Mayor presents budget, promises food court, beautification of Vandiyur tank; enhanced ward fund allocation for councillors

Presenting her second budget, Madurai Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth said under the able leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Madurai would be given a facelift in all spheres. While heritage buildings, parks and monuments would be preserved, growth and development suited to the modern times would be implemented in all aspects, she said.

Presenting her second budget, Madurai Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth said under the able leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Madurai would be given a facelift in all spheres. While heritage buildings, parks and monuments would be preserved, growth and development suited to the modern times would be implemented in all aspects, she said.

Reading out the proposals and the planned financial allocation for the Corporation, she proposed naming of the road along which Dr. Kalaignar Library is coming up on New Natham Road after ‘Muthamizharignar Kalaignar Salai’. The elevated corridor being built along the stretch could also be named as ‘Muthamizharignar Kalaignar Membalam’, she said.

For the beautification of Vandiyur Tank at a cost of ₹50 crore, technical and administrative sanction had been obtained. The onion market functioning on East Marret would be shifted to a spacious area near MGR Integrated Bus Stand at Mattuthavani soon, she said.

Administrative clearance and other approvals had been obtained for the work at a cost of ₹10.30 crore.

When the Mayor said the Corporation councillors would get the allocation enhanced from ₹3 lakh to ₹10 lakh as ward development fund, there was thumping of the desk from the ruling party side, while some of the opposition councillors said it was a victory for them since they had demanded higher allocation. The Mayor also said all councillors would get an office in their wards.

Thanking the CM for launching the breakfast scheme for school children, the Mayor said student strength in Corporation schools had increased from 17,590 to 24,903 since then.

Ms. Ponvasanth said the Corporation would propose to build a modern food court in the city, for which it would submit its plan to the State government for sanction of funds. The Corporation high and higher secondary schools would be provided with a library each depending on the space availability.