The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Efforts on to upgrade facilities at Kodaikanal'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Efforts on to upgrade facilities at Kodaikanal'

Staff Reporter

Foreign tourists' arrival had increased sizably in the past 4 years

Modern bus stand to be set up
Proposals sent for construction of commercial complexes and parks

Kodaikanal lake bridge widened and roads improved

KODAIKANAL: The State Government is taking extensive efforts to upgrade facilities at Kodaikanal to attract more tourists, the PWD Minister, O. Paneerselvam, has said.

Addressing the valedictory function of the summer festival held here on Sunday, he said tourists flow to the hill station has been increasing since 2001. Arrival of foreign tourists too had been increased sizably in the past four years.

About 45,000 foreigners arrived in the hill station in 2001 and the figure had been catapulted to 66,000 in 2004. There was also a sharp increase in the arrival of domestic tourists.

Top priority would be given for construction of an ultra modern bus stand and the Kodaikanal Municipality had sent proposals in this connection. A separate place would be provided for setting up a permanent taxi stand and to accommodate small traders. Special attention would be paid to allot land for the poor living on `poromboke' land. This issue would be brought to the notice of the Government for immediate action.

The Highways department had laid 45,000 km of roads in the past four years and another 12,000 km would be laid during this year.

The Collector, S. Murugaia, said proposals at an estimated cost of Rs.4.5 crores had been sent for construction of a modern bus stand, commercial complexes and rest rooms.

Rs. 5-crore plan

To beautify the hill station, a project at an estimated cost of Rs.5 crores had been sent to the Central Government. In the first phase, Rs.60 lakhs was sanctioned under tourists development fund. More accommodation facilities would also be created for the benefit of tourists.

Already, the Kodaikanal lake bridge had been widened at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs to ease traffic congestion and the drinking water supply tank deepened, he said.

The Kodaikanal Municipal chairman, A. Kurian Abraham, appealed to the Government to sanction funds for construction of commercial complexes on Anna Road, development of weekly shandy and a children's park.

Later, the Minister distributed prizes and certificates to winners of various competitions held during the 10-day festival.

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