VELLORE: Among the many forts in Tamil Nadu, Vellore Fort stands out for its unique character — it is the only fort in the state which houses a temple, a church and a mosque within its complex, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Tuesday.
Speaking at an event at the Fort Grounds, he noted that the Vellore Fort and the people of Vellore are devoid of religious divide, and distributed welfare benefits worth Rs 414.15 crore to as many as 49,021 people.
The deputy CM also inaugurated 31 completed projects worth Rs 11.80 crore and laid the foundation for 15 new projects at a cost of Rs 17.91 crore. The projects were taken up by various departments including Public Works, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Social Welfare and Women’s Rights, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, and Cooperation.
Under PWD, four completed projects worth Rs 5.23 crore — including the sub-registrar office at Gudiyatham, Yoga and Naturopathy Ward and an additional mortuary at Vellore Government Hospital, and the Revenue Inspector Office and residence at Melpadi in Katpadi Taluk — were inaugurated.
Under the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, eight completed projects worth Rs 3.15 crore were inaugurated, including 14 new classrooms in union schools at Jabrapet, Mutharasikuppam and Korathankal in Katpadi Block; TT Mottur in Pernambut Block; and Lingunram in Gudiyatham Block. He also opened new buildings for a PHC at Kaniyambadi, an anganwadi centre at Palampakkam, and a fair price shop at Thuthithangal in KV Kuppam Block.
Under the Social Welfare and Women’s Rights Department, 16 completed anganwadi centres built at a cost of Rs 2.45 crore at DK Puram, Karnambattu, Melvadugan Chootai, Unnamalai Samuthiram, Jabrapet and other places were inaugurated. Udhayanidhi also opened a new urban PHC at Konavattam in Vellore Corporation, built at a cost of Rs 75 lakh under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, and two new fair price shops at Annangudi and Balathuvannan in KV Kuppam and Kanniyambadi blocks respectively, built at a total cost of Rs 22.29 lakh under the Cooperation Department.
He also laid the foundation stone for 15 new projects worth Rs 17.91 crore, including a mini sports complex at Gudiyatham Government Higher Secondary School (Rs 3 crore), a compound wall for Katpadi District Sports Complex, a toilet for Kottanatham village library, renovation of the Vellore Vocational Training building and student hostel, upgradation of the Government Medical College hostel and pediatric ward, and construction of classrooms in several union schools.
