Theme park, craft village to come up in Pondy

Puducherry, Aug 22 (UNI) The Puducherry administration will soon set up a water-based theme park and a craft village at Murugambakkam to attract more tourists, Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said today.

Inaugurating a tourist guide training camp for 70 people here, he said the Tourism department had sought a loan of Rs three crore from the Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation (PIPDIC) for the same.

Mr Rao said as many as 6,000 to 9,000 taxi drivers, autorickshaw drivers and rickshaw pullers would be provided with uniforms free of cost. Orders for the uniforms have been placed with the Government- owned Anglo-French Textile Mills here.

He said the Andhra Pradesh Government had agreed to provide land for the construction of a Puducherry guest house at Tirupati at a cost of Rs three crore and an agreement in this regard would be signed in a couple of days. A scheme to link the Southern States by rail was in the offing to develop tourism. Talks have been held with the Andhra Chief Minister in this regard, he added.

The Minister said floating restaurants have been introduced in Puducherry and would be opened soon in the Mahe and Yanam regions.

Steps were being taken to beautify the beaches in Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions. Funds have been allocated for the purpose and tenders would be floated soon. The administration proposed to open a resort, swimming pool and a massage centre on the beach.

After the training, 50 of the tourist guides would be appointed on contract basis in Puducherry and 20 in Karaikal.

UNI