THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After three months of the launch of the Rest house online booking system, on Kerala Piravi day, the public works department in Kerala has received a revenue of more than one crore. Rs 83,11,151 was received through 13,435 online bookings. Another Rs 28,70,369 was received through the bookings via 4,524 rest house counters. A total of Rs 1,11,81,520 was received through 17,959 bookings. Not even a fraction of this amount was received before.

Online booking facilities have been arranged in 1,151 rooms in 151 rest houses. It was in the special interest of public works Minister Mohammad Riyas that the ‘People’s Rest House’ online booking was launched.

The Thycaud rest house in the capital stands first in terms of revenue, followed by Chalakudy, Munnar and Ernakulam. As the rest houses became popular, canteen, parking and refreshment facilities are also being expanded. Generator and invertor facilities will soon be set up in order to prevent power issues.

The government is planning to turn the rest houses into lucrative ventures as the industrial sector and public life is returning to normal after the Covid surge.

There are also plans to make the restrooms more disabled friendly and set up comfort stations and gardens, taking into account of the visitors’ opinions.

The pictures, address and phone number of the rest houses are available in the website www.resthouse.pwd.kerala.gov.in. In case of any issue, one can contact 0471-2996946, 2998946, 2998946. Online facilities are also available for booking cancellation, rate checking and service evaluation.

Online booking for three months – 13,435

Income – Rs 83,11,151

Booking at Rest House counters – 4,524

Income – Rs 28,70,369

Total bookings – 17,959

Income – Rs 1,11,81,520

Online booking for 1,151 rooms in 151 rest houses

Rates

AC Room:

Class 1 – Rs 1000

Class 2 – Rs 750

Non-AC Room:

Class 1 – Rs 600

Class 2 – Rs 400

Additional bed – Rs 150