Chennai's favourite drive-in to pave way for botanical garden

Chennai, Apr 17 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will develop a world class botanical garden in the 320-ground area, housing the famous Woodlands Drive-in Restaurant in the heart of the city, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced in the state Assembly today.

Making a statement under Rule 110, he said the botanical garden would be developed on the lines of the famous Lal Bagh in Bangalore and the botanical garden at Udhagamandalam in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

Mr Karunanidhi said this vast area of land, which was restored to the Government by the Madras High Court order after a gap of 30 years and now valued at more than Rs 1,000 crore, would be transformed into a botanical garden, adding beauty to the city.

Recalling the history of the 320-ground land, which was sub-leased to the Woodlands Hotel by the Agri-Horticultural Society without the government's consent, he said there was no basis to the argument that the action by the Government was politically motivated.

More UNI GV GD KK VC1410