Puducherry shoring up tourism sector

Three ongoing projects at varying stages of completions, which are crucial to the plans to generate more footfalls, the revamp of the Botanical Garden revamp, extension of the pleasure boating.

July 28, 2014 11:09 am | Updated 11:45 am IST - PUDUCHERRY

The Chunnambar Boat House are expected to generate more revenue. File Photo

The Chunnambar Boat House are expected to generate more revenue. File Photo

The city is reloading its tourism arsenal as it seeks to amplify the allure of existing locations in addition to carving out new hotspots.

Three ongoing projects at varying stages of completions, which are crucial to the plans to generate more footfalls, are the revamp of the Botanical Garden, extension of the pleasure boating circuit in Chunnambar and the establishment of an Arts and Crafts Village at Murungapakkam.

At Chunnambar, a short boat ride separates the riverside from beachfront, offering some breathtaking views along the way. Arguably, the town’s favourite day outing destination, Paradise Beach, is only accessible by boat from Chunnambar Resort, along the Cuddalore Main Road. The beach is flanked on the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Chunnambar River on the other.

The over Rs. 5 crore ‘Beautification of riverside and beach’ project at Chunnambar involves ramping up accommodation facilities, renovation of the restaurant, opening three boat jetties and ticket counters, erecting an entrance arch, introducing paved pathways, landscaping and electrification.

At Paradise Beach, it is proposed to open two wooden jetties, have a wood-built restaurant and bamboo huts and shower rooms and toilets.

According to tourism managers, 30 per cent of the proposed works is completed.

Now, the tourism department is also looking at extending the popular boating circuit at Chunambar by adding a water route parallel to the current one. At present, boats run from Chunnambar Resort downstream till Paradise Beach and return.

On an exploratory visit by Tourism Minister P. Rajavelu, secretary W.V.R.Murthy, director K.K. Singh and PWD chief engineer Manoharan on Friday, they found that that the parallel backwater channel has good depth to run cruise services.

The plan is to construct a jetty and amenities on the southern side of the backwater channel so visitors can disembark and take a break. The four additional pleasure boats with a capacity of 20 passengers procured by the department will be operational soon, said Mr. Singh.

Away from the beachside and in the downtown area, a major project to salvage the famed Botanical Garden is under way. Ever since Cyclone Thane in 2011 robbed this showpiece of hundreds of trees and rare plant species apart from damaging the greenhouse, efforts have focused on replenishing floral stock here.

The two centuries-old ‘Jardin Botanique’, which was one of the many city locations where Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ was shot, is slowly getting back its greenery with over 600 saplings put under nurture. Apart from flower-bearing trees such as shenbagam and parijatham that emit a sweet scent, water apple trees and ‘Rudraksha’ trees are also blossoming in the garden.

The ‘Beautification and Renovation of Botanical Garden in Puducherry’ is a Rs. 8.25 crore drive that includes proposal for laying a jogging track, a nature centre, restaurant and gazebo, a kid’s play zone, a Japanese garden, rock garden, a maze, green wall, amphi-theatre and topiary. The musical fountain is also getting a facelift as well as lighting and landscaping.

According to a status update from the Tourism Department, the project is not even halfway through as only 40 per cent of the proposed works are completed.

Among these three projects, the one that is likely to be commissioned in the next few months is the establishment of an Arts and Crafts Village at Murungapakkam.

Almost 70 per cent of the Rs.5.35 crore project, undertaken on a four-acre undulating land on the banks of the Ariyankuppam backwaters, is already completed.

Once completed, the site will have 35 handicraft shops, a workshop are and an exhibition space, a food court, an amphitheatre as well as a dormitory to house artisans.

(EOM)

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