CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday announced various infrastructure projects to the tune of `144.94 crore for three municipalities - Kodaikanal, Kumbakonam and Karur.
The key announcements include beautification of Kodaikanal lake at a cost of `87.96 crore and upgradation of infrastructure facilities with `43.78 crore in the temple town of Kumbakonam ahead of the Mahamaham festival to be held in 2016 and construction of two new subways in Karur and approach roads to them at an expenditure of `13.20 crore.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister recalled that 132 infrastructure projects have been taken up in Kodaikanal during the past three years at a cost of `27.31 crore while tenders would soon be called to implement underground sewerage system in the town at a cost of `140 crore. Similarly, the preparatory works for Keezhkundaru drinking water project were to be implemented at a cost of `43.29 crore.
In view of the increasing population in Kodaikanal and tourist inflow, the government has decided to provide more infrastructure facilities for the town. Under the scheme to beautify the Kodaikanal lake, setting up of solid waste management system, stormwater drains, creating a park, parking lot, growing ornamental plants, upgrading the road facilities, tourist information centre, cycle stand etc., would be taken up.
In Kumbakonam town, as many as 234 infrastructure works had been taken up during the past three years at a cost of `35.44 crore and most of them had been completed. In continuation of this, more works would be taken up at a cost of `43.78 crore ahead of Mahamaham festival, being held once in every 12 years.
In Karur municipality, 608 works have been completed during the past three years at a cost of `108.53 crore while drinking water project for Karur, Inam Karur and Thanthoni is being implemented at a cost of `68.40 crore.
With a view to ease the traffic congestion in Karur town, a subway would be constructed Kulathupalayam-Erode-Karur at a cost of `3.69 crore across the railway line. This would be implemented by the Southern Railway while Karur municipality would lay the approach road to this sub-way. Similarly, another sub-way would be constructed at North Pasupathipalayam across Tiruchy-Karur-Dindigul railway line at a cost of `3.69 crore.