Two corridors to develop riverfront areas, says DC

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S said that the district administration is focusing on the riverfront areas by developing corridors from Bengre to Kuloor bridge and from Bunder-Tile factory-Nethravathi bridge for promoting tourism.

The deputy commissioner, during an interaction on tourism potential in Dakshina Kannada district, organised by Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Association, district administration, Forest Department and Tourism Core Committee at Thannirbavi Tree Park on Monday, said a series of activities will be taken up on a 23-acre land at Bangra Kuloor, which hosted the river festival here recently, after the monsoon.

He said developing a few jetties, landing point and seating arrangements along with the riverfront areas from Bengre to Kuloor bridge will be wonders from the point of view of tourism development. From Bengre to Kuloor bridge, there is a river and pristine beach which will make a good corridor as far as tourism is concerned. The tourism potential will be developed in sync with the culture of the city to make the city a liveable city, he said.

The deputy commissioner said the district administration is not keen on the commercialisation of tourism in the district. “Tourism should sync with the life of the city so that the natural beauty, resources are not over-exploited. Heritage and religious tourism are already happening in a big way in the district. Sasihithlu will be developed as a surfing destination in the district. Another surfing destination will be developed in Bengre area,” he explained.

Senthil stressed on the need for political will power and pressure from civil society in order to make the city people-friendly.

He said tourism will be developed by involving all the stakeholders. It should be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders. The privatisation of public places and issues in CRZ have led to a decline in urban development, he said and added that a policy should be framed to retain public places, including the playgrounds.

He said the civic society should impress upon the urban local body towards implementing a policy not to privatise public places. Mangaluru should not lose its USP of a livable city, he felt.

He said, “We were developing the city for roads in the past. There is a need to develop the city for the public by making it pedestrian-friendly,” he said.

To a question on the jinxed hanging bridge across the Phalguni (popularly called the Gurupur) river (connecting Tannirbavi with Sulthan Bathery), Senthil said the project is being pushed under Smart City Mission.

“We want to make it an iconic hanging bridge where people can visit as a destination,” he stated.

Tourism Core Committee member Yathish Baikampady said though cruises visit Mangaluru Port, there is no embankment point from Mangaluru to travel to a different destination on the cruise line.