Marina to be beautified

Chennai, May 7 (UNI) Marina, the second longest beach in the world and one of the major tourist attractions in the city, would be beautified at a cost of Rs five crore during the current year.

Announcing this in the State Assembly during the reply for grants for his department, Tourism Minister N Suresh Rajan said many people, both domestic and foreign, visit South India for its beaches.

''Keeping this in mind, the Tamil Nadu government has proposed to develop and promote beaches in the State, both at the national and international levels.'', he added.

In the first phase, Marina Beach would be taken up for development at a cost of Rs five crore during 2007-08'', he announced.

Mr Rajan said with a view to increase the number of tourists and as part of promoting pilgrimage centres, the government would produce films to develop and promote the ''Navagraha'' circuit and Arupadai Veedugal circuit (the six abodes of Lord Muruga).

He said the temple city of Srirangam, the seat of Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 ''Divya Desams'' of Vaishnavite sects, would be developed under the destination development scheme at a cost of Rs five crore. The temple tower of Sri Ranganathaswamy at Srirangam is one of the largest in India, he said.

The Minister said the script for the establishment of Sound and Light Show in the Lord Brahadeeswarar Temple (also called ''Big Temple'') at Thanjavur was prepared. After getting permission from the Archaeological Survey of India, the tourism ministry would start implementing it.

Mr Suresh Rajan said the government would also introduce ''Hop on Hop Off'' tour in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu and the Gateway to South India.

The tour would be implemented in association with the State Transport Corporation. Under this, the tourist could board a bus from any loction and get off at any spot convenient for seeing tourist attractions.

The government has also decided to set up a Sculptor Park at Poonjeri for the benefit of tsunami affected sculptors and artisans at a cost of Rs ten crore.

UNI