Tourism Minister visits uru yard as Kerala Budget earmarks ₹5 crore for industry

Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas has visited the uru (traditional wooden dhow) manufacturing yard at Kakkadath in Beypore. The visit came in the backdrop of the 2026–27 State Budget allocating ₹5 crore for the uru industry under the ‘Beypore Uru Tourism Project’, signalling renewed government focus on revitalising the centuries-old boat-building sector through tourism-linked initiatives.

The Minister said the allocation was aimed at enhancing the potential of the uru industry by linking it with the tourism sector and showcasing the traditional boat-building industry more prominently to the world. He added that further discussions would be held with the Industries and Finance departments in this regard.

Major uru manufacturing units operate along the BC Road–Kakkadath coast in Beypore and at Pattarmadu Thuruth in Chaliyam. Construction also takes place intermittently at Karuvanthuruthy in Feroke. The Minister interacted with master carpenter Edathodi Sathyan and other experts at the uru yard.

Tourism regional joint director D. Girish Kumar, deputy director Pradeep Chandran, DTPC secretary T. Nikhildas and others accompanied the Minister.