Consultant for Rs 20 cr Semmozhi Poonga selected

      The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday selected a consultant for the Rs 20 crore Semmozhi Poonga on and around the Central Prison campus in Coimbatore for preparing a masterplan for developing 165 acres, according to Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust member secretary and Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Ltd managing director K Phanindra Reddy.Consultant MS Rajendran Associates made a presentation before the chief minister on Thursday. It was accepted. Formal orders will be issued shortly, Reddy said. Of the 165 acres, the prison has about 72.30 acres. The remaining land consists of buildings and vacant spaces. Initially, the poonga may be developed on about 45 acres of land. The consultant will offer a masterplan for the entire 165 acres, but provide a detailed project report for only about 45 acres.The consultant will also provide detailed professional services, including preparation of design concepts, architectural and landscaping designs for the building ensembles and their surroundings, detailed landscape designs for parts of the botanical garden, architectural drawings, details, structural design and drawings, service plans and estimates, tender and contract documents. In addition, the consultant will identify contractors through a bid process and supervise the construction, he said. The Poonga will have a world class botanical garden, and house native and controlled species of plants.