The Union Shipping Minister, Mr G.K. Vasan, today inaugurated a project aimed at promoting tourism in lighthouses. The Rs 300-crore project would cover 13 lighthouses in the country.
“Lighthouses not only guide vessels but also are friends (of them). A new chapter is beginning in this direction...” Mr Vasan said here after unveiling a plaque as part of inauguration of the project at the Chennai Port.
The coastline across South India runs for 7,500 km and there are about 180 lighthouses. Of these, Tamil Nadu has 21. Three new lighthouses at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore each would be set up at Marakkanam, Venbam and Koothangudi in the state.
By upgrading the lighthouses, Mr Vasan said it would not only become tourist spots but also help in creating job opportunities besides benefiting the locals.
He said the Shipping Ministry would spent about Rs 50 crore for establishing a National Heritage Maritime Museum at Mahabalipuram. Besides a Lighthouse Museum on the famous Marina beach in Chennai would be set up at a cost of Rs five crore.
Lighthouses that would be covered under the upgradation programme include Rameswaram Lighthouse, Muttam-Kanyakumari Lighthouse, Dolphin Nose Lighthouse in Andhra Pradesh and Kadalur Point in Kerala.