Facelift for Vellore fort under smart city drive

Corporation Commissioner C Sivasubramaniam said that the joint inspection was ordered by Vellore Collector SA Raman as a proposal for improving amenities for visitors and tourists inside the fort. The project will be carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 33 crore.

Sivasubramaniam accompanied by ASI officials, including superintending archeologist from Chennai inspected the fort to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

“The amenities will be split into three categories. In the first we will provide basic facilities like roads, water, toilets and lighting while in the next category we plan to provide enough parking for vehicles and clear the weed growth. Finally, we also plan to provide a light and sound show to narrate the historic events which took place inside the fort, including the Vellore sepoy mutiny and the incarceration of Tipu Sultan’s family,” said Sivasubramaniam.

He further added that no renovation works will be done to the buildings constructed by the British.

However, those that were built after independence will be renovated to ensure that the premises attract Indian and foreign tourists.

The project is expected to start once a report is submitted to the collector, he said.