A project titled ‘Mangaluru Eye’, inspired by landmarks like Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Paris’s Eiffel Tower, has been approved to bolster tourism in the city, attracting both domestic and international visitors.
The green light for the project was given recently at a meeting in Bengaluru chaired by legislative assembly speaker U T Khader and district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Estimated at a cost of Rs 90 crore, the project aims to capitalize on Dakshina Kannada’s scenic beauty, including its beaches and the Western Ghats, as well as its rich religious, cultural, and folk traditions that draw tourists from across India and abroad each year.
Tourists typically visit Dakshina Kannada for its temples before moving on to Bekal in Kerala, waterfalls, and Goa. The ‘Mangaluru Eye’ initiative intends to encourage visitors to extend their stays in Mangaluru by offering a range of attractions.
Planned to commence near the Skating Ground near KPT, the project’s location strategically connects the airport, railway station, beach, and national highway.
Speaker U T Khader has directed Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Mugilan to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submit the proposal to the government.
‘Mangaluru Eye’ will feature an imposing lighthouse-like structure providing scenic views of the city and the sea, luxurious accommodations with swimming pools, a shopping center, indoor games, a children’s amusement park, a basement convention center, and ample parking facilities.
The approval marks a significant step towards enhancing Mangaluru’s tourism infrastructure and attracting more visitors, thereby contributing to the local economy and tourism sector.
