Tiruchi Corporation plans ₹25-crore makeover for Rockfort Teppakulam

A view of the Teppakulam of the Thayumanaswamy temple in Tiruchi. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Tiruchi Corporation is set to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to beautify the Teppakulam of Thayumanaswamy temple at a cost of around ₹25 crore.The proposed makeover follows a major eviction drive during which roadside vendors and shops that had operated for decades along NSB Road and around the Teppakulam were removed and relocated to alternative sites.The civic body has planned to transform the area around the Teppakulam into a major recreational space, with a public park, walking trails, seating facilities, heritage-style arch and vintage lighting. The proposal also includes temple-shaped designs on the parapet walls, arrangements for visitors to sit on the steps and the conversion of overhead electrical cables into underground lines.The Corporation had sought suggestions from architects in the city regarding the proposed beautification. The DPR will be prepared based on the suggestions received, a senior official said.A tender for preparing the DPR is expected to be floated in the coming days. The Corporation expects the report to be completed within two months. The civic body is considering seeking funds from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.As part of the initial beautification efforts, around 200 Tabebuia rosea saplings, each nearly 10 feet tall, have been planted around the Teppakulam. The saplings are being watered twice a day.Meanwhile, desilting of the Teppakulam, which began in May, has been completed. However, the tank is not being filled with water at present due to limited water availability in the city. “We are providing water to residents on priority. Once summer is over and the monsoon sets in, we will open the valves and fill the tank,” the official said.Earlier, the civic body planned to develop the area into a recreational space with an outlay of ₹1.56 crore from CSR funds. The proposal included dredging and strengthening the tank at a cost of ₹50 lakh, installation of heritage lighting with arches for ₹38 lakh, and development of a walking track with seating benches and a children’s park at ₹68 lakh.A light and sound show installed at the tank was launched in 2023 at a cost of ₹8 crore to showcase Tiruchi’s cultural legacy. However, the facility remained largely unutilised due to obstructions caused by encroachments around the Teppakulam.As part of the ongoing renovation works, the facility was removed temporarily. Once the tank is filled, the light and sound facility will be restored and fully operationalised, the official said.However, councillor LIC K. Sankar has questioned the decision to commence work before finalising the DPR. “The Corporation should have finalised the plan before commencing any work in the tank. Now the work remains unfinished for months. Due to this, the iconic Teppakulam has lost much of its visual appeal,” he said. Published - September 02, 2026 07:05 pm IST