Soon it would be a smooth ride to the Butterfly Park

The stretch from Melur to the park will be given a makeover in the coming months

Visitors to the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory, popularly known as Butterfly Park, located about six kilometres away from Srirangam, can look forward to enjoying a smooth ride on the road from the start of 2018.

The battered road that erodes the satisfaction of visiting the park will soon be rectified. A main portion of the stretch from Melur to the park will be given a makeover in the coming months, official sources said.

The River Conservation Division of the Public Works Department has reportedly invited tenders for strengthening a 2.4 km stretch in the first phase, much to the relief of the Forest Department that maintains the park.

Footfalls have been on the rise to the park during weekends and holidays. People in good numbers could also be found on evenings, enjoying the fresh air away from traffic noise and other distractions.

Spread on a 25-acre expanse, the butterfly park that was inaugurated in 2015 now presents a lush green appearance replete with fountains, ponds, plants of various varieties, a children's park, and many other features.

The road from Melur to the conservatory, stated to be among the biggest in Asia, however, remains the only grey area. And, taking cognisance of this factor, the Tourism Department has entrusted the road strengthening work with the River Conservation Division of PWD.

According to official sources, the road will be widened to the extent of 5.5 metres from the existing 3.75 metres all along the stretch, at a cost of ₹1.99 crore. The widening work will include shifting of lamp posts and eviction of encroachments to a minimal extent.

The tender process will take about a fortnight for completion, and thereafter, the work will be carried out over the next few months, official sources added.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/soon-it-would-be-a-smooth-ride-to-the-butterfly-park/article19538325.ece