Ooty MLA M. Bhojarajan has urged the Centre to include the Ooty municipality under its Smart City scheme, saying the initiative could help improve civic infrastructure and support long-term tourism planning in the hill station. He has also sought a special package for the town, citing its importance as a major tourism destination.

Bhojarajan submitted a memorandum to Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan during the latter’s visit to the Nilgiris, requesting that he recommend Ooty’s inclusion in the scheme. The MLA said Ooty’s public gardens, lakes, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Doddabetta peak, wildlife and ecotourism facilities, along with tribal and ethnic tourism options, attract up to 2,500,000 visitors a year.

He said the municipality had recently faced funding constraints and revenue deficits, affecting the maintenance, redevelopment and improvement of tourism infrastructure. Poorly maintained roads and footpaths, along with inadequate public facilities, had adversely affected the town and its tourist locations, he added.

Bhojarajan proposed the creation of a special team to identify ways to rebuild and improve ghat roads, footpaths, restrooms, water facilities and other infrastructure in Ooty. He said the Smart City framework could provide an organised approach to addressing these requirements within the town limits and at key tourist sites.

The MLA also referred to the previous state government’s direction to use Central tourism funding of Rs. 800 mn for redevelopment of the Ooty race course. He said a portion of that allocation could be used for improving tourism infrastructure in the town, while additional funding could be provided through the special area development programme for the Nilgiris. The proposal is aimed at strengthening civic services while enabling the municipality to manage the demands created by tourism.