The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has commenced infrastructure development work at Poompuhar as part of the second phase of the ₹23.60-crore Poompuhar Heritage Development Project aimed at upgrading the ancient coastal town into a major heritage tourism destination.

Official sources said the second phase work commenced in April 2026 and are expected to be completed in early 2027.

The ongoing work includes development of an arrival plaza, ticket counter, promenade, architectural and road improvements, parking facilities, gazebo, cloak rooms, lighting, water supply arrangements, walkers’ pavements, and other visitor amenities.

Officials said additional projects such as construction of cottages along the Poompuhar coastline, development of a children’s park and renovation of the existing guest house were planned under the project. The guest house, which is in a dilapidated condition, would be renovated after obtaining necessary approvals.

A senior official said preliminary work had already commenced, while tender processes for the second and third phases began recently. The official added that renovation of the PWD buildings in the area required CRZ clearance and No Objection Certificates before execution.

Under a separate proposal prepared for the Kilinjal Veedugal area under the District 2 scheme, projects worth about ₹23 crore had been planned to strengthen tourism infrastructure. The proposal includes hotels, tourism complexes, parking facilities, an AR/VR experience centre, kalaikoodam, a children’s park, and a dedicated stage for conducting Natyanjali and other cultural programmes.

The Tourism Corporation Commissioner recently inspected the site as part of the review process.

Poompuhar, believed to be the ancient Chola port city with a reference in Silapathikaram and Manimekalai, was developed as a tourist centre and inaugurated by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 1973.

The first phase of the heritage project, executed at a cost of ₹2.57 crore, included renovation of the Silapathikaram Art Gallery, Paavai Mandram, Ilanji Mandram and other tourism facilities.