The Hindu 30.11.2009
Tirunallar Temple Town Development project gets under way
P.V.Srividya
— File Photo
Marked for renovation: A view of the `Nalan Theertham at Tirunallar.
TIRUNALLAR: The Tirunallar Temple Town Development Project (TTTDP) was ushered in with the foundation stone laying for the Nalankulam revitalisation project here on Saturday.
The project envisages a total investment of Rs.146.70 crore, inclusive of Rs.6.27 crore for Nalankulam renovation, funded by HUDCO. Iqbal Singh, Lieutenant Governor, Puducherry, inaugurated the project in the presence of Chief Minister V.Vaithilingam and V.Narayanasamy, Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture.
Under the phase I, the famous Nalankulam will be renovated. The renovation entailed tank development work with a mandapam, granite steps, circular pavements, a landscape along with a building component of cloak, locker rooms and shops cluster. Apart from desilting and beautification, Nalankulam revitalisation envisages a water treatment plant.
Laying of an inner ring road, widening of local roads, a queue complex, rejuvenation of other sacred ponds such as the Saraswathi Theertham and Brahma Theertham, parking and pilgrim facilities, shopping and restaurant clusters, an inter-state bus terminal and other development works will be taken up in a phased manner under the TTTDP.
As on date, land acquisition valuations for the project are under way. Shortly after this, land was expected to be handed over to the department concerned.According to an official, alternate plot from the Tirunallar temple land along with an amount for house construction on lines of the Kamarajar Housing Scheme was being considered for about 33 dwellers identified as project affected people. Land acquisition would account for Rs.26 crore of the total project cost.
The project was initially conceptualised by the Department of Tourism. It was being executed by the Public Works Department. A special monitoring cell under Karaikal Collector N. Vasantha Kumar has been formed to monitor the work. A technical cell under the Superintendent Engineer has provided the expertise.
Public-Private Partnership model for improving hospitality services in the form of cottages on lines of the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam was also under consideration.
