A musical fountain on the Marina is likely to emerge as a major tourist attraction.
The civic body on Friday invited expression of interest from corporate entities, multinational companies, joint ventures, firms and consortiums for commissioning the facility. The fountain is likely to be located near Gandhi Statue.
The chosen private entity will shoulder the responsibility of commissioning the musical fountain, including the civil works, plumbing and lighting arrangements. It will also carry out maintenance of the fountain for three years.
The musical fountain is yet another effort by the civic body aimed at improving the beach and making it more attractive to visitors.
On Friday, the Chennai Corporation commissioned additional lights on the sands of the Marina, at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh. One high-mast lamp each was installed at Ayothikuppam, the Kannagi statue, Nadukuppam service road, Nochikuppam and the Foreshore Estate area. Two high-mast lamps were installed on the sands near the swimming pool. The 3.1-km stretch of the Marina from the Triumph of Labour statue to the lighthouse has 31 high-mast lamps now.
The civic body has also started work on construction of benches on the beach. This was undertaken as a number of beachgoers, put to hardship by the inadequate number of benches, had made representations, Corporation officials said. A few benches have already been commissioned opposite TNSCB.
