Tamil Nadu bets big on water sports

Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) is planning to add 120 new boats, including kayaks, pedal boats, motorboats, outboard boats and water scooters. Tenders have already been floated to acquire kayaks, pedal boats and water scooters.

TTDC has floated tenders for acquiring 120 boats, including five single-seater kayaks, five double-seater kayaks, 27 two-seater pedal boats, 35 four-seater pedal boats, six four-seater row boats, six eight-seater motor boats, two 15-seater motor boats, eight 15 HP outboard motorboats, four high-speed water scooters and two four-seater speed boats.

The new boats would either be added to the fleet or would replace the existing boats being operated by the TTDC across the State — Udhagamandalam (40 boats), Kodaikanal (30), Mudaliarkuppam (19), Muttukadu (17), Yercaud (five), Pitchavaram (five) and Pykara (four).

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) would finance 70 per cent and the State government would finance 30 per cent of the project. The department has floated another tender for acquiring two ferries (a 150-seater and a 75-seater) to be operated in Kanniyakumari to take tourists from the mainland to the Vivekananda Memorial Rock and the iconic Tiruvalluvar statue.