Date:31/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103106410500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Now, tourism police

Special Correspondent

To be appointed on trial basis at five places

CHENNAI: The State Tourism Department has decided to appoint tourism police on an experimental basis in five place of tourist interest.

The places chosen are Mahabalipuram, Udhagamandalam, Kodaikanal, Madurai and Kanyakumari. The government had made the decision on October 17, said a release.

Also, 400 guides would be trained for the main tourist centres in the State — Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Kancheepuram, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Kodaikanal and Udhagamandalam. Orders for this were issued last month. Infrastructure was being improved in Madurai, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Vellore and Chettinad. Central aid was being used for this and an amount of upto Rs. 5 crore would be spent in each of the places. Also, roads in the Mahabalipuram - Kancheepuram circuit will be improved at a cost of Rs. 8 crore. Facilities will also be improved at Kundrathur, Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram, Tiruppukuzhi, Pazhayaseevaram, Nenmeli, Tirukazhukundram, Mahabalipuram and Tiruporur as part of the project.

Rope car project

A rope car project would be taken up at Udhagamandalam, Kodaikanal, Kanyakumari and Yercaud. The Rs.1518.69 lakh Udhagamandalam project would have a Central aid of Rs.397 lakh. The estimate for the Kodaikanal project was Rs.1396.55 lakh and the Central aid component was Rs.363 lakh. The Kanyakumari project would be taken up by the Tourism Corporation.