Initiatives/Schemes Tamil Nadu’s first Dark Sky Park Context: The Tamil Nadu government has announced the launch of the State’s first Dark Sky Park at the Ariyur Shola Reserve Forest in Kolli Hills in Namakkal district. Dark Sky Park is a protected landscape with minimal artificial light pollution, enabling clear observation of celestial bodies such as the moon, stars and planets. Kolli Hills, with its elevated terrain, dense forest cover and low urban light disturbance, offers ideal conditions for night-sky preservation and astronomical observation. The project, announced in the Assembly on June 25, 2024, was established at a cost of ₹1 crore after assessing ecological suitability and sky visibility at the Ariyur Shola Reserve Forest. The park is equipped with three advanced telescopes for structured sky-watching sessions and solar panels to power on-site operations sustainably. Chennai Ula 2.0 Context: 6 special electric air-conditioned tourist buses have been launched under the name “Chennai Ula 2.0”. 5 traditional buses under the name “Chennai Ula” have been in operation since January 14. Ticket fare is Rs. 100 – one ticket can be used for the entire day. You can also get an electronic ticket through the “Chennai One” app. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) was established in 1971. Tamil Nadu ranks second in India in terms of tourist arrivals. Chennai One Chennai One is a mobile app launched on September 22, 2025. The app acts as an integrated platform for planning and booking trips across the city of Chennai.
