BMA proposed this vision for a tourism-oriented invigoration of Kerala’s backwaters, a stretch of 750-kilometres, soon after the state was bestowed its enduring and apt ‘God’s Own Country’ tag. The masterplan presented to the state government after undertaking in-depth research of the region, revolved around bettering tourism facilities, identifying important areas to attract visitors, bettering facilities in the existing tourist hotspots, and developing and improving infrastructure connectivity.

The project included new ideas — such as cultural centres on the many islands that are part of the backwater landscape and building grandstands to view chundan vallam (snake boat) races that are the coastal state’s cultural jewel. While the backwater system has been used for transportation by the local population for centuries, the scheme sought to streamline it by creating organised boat stops and creating a network of water taxis as well as water ambulances.