Asian Development Bank funds to boost tourist infranstructure in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: The heritage town of Mamallapuram and also several pilgrim towns including Rameswaram and the two boating yards near the city will soon see more infrastructure to cater to the requirements of the increasing volume of visitors. These initiatives, it is said, will improve the facilities at the boathouses on par with the standards available in the developed nations.

The state tourism department hopes to utilise the funds from the ADB to promote the tourism projects in a big way in order to attrack both dometic and global tourists throughout the year.

According to sources, it has been proposed to raise a garden, establish children’s park, stone tables, benches, watch towers, drinking water facilities, take up illumination and in addition refurbish the restaurants at Muttukadu and Mudaliyarkuppam boathouses where wearing lifejackets by those availing boat rides, is mandatory. Nearly 100 boats were purchased during the year 2012-13 for the boathouses across Tamil Nadu to replace the old boats and efforts were on to induct additional boats.

Tiruvannamalai, Srirangam, Thanjavur and Mamallapuram and the pilgrim towns of Palani, Madurai and Rameswaram would also get more infrastructure including basic amenities like drinking water. The department is in the process of identifying an agency to execute these projects.

The funds for these projects will be met from out of the financial assistance received by the Centre from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) towards the implementation of infrastructure development and investment programme for tourism.

Sources said that ADB would extend an assistance of $100 million (Rs 500 crore) for a period of five years, meeting about 70 per cent ('350 crore) of the project costs and remaining 30 per cent (Rs 150 crore) would be met from out of state funds.