World class Oceanarium at Mamallapuram to boost tourism

Chennai, Mar 21 : In continuation of its efforts to give a fillip to tourism sector in the state, the Tamil Nadu budget for 2013-14 presented today announced setting up of a world class Oceanarium at the ancient pallava capital and port town of Mamallapuram near here, at a cost of Rs 250 crore.

Finance Minister O Pananeerselvam, who presented the budget, announced that this would be done through Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation under public private partnership with technical support from fisheries department.

A new field fossil museum would also be established at Ariyalur at a cost of Rs 2 crore, he also announced.

The budget also announced that under the Special tourism project being implemented by te state government, infrastructure would be strengthened in select tourism centres at a cost of Rs 67.91 crore during the cucrrent budget year. A state fund of Rs 10 crore would be used for publicity to popularise 'Destinaion Tamil Nadu 2014' plan , the budget envisaged.

The budget has also provided Rs 153.95 croe for the tourism sector in the budget estimates for 2013-14, Mr Panneerselvam announced.