Bus stand, STEM Park inaugurated in Thoothukudi

TN Minister K N Nehru dedicates projects incl. renovated Anna bus stand & STEM Park in Thoothukudi at Rs 248 cr. Kanimozhi presides; Ministers, Collector, Commissioner & Mayor attend. Nehru clarifies credit for projects after BJP & AIADMK try to gain mileage. STEM Park, welfare measures & new buildings opened.

Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister K.N. Nehru on Sunday inaugurated newly completed projects, including the renovated Anna bus stand and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Park, built at a cost of ₹248 crore in Thoothkudi.

Thoothukudi Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi presided over the event in which Ministers Geetha Jeevan and Anita Radhakrishnan, Municipal Administration Director S Sivarasu, Collector K. Senthil Raj, Commissioner Dinesh Kumar and Mayor N.P. Jegan and MLAs and officials participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nehru said when Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited Thoothukudi after coming to power in 2021,, only 20% of the works under the Smart Cities initiative had been completed. In the last 25-30 months, the DMK government had worked tirelessly and completed the projects in record time.

In her address, Ms. Kanimozhi said that regular review of the progress and coordination had ensured the completion of the renovated bus stand and other works as per schedule. Thanking the Chief Minister for sanctioning funds for the projects other than the Smart City Initiative, she said the district had been witnessing development in all parts. The roads, underground drainage, drinking water and other infrastructural facilities were in place. Many more would come up in phases.

Meanwhile, BJP functionaries put up the portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which caused a flutter, and officials removed the picture. They took to X (formerly known as Twitter), thanking the Prime Minister for giving funds for the Smart City Initiative in Thoothukudi.

The AIADMK, for its part, put up posters in parts of the city, thanking their leader and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for laying the foundation of the projects.

Mr Nehru said that despite being a government function, he was forced to clarify as the BJP and AIADMK had created an unwanted controversy. He said it was the custom for the party in power to dedicate the new facilities to the people and it was unbecoming of the parties such as the AIADMK and BJP to gain mileage.