Infrastructure facilities struggle to keep pace with tourism growth in Ramanathapuram constituency

Home to key tourist landmarks such as Dhanushkodi, Pamban, and Rameswaram, the Ramanathapuram Assembly Constituency is also a strategically vital location, serving as a maritime border with the neighbouring island nation of Sri Lanka.

While the region endured over a decade of tension during the Sri Lankan civil war, it now remains politically volatile owing to the frequent arrests of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy. Despite the current state of peace, the constituency faces a recurring influx of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and persistent smuggling activities.

However, the common voters in Ramanathapuram town, who were largely untouched by bordering issues, see the lack of proper civic infrastructure such as inadequate drainage, erratic water supply, and poorly maintained roads as their primary concern.

For residents like T. Parameswaran, a grocer in the town, maneouvering through tricky, pothole-ridden roads was his primary concern.

Though other issues overshadow the road infrastructure issue in political debates, for the common man, the daily struggle of commuting remained the most pressing reality, he added.

The constituency, comprising three taluks—Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, and Keelakarai—and three municipalities—Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, and Keelakarai—is characterised by a diverse blend of urban commercial hubs and historically significant coastal regions.

The constituency also boasts a large and varied electorate, ranging from urban traders to traditional fishing communities.

Reflecting its diverse religious demographic, the constituency has a history of electing representatives from a wide political spectrum, including the Congress, AIADMK, DMK, and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi.

The incumbent DMK MLA Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam is to contest against the BJP’s GBSK. Nagendran in the 2026 Assembly Elections.

CPI(M) district secretary R. Guruvel noted that several roads in Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi require expansion.

He emphasised that the Pamban–Rameswaram road must be widened or provided with an alternative route to decongest traffic during peak tourist seasons and ‘Adi Amavasai’ festivals.

He recalled that although a coastal road through the Meyampuli area was proposed to provide direct access to the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, the project ultimately failed to take off.

Addressing the narrow roads in Dhanushkodi and the Ramanathapuram–Rameswaram stretch, Mr. Guruvel observed that the poorly designed, winding roads are responsible for hundreds of accidents every month.

This issue must be addressed without delay to ensure a safe journey for tourists arriving from across the country, he added.

“A museum similar to the one in Keeladi could be set up at Dhanushkodi to further leverage the historical site for tourism development,” he stated.

Though thousands of tourists visit Dhanushkodi to witness the remnants of the destroyed town, much of its rich history remains untold without a dedicated space to preserve and display its artefacts.

In the absence of a dedicated tourist hub, the site also suffered from a lack of basic amenities, such as restrooms and other essential facilities.

Mr. Guruvel alleged the failure of the Cauvery combined drinking water project and the Jal Jeevan Mission as the reason for lakhs of people still struggling with acute water scarcity and a lack of basic tap connections.

“The private water suppliers who capitalised on the water scarcity have also been notoriously extracting excessive amounts of water from natural bodies like those in Supputhevanvalasai,” he alleged.

In addition to addressing the water scarcity issue, the government should also tighten regulations on private companies to prevent the over-exploitation of local groundwater resources.

“The Underground Drainage (UGD) system, which faces persistent issues like overflowing and clogging, requires a permanent solution rather than a series of temporary fixes,” he noted.

Mr. Guruvel suggested that the existing pipelines, which are reportedly too narrow to handle the current volume of wastewater, must be completely replaced to ensure a lasting remedy.

Jesu Raja, a fisherman leader in Rameswaram, lauded the DMK government’s initiative to build breakwaters at Thangachimadam, Kunthukal, and Pamban at a cost of ₹150 crore, ₹160 crore, and ₹60 crore respectively. However, he also urged the government to find a permanent solution to the long-standing issue of fisherman arrests.

N. Jeyakanthan, a resident of Rameswaram, observed that the town, traditionally celebrated as a pilgrimage destination for the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, is currently in a state of transition as it evolves into a major tourism hub.

However, the town’s infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the needs of its growing visitor population, particularly regarding recreational facilities.

Mr. Jeyakanthan suggested that since Rameswaram possessed a 3 km to 5 km coastal stretch from Agnitheertham to Olaikuda Beach, the entire beachfront could be beautified and developed to better serve both tourists and pilgrims.

CPI Rameswaram town secretary C.R. Senthilvel decried the persistent lack of basic amenities in the town.

He pointed out that despite the temple recording a footfall of several thousand tourists daily, it still lacks essential facilities like clean toilets and drinking water.

To bolster the region’s tourism appeal, he demanded that the government expedite the previously announced private ferry service between Rameswaram and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka.

Published – April 05, 2026 09:32 pm IST