133-ft iconic tower at Chennai’s Anna Nagar Park reopened to public after 12 years
The 15-acre park, which is popularly known as Anna Nagar Tower Park, is considered to be an iconic area in the Adyar zone, like the LIC Building and Light House in the city. Located inside the park, the tower was built as part of the Indian International Trade and Industries Fair and was inaugurated by the then vice president V V Giri during the tenure of the late Tamil Nadu chief minister C N Annadurai on January 21, 1968.
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Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi inspected the tower and expressed satisfaction with the safety measures. After a gap of nearly 12 years, the renovated 133-foot tower at the Visvesvaraya Tower Park in Chennai was opened to the public on Monday. According to officials, the tower – which provides a panoramic view of the city – was given a facelift at a cost of Rs 97.60 lakh.
The 15-acre park, which is popularly known as Anna Nagar Tower Park, is considered to be an iconic area in the Adyar zone, like the LIC Building and Light House in the city. Located inside the park, the tower was built as part of the Indian International Trade and Industries Fair and was inaugurated by the then vice president V V Giri during the tenure of the late Tamil Nadu chief minister C N Annadurai on January 21, 1968.
Earlier, the park had been a popular spot for film shootings including that of the 1982 movie Manal Kayiru, directed by Visu, in which it is seen as part of a song sequence.
Amid the occasional chirping of birds, the park with its trees and small pond has over the decades offered a serene space for walkers, joggers and other regular visitors. In 2010, it got a facelift with a walkway, yoga centre, skating rink and fountain. Following repeated incidents of suicides as well as public nuisance, access to the 12-storeyed tower was barred in 2011. The park, however, remained open to visitors.
An official with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said measures to renovate the tower began following requests from visitors. The government’s efforts to provide a facelift to iconic venues in the city was also a key factor.
Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi inspected the tower and expressed satisfaction with the safety measures. According to officials, grills have been installed on all 12 floors of the tower, covering the balconies, at a cost of Rs 44 lakh in a bid to ensure visitors’ safety. The authorities noted that at present there is no proposal for a lift inside the tower.
The entire tower has also been decked up with lights at a cost of Rs 9 lakh. Besides, the authorities have carried out works like relaying the pathway, providing proper fencing around the pond, decorating the tomb on the top and surrounding the wall with cultural paintings and so on by spending Rs 11 lakh. The children’s play area and fitness zone were also refurbished and maintenance work was carried out on the fountain. Anti-skid ramp flooring has also been included as part of the renovation works.
The reopening of the tower has cheered up local residents, especially those who frequented it before, while the younger generation is excited to catch a bird’s eye view of the city. Despite the rainfall during the reopening ceremony on Monday, many visitors turned up for the occasion. Entry to the tower is free of cost.
“I was born and raised in Anna Nagar and lived there till I was 23. When I was young, we went to the tower park weekly and my family would climb to the top of the tower at least once a month. There are definitely a lot of memories attached to the place. My parents took me there when I was a kid and now I get to take them there. It’s a full-circle moment,” says Antara Chakraborthy, 26.
Chennai Mayor R Priya, Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru, Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Anna Nagar MLA M K Mohan, senior bureaucrats and DMK functionaries participated in the inaugural event on Monday.
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