Sri Vijaya Puram, October 11: Gaps in tourist amenities at Kalapathar Beach came into focus during Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma’s two-day visit to Swaraj Dweep, with officials directed to expedite the installation of five solar lights, parking facilities and two eco-huts to improve visitor convenience.
During an inspection of the beach on October 10, Dr. Sharma reviewed the existing cleanliness arrangements and joined a cleanliness drive with residents and officials. He also administered the Swachhta Pledge and stressed the importance of maintaining clean public spaces for tourism, identifying Gram Panchayats as having a crucial role in the effort.
The directions on tourist infrastructure formed part of a broader review of development needs on the island, where social organisations, prominent citizens and public representatives met Dr. Sharma on the concluding day of his visit to raise public issues and suggest measures for Swaraj Dweep’s development.
Dr. Sharma considered the representations and assured the delegations that the issues raised would receive prompt attention in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures.
The visit also covered infrastructure projects involving public transport, drinking water and school facilities. Dr. Sharma inaugurated the Open Hop-on Hop-off Bus Service, while a prefabricated galvanised overhead water tank with a capacity of two lakh litres was among the projects for which he laid the foundation stone. He also laid the foundation stone for three additional classrooms at Government Secondary School in Krishna Nagar.
He further participated in a public interaction programme at Shyam Nagar, where he engaged with the island’s residents.
The beach inspection highlighted the need to strengthen basic facilities at a prominent tourist location, while the meetings with residents and public representatives brought a range of local concerns to the administration’s attention. The proposed solar lighting, parking space and eco-huts are intended to improve the facilities available to visitors at Kalapathar Beach.
The two-day programme combined inspections, public interaction and development-related activities, with the administration’s response to the issues raised by residents and the implementation of the announced infrastructure measures remaining central to the island’s development needs.
