Renovation of Tholkappiya Poonga set to be completed by April-end: Minister-OxBig News Network

Tholkappiya ecological park in Adyar. File
| Photo Credit: Athullyea Padmanabhan

Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply K.N. Nehru told the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday (April 17, 2025) that over 1.12 lakh students and 6,070 teachers from 1,446 schools have, so far, participated in environmental awareness programmes conducted at Tholkappiya Poonga (Adyar Eco Park) in Chennai.

The park is currently being renovated to establish additional facilities, with the work expected to be completed by the end of April, he said.

Responding to questions raised by Mylapore MLA Dha. Velu and T. Nagar MLA J. Karunanidhi during the Question Hour, the Minister said the foundation stone for the 58-acre Tholkappiya Poonga was laid by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 2000. The park, developed by the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT), was opened to the public on January 22, 2011.

The park had suffered from poor maintenance for over a decade; after the DMK assumed office, ₹42.45 crore was allocated to restore the park and enhance its infrastructure, the Minister said. Current renovation efforts include the development of a new entrance, watchtower, visitors’ gallery, pedestrian pathway, open-air theatre, stalls, link bridges, and a children’s play area.

Before 2021, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) maintained 704 parks and 610 playgrounds. In the past four years, under the DMK government, 204 new parks have been developed at a cost of ₹81 crore, and 307 existing parks have been renovated at a cost of ₹24 crore. As of now, the city has 908 parks and 724 playgrounds. Plans are underway to create 32 more parks at an estimated cost of ₹8 crore, and the State government has sanctioned ₹60 crore for the development of 30 additional parks in 2025-26. Another 273 existing parks are also set to be renovated at a cost of ₹30 crore, the Minister added.

Further, renovation work is in progress at the Corporation park in Zone 10 near SIMS Hospital in Vadapalani by utilising ₹75 lakh from the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Fund. New facilities being established for public use include a gym, play equipment, handball and badminton play areas, a children’s play zone, footpaths, and toilets. The renovation is expected to be completed by this month, he added.