Latest news with #JitheeshJose
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Idukki awaits government nod to initiate works on cable car service
The misty hills of Idukki is gearing up for 'sky-high' transformation with the Tourism department looking for government approval to start the first steps for a cable car service in the district. A ₹3-crore allocation in the last State Budget had kick-started this ambitious plan to connect Moolamattom and Nadukani Pavilion via an aerial ropeway along the scenic Thodupuzha–Puliyanmala State highway. With the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) and Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation (IPRCL) submitting proposals to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the initiative, the department is now awaiting a green light from the government to take this dream to the next level. The proposed Moolamattom-Nadukani Pavilion Cable Car Service would be modelled on the lines of the cable car service in Gulmarg, Kashmir. According to sources, a decision was taken in a recent Tourism department meeting to implement the project soon. It would be implemented in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. 'A milestone' District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) secretary Jitheesh Jose said that the project would be a milestone for tourism development in the district, especially in the Kattappana-Thodupuzha route. 'The Kattappana-Thodupzuha route is the least developed tourism area in the district. The cable car service from Moolamattom to Nadukani Pavilion will draw more tourists to the district. In addition, Kalvari Mount, Idukki Kudiyeta Smarakam, Hill View Park as well as the Idukki and Cheruthoni dams along the route will also attract more tourists,' said Mr. Jose. He said that after the Cantilever Glass Bridge was installed in the Wagamon Adventure Park, tourist footfall in Wagamon nearly doubled and became the place receiving the highest number of tourists in the district. Mr. Jose said that with the installation of the cable car service in Nadukani, the area would transform into a significant tourism hub.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- The Hindu
Munnar receives more tourist enquiries in the wake of Kashmir terrorist attack
With tourism in Kashmir facing a roadblock after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the hill station of Munnar is expecting an influx of tourists. According to tourism stakeholders, they are receiving enquiries from tour operators after the terror attack. According to Tourism department officials, the district is already witnessing good tourist inflow following the implementation of e-pass regulations by Tamil Nadu for entry to Ooty and Kodaikanal. District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) secretary Jitheesh Jose says 3.60 lakh tourists visited destinations under the DTPC in Idukki in April last year. 'This year, within 20 days, nearly 2,98,000 tourists visited the destinations. More tourists are reaching Munnar and Wagamon hill stations. We hope the trend will continue in May also,' says Mr. Jose. A tourism stakeholder says normally, tourists, including Malayalis, prefer Ooty, Kodaikanal, and Munnar. 'When travel restrictions came into effect in the two destinations in Tamil Nadu, tourists shifted their plans to Munnar resulting in the sudden surge of tourists. We hope the trend will continue until June,' he says. G. Sojan, coordinator of My Munnar Movement, an initiative to promote tourism prospects of Munnar, says many tourism stakeholders are receiving enquiries after the terror attack in Kashmir. 'We hope tourists, especially those from north India, will shift their travel plans to Munnar instead of Kashmir. The climate and topography of Munnar are almost the same as in Kashmir,' says Mr. Sojan. Eravikulam National Park (ENP), home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr, is one of the prominent attractions in Munnar. The bookings were full till Easter day. 'We hope that, after the Kashmir attack, many tourists will prefer Munnar and reach the park. The major attractions in the park are the Nilgiri tahr, virtual reality park of ENP, a fernarium, and an orchidarium,' says ENP Assistant Wildlife Warden Nithin Lal.
