Udhagamandalam: Come summer 2017 the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) the most popular tourist attraction in this holiday destination will wear a new look.

Many features of the garden spread over 55 acres are likely to undergo significant changes.

Indicating this to Covai Post on Sunday,the Joint Director of Horticulture N.Mani said that on account of the ticket counters located near the entrance gate, facing the main road, visitors had to queue up in the open for tickets. It not only exposed them to the elements but also resulted in the area getting congested. Particularly during the season and weekends the crowds became difficult to manage.

In a bid to prevent this and make the garden more visitor friendly, the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency (TANHODA) has proposed to shift the counters to a convenient place behind the threshold.

The new system would not only streamline the process of issuing tickets but also benefit the tourists as they would be shielded from the sun and rain.

Adverting to other repair and restoration works ,Mr.Mani said that the popular glass house along the left flank of the garden which was now in a run down condition would be given a face lift.

A large public convenience with modern amenities which can at a time accommodate over 100 persons would be put up at an appropriate place.

To a question,he said that all the works would be taken up at a total cost of rupees 5.5 crores.

To another query,he said that though the rainfall was down by 50 percent so far this year,the garden was not affected because it had its own water sources.

Between January and November 5, 25,37,851 tourists had visited the garden.During the corresponding period last year the total number of visitors was 22,91,407.