Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Tourist-friendly auto scheme to be extended

Photo: R. Ashok

PEP TALK: V. Irai Anbu, Secretary, Tourism, making a point at an orientation programme for employees of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple organised by the Tourism Department on Tuesday. —

TIRUCHI: State Tourism Department has planned to extend the tourist-friendly autorickshaw scheme to major tourist centres, Tourism Secretary V. Irai Anbu said here on Tuesday.

The scheme, already in vogue in Chennai, would be introduced shortly in Kanyakumari. Autorickshaw drivers are issued photo identity cards after verifying their antecedents and they charge as per the fare meter. The vehicles are painted with pictures of tourist attractions in the State.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an orientation programme, “Virunthinar Portruthum, Virunthinar Portruthum,’ for employees of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple here, Mr. Anbu said the scheme would be extended to Madurai and Tiruchi. “We are willing to extend the scheme to more centres in coordination with the district administrations.”

He disclosed that the department was taking steps to promote less-known tourist destinations in the State such as Yelagiri, Yercaud, Hogenakkal, Pulicat and Kolli Hills. Tourist infrastructure such as roads and parks were being strengthened at these places. A golf course was planned at Yelagiri and the centre could also see the introduction of para-gliding soon.

Earlier, speaking at the orientation programme, Mr. Anbu suggested that the Srirangam Temple administration bring out a brochure/guide book providing an overview of the temple complex, to help tourists appreciate better the historic importance of the different sannidhis/structures and their heritage value. A power-point presentation on the temple could be run through the day for the benefit of tourists. Guides should be trained and issued identity cards.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Sanwant Ram said Tamil Nadu stood third in the country in tourist arrivals and emphasised the role of temple employees in improving the image of the State which had a large number of religious centres as tourist attractions.

Tourism Commissioner and Managing Director of TTDC M. Rajaram said the orientation/training programmes for target groups with close interface with tourists, such as autorickshaw/taxi drivers, airport/railway/temple employees and hoteliers had brought about good results.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Gupta reviews poll roll work
“Make childhood joyous”
Traffic diversion
Seeing good, hearing good and doing good
‘Field Day’ tomorrow
Mettur level
New arrangements
Jute items sell well
Training of dropouts, a success
Velu awards Rs. 2 lakh to staff
No power supply tomorrow
Woman dead
Tension in Crawford after former councillor’s detention
Tourist-friendly auto scheme to be extended
In Tiruchi Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu