Anna Nagar Clock Tower to Reopen to the Public After 12-Year Hiatus
Posted on: 15/Mar/2023 9:38:02 AM
After a hiatus of 12 years, the Anna Nagar Clock Tower, a 100-foot-tall structure, will soon be opened to the public. The Greater Chennai Corporation is renovating the tower for public safety and is set to open it soon. The tower is located in the Anna Nagar Tower Park, which is the tallest park tower in Chennai.
The tower park was built in 1968 by BS Abdur Rahman and inaugurated by former Vice-President VV Giri in the presence of the then Chief Minister of TN CN Annadurai. The park has various amenities such as an amphitheatre, a bird-watching deck, badminton courts, a children`s play area, a skating rink, a lake, and tourist conveniences. The park, along with the tower, is maintained by the Chennai Corporation.
The tower was closed to the public since 2011 due to incidents of suicides and vandalism, which made it a dangerous place. In 2018, the authorities began a renovation project at a cost of ₹3 million to make the tower safe for the public. The tower underwent repair work last year to install grills on each of the 12 levels of the building to cover open balconies, ensuring visitor safety.
The reopening of the tower was scheduled for last month, but it was delayed due to the artwork undertaken in and around the locality. The park has been in use even while the tower has been closed to the public.
