Chennai: Chetpet eco park gets swanky food plaza

CHENNAI: The popular angling and boating spot, Chetpet eco park,  is set to get a food plaza to attract visitors with several cuisines, including special stalls for organic food and food cooked in olive oil.

“The food plaza is ready and has been set up at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore,  without including the cost of interiors. It is likely to be thrown open for people in a week’s time,” said an informed source.

“There would be stalls catering to a variety of cuisines, like North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, and two special stalls – one for organic food and one for food cooked in olive oil.”

As the city faces a sweltering summer, the hot days and reduced water level in the Chetpet Lake have reduced the footfalls at the tourist spot.

According to sources, the tender for the food court has been awarded to Copper Chimney, and the space for the same has been developed atop the two-wheeler parking.

The interiors of food plaza set up at the Chetpet eco park will provide the visitors multitudes of cuisines to choose from. (Photo: DC)

Designed with caricatures and colourful paintings of cartoons like Chota Bheem and Spiderman, the 200-seater space has been designed to entice the children and the older people alike.

“There will be demonstrations by reputed chefs who will cook a variety of items. A separate space for birthday and events has also been designed. The food plaza will be open from 6 AM to midnight,” the source said.

To make the ambience more interesting, video mapping from the rooftop onto the tables in the food court will be on display.

Official sources added that though the food court has been set up, electricity connection is being awaited to throw it open to the public. The fisheries department has given the plaza on a 7-year lease to Copper Chimney.

According to senior officials from the fisheries department, water levels have fallen due to the intense heat, but water levels are being maintained in the angling and boating areas for the public. Additionally, an aquarium and a virtual reality centre are being mulled to be set up at the eco park.

Water levels in eco park
Angling area - 8.5 feet
Boating area - 4.5 feet
Water levels when it was opened in February 2016 - 12 feet

Footfall per day
Footfall on weekends - 2000 - 2500
Footfall on weekdays - 300 - 500
Footfall of walkers - 2000
For walkers, the park is open from 4.30 AM to 8.30 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM