Tholkappia Poonga (Adyar Eco Park) file photo
The outsourced agency will have to deploy 104 personnel to maintain the eco-park — 49 for horticulture and general maintenance, and 55 security personnel, according to tender documents. The maintenance team will comprise 37 Mazdoor I and 12 Mazdoor II workers, besides an ecologist/manager and a mangrove specialist to keep track of mangroves near the estuary. For security, 48 guards will work in three shifts across 14 designated locations, supervised by six security supervisors and a security officer. Tamil Nadu govt, after the story, expanded the slots from 500 a day to 3,000, and halved the cost of the walking pass.
TOI had earlier reported how Tholkappia Poonga had become a walking club for the VIPs and that the limited slots were booked for months.
The contract is for a year, with provision for an extension for another year, based on performance, the tender documents said. As the park is an ecologically sensitive area, the entries will continue to be limited, said an official, adding that the outsourcing is largely for the upkeep. The contractor will also manage the entry and exit acccess, and will maintain a register for residents. The govt issued colour-coded passes to restrict entry to specific days to avoid overcrowding.