A touch of Paris and London in Kerala's Pala

Pala: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan virtually inaugurated the Menachil river view park, green tourism complex, amenity centre and hanging bridge that were put in place as part of beautifying the Pala town in Kottayam district. 

The newly-built green tourism park is part of the green tourism project. The hanging iron bridge is situated on 45 cents of land near the town bus stand at the heart of the town where the Meenachil River meets the Lalam canal. The entry to the new bridge is through the town bus stand. 

An underground structure with a glass roof on the lines of the Louvre museum in Paris, the iron bridge modelled after the London Bridge and the bridge entrance resembling the Pala church tower stands out in the project. 

The Meenachil River view park boasts of an underground multiplex hall that can accommodate 200 people, an open-air conference area for 300 people, a snack bar, river view platform, small park and walkway. A 2,000 sq ft building has been constructed as part of the beautification project. 

Green tourism project 

The nod to construct the Meenachil River view park and the hanging bridge was given by the authorities concerned in 2013 and the then state finance minister K M Mani had earmarked Rs 5 crore to execute the project in the budget. A centre was developed here as the town was the gateway to the green tourism projects focusing on tourist spots such as Vagamon, Ilaveezhapoonchira and Illikalkallu, and pilgrimage centres such as Bharanamganam, Ramapuram, Aruvithura, Nalambalam and Thangalpara. 

State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran presided over the function and local MLA Mani C Kappan unveiled the plaque.