Chennai: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today inaugurated the Angling and Eco-Park at Chetpet lake in the city through video conferencing from the Secretariat. The 16-acre facility has been set up at a cost of Rs 42 crore.
Earlier, the water body had overgrown vegetation and the water level was a cause for concern. Over the years it was also used as a dumping ground by nearby slum-dwellers.
It has now been given a complete makeover and will be one of the attractions in the city.
The State Fisheries Department, which took up the restoration project in July 2015 following an order by Jayalalithaa, has reportedly divided the facility, near the Chetpet railway station, into a boating area and an angling (fishing) spot.
A 1.4-km jogging track paved with concrete winds around the facility that includes a children’s park, food court, an open air auditorium, a multimedia centre, guest houses and a multilevel parking lot capable of holding 200 cars, it is learnt.
There will be six paddle boats on offer for those keen on cruising round the spot, while the fishing area can accommodate about 30 anglers, sources said.
An anglers club at the lake had been functioning until 1940, drawing enthusiasts from far and wide. The lake, which is at least 15-feet at its deepest, empties into the Cooum river.
Apart from the Fisheries Department, Corporation of Chennai, Chennai River Restoration Trust, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board and Southern Railway have also been involved in the project that aims to turn the only lake in the heart of the city into a tourist hub.
While 11 acres of the site will be water, the remaining five will be a land mass, officials said.
There are three separate demarcated areas for the project. First is the entrance area near Ega Theatre, which will house the nine-level car parking with a capacity to house 66 cars and 100 two wheelers.
Given its proximity to the upcoming Kilpauk Metro Station, the multistorey building is envisaged to be a parking spot for Chennai Metro rail users as well.
How To Go Chetpet Eco Park
