Proposals to develop tourism spots get clearance

A high-powered committee, led by Finance Secretary K. Shanmugam, has cleared tourism development of Rock Fort Temple and five other spots in the city under the Smart City proposals.

The committee that met in Chennai a few days ago accepted the proposal drafted by the Tiruchirappalli Smart City Limited.

This is the first proposal to be taken up since the city was chosen to implement smart city initiatives by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2017. A sum of Rs. 45.23 crore will be spent for tourism development in the city.

Rock Fort Temple, Rock Fort Temple tank (Teppakulam), Main Guard Gate, War Memorial, Purathana Park, and Municipal Chathiram are the other tourism spots, which have been selected for providing facelift.

Presiding over a meeting with officials of Tiruchi Corporation and a Chennai-based consultancy group on tourism development plan, Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran said that Rock Fort Temple was the most preferred tourism spot in Tiruchi. Construction of rest house for tourists, creation of two-wheeler and four-wheeler parking facilities, improvement of roads around the temple, provision of flood light and signage were among the works proposed in and around Rock Fort Temple. A sum of Rs. 11.36 crore would be spent for creating tourist friendly initiative in and around the Rock Fort Temple.

He said the Teppakulam, another landmark in the city, would get a facelift with complete illumination. The demand of tourists and pilgrims to introduce boating facilities would be fulfilled. Besides restructuring roads around the tank, steps would be made to introduce sound and light show highlighting the historical background of Tiruchi city and Rock Fort. It would cost Rs. 15.20 crore.

Mr. Ravichandran said that Rs. 8.78 crore would be earmarked, out of Rs. 45.23 crore, for creating landscape, children park and theme park at Purathana Park. It had been proposed to renovate the Main Guard Gate by providing illumination so as to showcase it as a standalone monument in the city.

Provision would be made to provide signage in addition to protection of the monument.

Source