It was in 2012-13 that Tiruchi Corporation unveiled its plan — to establish a green park at Panchapur on the outskirts of the city on Tiruchi-Madurai highway.
There was much scepticism. Brushing aside the doubts, the Corporation, however, went ahead with the plan.
The deadline for completion: six months.
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Six years down the road, the project is yet to attain its full shape.
To recap, a sum of ₹2 crore was allotted for the park that was to come up in 12 acres at Panchapur. Six acres were earmarked for setting up the green park. And in the remaining area, the Corporation intended to set up a theme park.
Replicas of seven wonders of the world, a meditation hall, walkways, sandpit, cycle track, children’s play area, video games unit, and a zoological park were planned.
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V.P. Dhandapani, then Corporation Commissioner, who took an active interest in the project, visualised a perfect hangout for the entertainment-starved people of Tiruchi.
He said the trees would balance the ecology at Panchapur, where the Corporation’s massive sewage treatment was located.
The former civic chief also involved about 500 residents of Tiruchi and enrolled them as volunteers to raise fruit-bearing, herbal and medicinal plants. They contributed ₹3,000 each for nurturing the plants as well.
Looking at the status of the plan, walkways, cycle track and children’s play equipment are in place. Similarly, saplings, which were planted prior to the announcement of the green park, have grown well and provide welcome shade. A compound wall has also been constructed.
However, there is no progress on the proposals for meditation hall, zoological park and toy train.
Sans all these features, the park is open to the public. But there are not many visitors. The cycle track and walkways remain unused.
The lack of interest amy be attributed to the fact that it is located far away from the city.
This raises questions as to whether the green park has failed to attract the attention of the people. In fact, many feel that the investment in the park has literally gone waste.
Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran says the civic body has recently established an amphi-theatre at an estimated ₹1 crore to add value to the green park. On an average, it receives about 200 visitors on weekends.
There is need to provide a few more facilities to get the patronage of people. It has sufficient land for establishing an amusement park. The Corporation will soon come out with a plan to establish one. The business model is being worked out, the civic body chief added.