Tourism in loss enclosure

Tourist and recreational spots in and around the city have been witnessing a steady dip in footfalls over the past several weeks. While it was demonetisation that took the fun out of recreational spots last month, Cyclone Vardah ensured that the lull continued all the way to the end of the year. 

The eco-park at Chetpet lake, the only picnic spot in the heart of Chennai, is in the docks with the number of visitors plummeting after the cyclone uprooted many trees on its premises. Officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation Limited (TNFDC), which maintains the eco-park, admit that the crowds have thinned. 

Sources said that the 15-acre lake cum eco-park, built at a cost of Rs 42 crore and inaugurated in February this year, had received good response from the public. The boating facility, seafood court and walking track attracted large crowds, especially during weekends. 

“On an average, the eco-park would receive 600 to 700 visitors, which would shoot up to around 1,500-2,000 during holidays. However, the number plummeted after demonetisation and the cyclone last week. The park is now receiving about 100 to 150,” said a staff member, seeking anonymity. 

Another official said, “As there were around five acres of empty land around the lake, we planted many trees and built a walking track around it to attract more visitors. However, the cyclone uprooted many trees and damaged lamp posts in the area. Now we are clearing the fallen trees and debris. 

Motorists and pedestrians, who stopped at Chetpet bridge merely to have a glimpse of the park are surprised. “I take this route regularly and stop my bike here to see the park and the lake. There would be a considerable number of boats in the lake. There was a big tree on an islet in the middle of the lake, which the cyclone has damaged,” said K Shanmugam, a private firm employee. He wanted the officials to restore the ‘lost glory’ of the park. 

When contacted, a senior TNFDC official said that there was no major damage to the park. “Now, we are clearing the debris. We expect the visitors to be back as soon as the work is complete,” he added.

The Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur, the city’s oldest and main tourist spot, also suffered heavily due to Cyclone Vardah. While officials say that there were no animal casualties in the zoo, a large number of trees were uprooted. “We were well alerted about the cyclone and undertook precautionary measures. All the animals in the enclosure were shifted to safer shelters,” said an official. He added that clearing works were on in full swing and the zoo would open to the public as early as possible. 

It has been a season of low footfalls. The number of visitors had reduced after demonetisation. The zoo used to get 7,000 to 8,000 footfalls a day. However, it dipped to 4,000 to 5,000 after demonetisation. With the zoo closed from December 12, our revenue loss is more,” said the official. On an average, the zoo generated between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1 crore per month, prior to the currency crunch and the natural disaster. 

With a number of old trees on the premises lost, it would take a at least month to restore the zoo, the official added. 

A senior official from Tamil Nadu Tourist Development Corporation (TTDC) said that works to restore tourist spots across the state have been put on fast track. In Chennai, we will be able to open Guindy National Park and Vandalur Zoo after one or two weeks. TTDC officials are exploring the possibilities of opening these spots at the earliest.

K Geethanjali, Wildlife Warden, Guindy National Park, said that strong winds flattened around 1,000 trees on the premises and workers have been pressed into action to clear the fallen trees. “We had to close the park and it will be opened in a week’s time,” she added.

Mamallapuram, which is known for attracting a large number of tourists, including foreigners, during winter has been resembling a deserted place since Vardah played havoc. “The tourist spot would receive 5,000 visitors per day. But the number has fallen to around 1,000. Even the number of foreigners visiting the spot has reduced to 100 to 200 as against 500 to 700 after demonetisation,” said an official. The cyclone has completely crippled the tourist spot and it would take one more month to restore such an ancient town, the official added.