By IANS
Kochi : The foundation stone for the country’s first full-fledged marina to house around 50 yachts will be laid at Bolgatty Island here March 1 by Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. It will be the world’s only marina with a golf course.
A marina provides docking, storage, maintenance and other facilities for boats.
Compared to marinas elsewhere in the world, the Kochi marina is billed to be a unique one in more ways than one.
Speaking to IANS, Cheriyan Phillip, chairman of state-owned Kerala Tourism Development Corp (KTDC), which will build and operate the marina, said this would be the only marina with a golf course.
The marina, between the Kochi Marine Drive and Bolgatty Island, can accommodate close to 50 luxury yachts.
“We plan to develop this in two stages with the first phase to be completed in less than 18 months at a cost Rs.80 million ($2 million). Of this the central government has given Rs.40 million,” Phillip said.
K.G. Mohanlal, managing director of KTDC, said that the proposed marina would be eco-friendly in keeping with the ambience of Bolgatty Island.
“At other marinas in the world one sees more of concrete structures and less of greenery. But in Kochi it would be more greenery and less of concrete.”
There will be a marina house built in traditional Kerala architectural style with nearly two-dozen state-of-the-art rooms and recreation facilities.
“This marina, when complete, is going to give a huge boost to tourism in the state because this will be a stopover for all yachts that go from the Middle East to the Far East and vice versa,” Mohanlal pointed out.
The marina will be built jointly by KTDC and another state-owned organisation KITCO, which will look into the engineering aspects.