. They asked him for a bill.
Steven, a Swedish national, has been running a homestay in Kovalam for four years now. He told the officers that he had forgotten the bill at the BEVCO outlet in Vellar. He requested that they let him go back to collect it.
The officers, however, were adamant that he couldn’t go back and asked him to dispose of the bottles. Instead of throwing them away, Steven poured the alcohol out of the bottles.
As he reached the third bottle, the officers stopped him, having spotted the camera of the ‘India Today’ team. They let him go collect the bill after that. Steven soon returned with the bill and was free to go.
However, the incident brings forth a major question as to how tourist-friendly Kerala is. Steven, in his four-year stay, faced several issues.
“There have been incidents. I plan on staying another year though. Some police officers are really kind and friendly, but there are instances like this too,” said Steven.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made loud promises when he said more pubs would be established in the state to boost tourism and draw more tourists in. However, if basic issues like this are not dealt with in a tourist-friendly manner, the future of Kerala tourism remains to be seen.
News Courtesy – India Today
Comments from Trivandrum Indian Group
This was the new year gift our Kerala Police gave to a foreigner who liked to celebrate his New Year peacefully in Kerala.
This happened in Kovalam, which is Kerala’s prime tourist destination and an world famous international beach destination !
What message are we giving to the world or giving to tourists who want to come here. Kerala is the 1st state to officially approve Tourism as an industry and no wonder state’s like Goa, Tamilnadu etc are far good & progressing than Kerala in tourism. We definitely need changes in policies.
Sorry to start 2022 with a negative post. But this is very important.
Kerala Cabinet Headed By Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan As Chief Minister (2nd Term) Assumed Power On 20th May 2021.
Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan – Chief Minister
Cliff House, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-233241, 2333812, 2333682, 9447565656
Shri. K Rajan – Minister for Revenue and Housing
Grace, Near Cantonment House, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2327068, 9400006300
Shri. Roshy Augustine – Minister for Water Resources
Prashanth, Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2333487, 0471-2337855, 9400099333
Shri. K Krishnankutty – Minister for Electricity
Periyar, Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-232756, 9400055333
Shri. A K Saseendran – Minister for Forests, Wildlife Protection
Kavery, Near Cantonment House, Palayam, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2327561, 9495969787
Shri. Ahammed Devarkovil – Minister for Ports, Museums, Archeology and Archives
Thycaud House, Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum
Phone : 9400552200
Shri. Antony Raju – Minister for Transport
Manmohan Bungalow, Vellayambalam, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471 2518221, 9400088111
Shri. V Abdurahiman – Minister for Sports, Wakf and Haj Pilgrimage, Post & Telegraphs, Railways
Phone : 0471-2333526, 9400005600
Shri. G R Anil – Minister for Food and Civil Supplies
Ajantha, Opposite Raj Bhavan, Vellayambalam, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2333371, 9400662244
Shri. K N Balagopal – Minister for Finance
Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2333294, 9400887700
Smt. R Bindu – Minister for Higher Education & Social Justice
Sanadu, Vazhuthacaud , Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2332868, 9447741385
Smt. J Chinchu Rani – Minister for Animal Husbandry and Zoos
Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode , Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2335366, 9400008700
Shri. M V Govindan
Nest, Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Minister for Local Self Governments and Excise
Phone : 0471-2332700, 9400099111
Shri. P A Mohammed Riyas – Minister for Public Works and Tourism
Pampa, Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode , Trivandrum
Phone : 0471- 2517152
Shri. P Prasad – Minister for Agriculture
Clindhust, Devaswom Board Junction, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2333091, 9400553344
Shri. K Radhakrishnan – Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Devaswoms
Esandeen, Cliff House Compound, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2518594, 9400099555
Shri. P Rajeev – Minister for Law and Industries
Ushas, Nanthancode, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2336866, 9400077333
Shri. Saji Cheriyan – Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering, Culture and Youth Affairs
Kowdiar House, Vellayambalam, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471- 2518333, 0471- 2327796 ,0471- 2327895, 94000 03800 , 94470 69379
Shri. V Sivankutty – Minister for General Education and Labour
Rose House, Vazhuthacaud
Phone : 0471- 2327560, 2517048, 9400009100
Shri. V N Vasavan – Minister for Co-operation and Registration
Ganga, Cantonment House Compound, Palayam, Trivandrum
Phone : 0471-2333833, 2331685, 9447050543
Smt. Veena George – Minister for Health, Woman and Child Welfare
Nila, Near Cantonment House, Palayam,
Phone : 0471- 2327876, 2327976, 8547007032 / 9400066111
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate Lulu Group’s second shopping mall in Kerala on December 16 at 11.30 am, Lulu Group chairman MA Yusuff Ali has said.
LuLu Mall Thiruvananthapuram is located on NH 66 bypass at Akkulam, near to Technopark. The mall is a 185800 sq.m. development with over 300 national and international brands, and 12 Anchor Stores including the LuLu Hypermarket spread across 18500 sq. m. The mall will house a 12-screen multiplex and a 7400 sq. m. Family Entertainment Centre, which will include a 1800 sq. m. Trampoline Park. The Mall will also feature a 2500-seater food court, as well as several restaurants and cafes, that serve various regional, international and specialty cuisines. With ample parking for over 3800 vehicles, supported by a multi-level car park, spectacular flagship store designs, combined with an ample offering of food and entertainment, LuLu Mall Thiruvananthapuram will be a true destination mall for the people of Thiruvananthapuram and beyond.
Thiruvananthapuram City Circular Service is an innovative transportation network, introduced by KSRTC for first time in the state of Kerala….
The city to have the first launch will be Thiruvananthapuram. This is the first public transportation system in Kerala with Hop-on – Hop-Off model.
Connecting all major routes inside the Trivandrum City
Total 7 routes interlinking all major points in the city.
Buses in every 15 Min.
Minimum charge is Rs 10 and the maximum is Rs 30.
Good Day Ticket provides unlimited travel in any city circular buses with a time limit of 24 hours.
KSRTC Travel Card with RFID technology to provide hassle free cashless payment.
For More Details : https://citycircular.keralartc.com/index.html
Singapore Airlines has announced the resumption of passenger flights from the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL).
Cial said there will be three flight operations per week from November 30.
From November 30, there will be three flights weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. On these days the flight arrives at Kochi at 10.15pm and departs at 11.05pm, Cial said in a release.
“We are extremely happy to have Singapore Airlines here after a 20-month long hiatus. With the resumption of flights from Kochi, passengers can finally reunite with their friends and family in Singapore,” Cial managing director S Suhas said.
Cial now handles 185 weekly departures to the Middle East. The airport operator also facilitates flights to the UK, Sri Lanka and Male.
Cial hopes that by the end of the year the international flights operations at Kochi airport will be back to normal.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Monday informed the high court during hearing of a plea by a man seeking a third jab of an internationally accepted vaccine so that he can go back to the Gulf nation for work, that Saudi Arabia has withdrawn its ban on travellers from India.
The man had received two doses of Covaxin which was earlier not recognised by Saudi Arabia and had moved the high court, seeking directions to the state and the Centre to administer him a third dose of an internationally recognised vaccine like Covishield.
Taking note of the Centre’s submission, the court disposed of the plea.
CIALhopes that by the end of the year the international flights operations will be back to normal.
In a major policy initiative that could redefine the possibilities In the tourism sector, the government has re-interpreted the central motor vehicles rules to allow camper vans to be operated In state.
The government’s decision comes in the wake of its Initiative to promote caravan tourism In the state. According to top government sources, motor vehicles department (MVD) offices have been receiving Inquiries for operating camper vans that are common In several western countries, but permissions were denied as the Interpretation of the existing rules proved to be a hindrance.
After the government announced its caravan tourism policy, the tourism director had forwarded a proposal based on submissions from tour operators, seeking permission to operate camper trucks, built with camping facilities on light goods vehicles (LG Vs) chassis with cargo body and having a maximum seating capacity of five persons.
The government set up a technical committee under the motor vehicles department (MVD) to examine the proposal in detail and compare It with the design parameters and the permitted limits in the central motor vehicles rules (CM VR) 1989.
The committee reported that building a closed body or reconstruction of the existing one can be permitted if changes are not made on the basic features of the chassis ftame. Hence, such construction or reconstruction Is admissible subject to the maximum statutory limitation of the rear overhang of such vehicles, which can be up to 60% of the wheelbase, as per the rules.
On the basis of the committee’s report, the transport commissioner cleared the proposal for approval.
Camper trucks are widely operated In several states within the country as well. “The decision can be a major fillip to the tourism sector, which is a major Industry In our state and it cannot remain isolated from the modern trends In the tourism sector. The proposal of the tourism director Is In conformance with the CMVR.” secretary (transport) Biju Prabhakar said.
Because of the prevalence of multiple stringent environmental laws, the lack of accommodation facilities has been holding the tourism sector back In exploring several exotic locations.
“Of course, such laws are mandatory to secure our fragile environment, but a viable solution Is also required for ensuring that the tourism sector also does not suffer. The permission for operating camper trucks Is one such wln-wln solution for such a problem,” principal secretary (tourism) V Venu said.