CHENNAI: Come March, Chennai’s favourite boathouse at Muttukadu on ECR may boast of a new look with additional facilities, if Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation finishes the renovation work as planned. Nearly Rs 3.8 crore have been sanctioned for the project.
Carried out with financial assistance of Asian Development Bank, the new facilities will include more number of boats, water scooters, a better restaurant and a balcony lounge. The work started last March and is expected to be completed in two months.
“Currently, we have one boat edge where six boats can start rides simultaneously. We are now building one more edge on the other side of the backwaters. Once it is complete, 14 boats can start rides simultaneously. The boats can also be driven between these two edges,” said R Samson, manager of the boat house.
The average footfall at the boathouse is 500 on weekdays and 1,000 on weekends. Officials hope the new facilities will enable them to double the numbers and revenue.
Presently, the restaurant has a capacity of 30. Once the extension works are over, 60 customers can be accommodated. The menu card in the restaurant is also being improved. “The thatched roof of the huts will be replaced with tiles resembling Kerala style architecture. A balcony lounge is also being built which will give a view of the boats and water scooters in the backwaters,” Samson said. The parking space is also being tripled from the current capacity of 30 cars.