Tranquil and picturesque backwaters of Alappuzha in Kerala, which has emerged as a top Indian spot on the world tourism map, has received a boost with the Centre approving the first phase of the Rs 400-crore master plan for development of the area.

 As per a PTI report, the works to be taken up in the Rs 50-crore first phase of the project would include creation of a backwater circuit for which the Union Tourism Ministry had given its nod, Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar said. As part of this, a string of houseboat terminals, resting points, night halt centres and curio and souvenir shops would be built along the panoramic banks of the backwaters.

"The first phase will be launched very soon with the circuit linking more places and creating more routes for houseboats," a Kerala Tourism release quoting Kumar said today. Shopping centres, handicraft stalls, restaurants and live performances of traditional art forms will give a real feeling of Kerala culture and cuisine to the visitors at these places, Kumar said.

The plan had also taken into account the security aspect of the backwater cruise as building safe night halts for houseboats carrying tourists was a major component. The new facilities would be developed on a public-private partnership mode. The state would lay the infrastructure for the purpose while the private players would create and run the shops and other ventures to woo the visitors.