On-ground work for Kovalam, Akkulam nears start

Thiruvananthapuram: The tender for the Kovalam beach facelift and Akkulam Lake rejuvenation projects—two major tourism and environmental initiatives in the state capital—is set to be opened on Monday, marking a key procedural step towards commencing on-ground work.The tenders, floated by WAPCOS Ltd, the implementing agency appointed by the Kerala govt, attracted sufficient participation, paving the way for the formal opening of bid documents for technical and financial scrutiny. The deadline for bid submissions closed on Saturday. Once the evaluation process is completed, the agencies expect to issue work orders in April, subject to approvals.
The Kovalam and Akkulam projects are part of a broader push to strengthen coastal and inland tourism infrastructure, improve visitor experience and restore ecological health at two of the region's most important public assets. Kovalam beach, an internationally recognised destination, is awaiting a comprehensive makeover amid concerns over ageing infrastructure and limited visitor amenities. Akkulam Lake, once a popular leisure spot, has suffered from years of neglect, pollution, and the unchecked spread of invasive water hyacinth.A senior WAPCOS official said the response from bidders was encouraging. "We received a healthy number of submissions for both the Kovalam beach facelift and the Akkulam Lake works," the official told TOI. "Opening the bids on Monday is a major milestone. Our evaluation team will begin detailed technical and financial assessments, after which we expect to be in a position to commence work by April, subject to approvals," he said.The Kovalam project, backed by state and tourism department funding, is expected to include improvements to beach walkways, landscaping, safety infrastructure, and visitor facilities. The Akkulam Lake tender focuses on ecological restoration, desilting, removal of invasive species, and enhancement of waterfront spaces for public use.