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Valparai awaits tourism infrastructure

— Photo: M. Balaji

Scenic beauty: Valparai in Coimbatore district has great potential to emerge as a favourite tourist destination.

POLLACHI: Coimbatore district administration’s efforts to make Valparai a favourite tourist destination are yet to fructify owing to lack of proper accommodation for tourists.

Soon after a summer festival this year, the authorities prepared a detailed plan to create necessary infrastructure to lure tourists. The infrastructure will cost around Rs.1.61 crore. The proposal was sent to the Government some months ago. The tourist flow will sustain traders, eateries and the local youth at a time when the tea industry is in the doldrums.

Coimbatore District Collector Neeraj Mittal and Pollachi Sub-Collector Vijay Pingale, who have been instrumental in drawing the infrastructure plan, have held discussions with officials to improve basic amenities in the hill station.

According to the Rs.1.61-crore proposal submitted to the State tourism department, construction of tree-top guest houses at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Valparai will cost Rs. 20 lakh and Rs. 6 lakh has been earmarked for a bamboo house. Mr. Pingale said these works would be taken up at the earliest by the Valparai Municipality after getting the Collector’s clearance. “This will be a good beginning. We have acquired 4.41 acres of revenue land, which was occupied by some others till recently.”

Mr. Pingale said the plan envisages construction of 10 eco-friendly cottages (Rs.12.5 lakh), construction of a boat house (Rs.10 lakh), lawn, garden and lighting arrangements (Rs.12 lakh), an information centre and parking arrangements (Rs. 6 lakh), construction of cottages (Rs. 60 lakh), aquarium centre (Rs.14.50 lakh) and a museum (Rs. 20 lakh). The administration is preparing a plan to get financial assistance under the project funded by Asian Development Bank.

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