Also in the future parking should be allowed at the sea side end of the Parade Ground and the parking area should be discreetly marked. The Parade Ground is large enough to accommodate a significant number of vehicles (if kept free from proposed landscaping, children’s parks etc.). As in Poompuhar and Vaitisvarankoil a moderate parking fee should be paid for cars, lorries and busses against receipt.
A toilet facility should be constructed and made available to visitors at the western side of the Parade Ground. Upkeep and cleaning should be covered by parking fees.
A mini-bus navigating through the Town Gate
Parking on Parade Ground during Pongal
Bar sign in Karaikal, no limit on liquor-permits
17. TOWN PLANNING
Findings
There is no town plan for Old Tranquebar, but the status of heritage town decrees that no permanent construction may be erected closer than 500 metres from the high tide line.
There are no regulations as to building heights, and no plans for building preservation or intentions to plan for such .
Preservation of old Tamil buildings is presently being carried out by INTACH funded by the Bestseller Foundation. The consultant contacted both INTACH and the Bestseller Foundation, but was refused access to any development plans, to the extent of being told that such plans did not exist and never had existed. Also no information on the expected use of INTACH/Bestseller rehabilitated buildings has been made available to the Panchayat or to the public.
A Panchayat plan exists create a children’s park on the Parade Ground.
Recommendations
Old Tranquebar is in urgent need of comprehensive building regulations as well as for a plan for upgrading of the Fort Museum. Further needs are plans for the preservation of Nygade Churchyard and the street grid. Also by-laws should urgently be enacted so as to prevent the construction of buildings taller than present 3-story buildings.