The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Aruvikkara park to get a facelift

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Aruvikkara park to get a facelift

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

The park will have entry and exit points as the tourism authorities plan to introduce tickets to regulate visitors. The cafeteria in the park will be refurbished.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to attract domestic tourists to the premises of Aruvikkara dam and to restore the old glory of the picnic spot, the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) plans to renovate the sprawling Siva Park near the dam premises at a cost of Rs.18.27 lakhs.

Kerala Tourism has cleared the project chalked out by the DTPC for renovating the park, which once attracted large number of picnickers from within the city and outside. Still, the park is frequented by those who come to visit the temple and students who arrive to see the dam, the reservoir and picturesque surroundings as part of excursion.

The overgrown shrubs and trees in the garden, which has an area of 0.40 hectares, would be pruned as part of the renovation. Playing equipment for children such as a timber swing would be installed as part of providing recreational facilities for the young. A lotus pond would be set up in the park that would be landscaped.

Tree shade seats for the visitors would be another attraction. Lighting would be taken up so that the visitors can hang around even after sunset. The park would be fenced so as to prevent the entry of cattle and stray dogs. Landscaping of the park will be taken up and buffalo grass would be planted.

The park would have entry and exit points as the tourism authorities plan to introduce tickets to regulate visitors. The present cafeteria in the park would be refurbished and steps would be taken so that those who drop in get snacks, tea and coffee. Drinking water facilities and toilets would also be set up as part of the project.

"The project had been sanctioned and KITCO had been entrusted with the work. The work would be completed within six months," DTPC secretary N. Subramoniam said. The idea of the DTPC authorities is to throw open the renovated park at Aruvikkara to the visitors before Onam.

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