The Hindu : Front Page : Tourism development project taken up

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Sunday, Feb 20, 2011
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Tourism development project taken up

P.V. Srividya

At Tranquebar Danish Fort and its surroundings

— Photo: B. Velankanni Raj.

FACELIFT:Cobble-stone pavement being laid

NAGAPATTINAM: The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has embarked on a tourism development project at the Tranquebar Danish Fort and its surroundings here.

The project — Destination Development of Tranquebar — envisages reconstruction of the erstwhile Danish settlement by recreating the ambience around the 17 century Danish Fort of Dansborg and that of the settlements that had emerged and thrived around its fencing.

The proposal conceived as a two-phase destination development endeavour is estimated at a cumulative cost of Rs.373.08 lakh.

The phase I entails a rectangular walkway in front of the Dansborg Fort leading to Goldsmith Street.

The rectangular walkway is being paved by cobbled-stones alongside ornamental iron cast street lamps – both typical of Danish town planning design.

The walkways would be spruced up with flat granite benches. The project implemented by the Public Works Department has received consultancy support from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). As of date, the cobble-stone pavements were being set up to 350 meters in front of the Dansborg Fort, and up to 100 meters on the Goldsmith Street. The Phase I works were being established at a cost of Rs.243 lakh.

Further, an approach road from the Tranquebar arch to the river promenade, parallel to the King's Street is being planned under Phase II works.

This is to create an alternative pathway for heavy vehicles whose movement would be restricted by the cobble-stone pavements. This would also contain vehicular pollution around the Fort, which is believed to host the highest concentration of atmospheric ozone and consequent fresh air. Phase II has been proposed at Rs.130 lakh.

According to a PWD official, a long-term proposal for recreating the Danish ambience around the entire area of Tranquebar would be worked out. Phase I works were scheduled for completion by February-end, the official said.

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