The Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned Rs 13.60 crore for development of common amenities at the famous coastal tourism spot Kovalam near here.

Union Minister of state for HRD Shashi Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha said, he had received a letter from Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi on sanctioning of the fund.

Tharoor had taken up the proposals in this regard with the Centre.

The fund would be utilised for taking up schemes such as improving the bus stand, road sides and pathways to the beach, which are thronged by a large number of international and domestic tourists every year, Tharoor said in a statement here today.