By Viju Mangalore - Daijiworld News Network

Mangalore, May 1: It’s a fact that the shifting of the Deer  Park from Kadri Park to Pilikula Nisarga Dhama proved disadvantageous to the most frequented leisure spot of the city. The deserted look engulfed this park, which lost its attractive nature and could no longer magnetize crowds.

A lease of life to this ‘beauty spot’ of the city was the grant of Rs 25 lac given by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC). A string of development works were noticed and new elements began adorning the park. The newly laid lawn, drinking water facility, interlocking pavements and a lotus park were the new entrants to the park.

But now this park, which has seen generations pass by, is at the threshold of a major transition. Being one of he biggest and most frequented parks of the city, Kadri Park will soon be upgraded to international standards at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore.

Thanks to the NRIs of this region who have assured to provide a lions share for rejuvenating the park, a clear blueprint of the entire project has been prepared under the guidance of MLA N Yogish Bhat, which has been submitted to the government.

If approved the park will be transformed into an international park in the near future.

A Sanjiv Naik, senior assistant horticulture director (state zone) who spoke to Daijiworld said that a high-tech musical foundation of Rs 1 crore, a park for children of Rs 5 lac, meditation and yoga center of Rs 2 lac, rain water harvesting methods, seating arrangements of Rs 3 lac, footpath of Rs 20 lac, compound wall of Rs 50 lac, herbal garden, Japanese, Italian, French and Rock gardens at an expenditure of Rs 1 crore are included in the blue print.

This upgradation of the park will be augmented with the upgradation of the Mangalore airport and subsequently florists and food processing units will be able to expand their markets internationally.

Under the National Horticulture mission, DK will receive a sum of Rs 4 crore which will be utilized to give a face-lift to the park. On completion of the works the park will have a musical fountain, two children’s parks, band stand, amphitheatre, meditation center, rainwater harvesting ponds, seating arrangements and a herbal garden.

The district-level committees have already been formed, and the taluk-level committee will be soon formed for undertaking the upgradation work at the park.

The project that awaits government nod will no doubt enhance tourism and help regain the lost glory of Kadri Park.

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