Chennai: It will be a dream come true if the project materialises - one could literally walk on a bridge over the sea, connecting the monuments of the two great savants — Vivekananda Rock Memorial and granite Tiruvalluvar statue off the coast of Kanyakumari, soon. The Centre has allotted Rs 15 crore to explore the possibilities of and also facilitate the construction of a bridge linking the two monuments that attract both domestic and international visitors on a daily basis.
This will be among the numerous tourism projects to be taken up in Kanyakumari district for which the Centre has allotted a whopping Rs 3,298.76 crore. Several initiatives would also be taken up keeping in mind the increasing tourist population visiting the land's end in future. At present tourists avail ferry service from the land to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and a boat ride to the Valluvar's statue.
"It (bridge) could be a reality. It would soon give an opportunity (for visitors) to walk from the Rock Memorial to the statue. To facilitate this, Rs. 15 crore has been allotted by the Centre," Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said. Following his request the Centre had sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs. 99.98 crore to TN for developing Marina beach, Besant Nagar Beach, Mamallapuram, Rameswaram, Manappad, Kanyakumari, Thirkurichi, Manakudy, soon.
"When Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma visited Kanyakumari in January last year, I urged him to allot Rs 100 crore for developing the tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, he had sanctioned funds to develop tourism in 8 spots. I thank him and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the gesture," he added.
Radhakrishnan who earlier held a series of discussions with the National Highways officials, explored the ways to make riding on the NH safe.
