Goa lighthouses to become tourism spots
Goa’s vintage lighthouse, where Salman Khan-starrer Khamoshi movie was filmed, and 78 other old and corroded lighthouse structures scattered along India’s vast coast line will be turned into tourist attraction with entertainment zones, restaurants and other food joints and if possible hotels developed around them.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 600 crore for the lighthouse project to be handled basically by the Ministry of Shipping as the land and lighthouse areas belong to it, while the Tourism Ministry will help in promoting the tourism potential around them.
Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said the project is part of an ambitious programme of the ministry to promote India as a tourism destination by developing core infrastructure along the coast belt, like improving facilities on the beaches, promoting adventure sports and developing these whether-eaten lighthouses with public-private partnership. He said altogether 78-80 such lighthouses have been identified for development. They are scattered across the states of Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
The Ministry of Shipping is evaluating the projects on the land which comes under the director general of lighthouses and lightships, a subordinate office of the ministry. "Since the land belongs to DG lighthouses, they have to take the final call on the matter. But these lighthouses can be a great point of tourist attraction if restored properly," Zutshi said, noting that some of these lighthouses have already received investments from the private players.
As regards development of the beaches, he said each of the coastal sate has identified at least 6 - 7 beaches for development. In case of Goa, th state government has recommended a dozen beaches on both northern and southern sides for incorporation into the coastal tourism development programme, Zutshi added.