Kerala Govt plans Oceanarium in Kochi
Project on PPP model to be completed by 2010 with investment of Rs 300 crore
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 (17:00 IST)
By Anish V Punnackattu | Kochi
The Government of Kerala is planning to develop an Oceanarium spread over 44 acres at New Vypeen in Kochi on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with an investment of Rs 300 crore. The proposed Oceanarium which will be launched by 2010 is expected to be the largest in South East Asia. According to sources the Government of Kerala, Ministry of Earth Science and Government of India will hold 49 per cent stake and the remaining 51 per cent will be allocated to private parties.
The Oceanarium will have a 250 meters glass tunnel passing through the sea ass its highlight. Apart from this the project plans include an amphitheatre for sound and light shows, a micro-world museum, which will display small creatures and a marine museum to display marine animals and plants. A Dolphinarium and a general aquarium will showcase dolphins and different variety of fish from all over the world. It will also have separate ponds for tortoises, sharks and special zones for coral reefs. An International Marine Biological Research Centre and Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology Centre and a convention centre will also be part of the project along with space for events and cafeteria. According to sources entry fee will be in the range of Rs 250-400 per person.
"The government of Kerala has decided to allot 50 acres of land to Kerala State Fisheries Department (KSFD) for this project, of which ten acres will be allocated to the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology Centre. KSFD has appointed a nodal agency Fisheries Resource Management Society to look after this project, which is yet to appoint a developer for the project. It has received queries from a few investors. At the moment, the Department of Tourism has not been involved in this initiative," informed A K Gopala Krishnan, Executive Director, Fisheries Resources Management Society.
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