The Hindu : Front Page : Central scheme, `panacea' for civic woes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 09, 2007
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Central scheme, `panacea' for civic woes

S. Sundar

MADURAI : Corporation officials see the Union Government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission as a panacea for all the infrastructure woes of the city. For, it brings an investment opportunity of Rs.2,360.94 crore to upgrade facilities in the next five years.

"The city has not seen so much of funds for infrastructure development in independent India," said the Corporation Superintending Engineer, K. Sakthivel.

The mission's salient feature is that it proposes to provide an integrated infrastructure development to nine adjacent towns, coming under Madurai Local Planning Area, at a cost of Rs.2,167.50 crore.

"Better roads, water supply and underground drainage in the nearby towns will attract people, thus decongesting the city," Mr. Sakthivel said. All these towns will be inter-connected with an outer ring road.

The Ministry of Urban Development will contribute 50 per cent of the project cost and the State Government 20 per cent. The remaining 30 per cent will be borne by the respective local bodies.

The funds will be spent on water supply facility, underground drainage, road, traffic and transportation improvement, storm water drains, streetlights, solid waste management and upgrading of slums.

The municipalities of Avaniapuram, Anaiyur, Tirupparankundram, and Tirumangalam and town panchayats of Sholavandan, Paravai, Tirunagar, Vilangudi and Harveypatti will benefit.

The city has got the first benefit of the scheme by way of getting sanction for the second drinking water pipeline project (from the Vaigai dam) to be implemented at a cost of Rs.67 crore. A rapid transport system, at a cost Rs.981 crore, including an elevated highway for 3.5 km., flyovers, bridges, pedestrian subways and widening of 200 km of bus route, will ensure free flow of traffic.

Elected representatives can send their proposals to be included under the scheme within a week.

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