Union Minister M.K. Alagiri inaugurated a public park at TVS Nagar here on Saturday in the presence of Shobana Ramachandran, Managing Director of TVS Srichakra and Dinesh Ramachandran, Joint Managing Director of TVS and Sons. It was established at a cost of Rs.45 lakh allotted by the Minister from his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund.
Spread over an acre, the park boasts of a 275 metre walking track, an artificial fountain, a 1,190 sq.mt. lawn, 25 granite seats and a play area for children besides other amenities.
Establishment of the park was one of the electoral promises made by the Minister last year. The Madurai Municipal Corporation had executed the work.
The entire locality wore a festive look during the inaugural ceremony.
A colourful display of fireworks lit the sky incessantly for about 15 minutes, thunderous drum beats kept the sound waves at their peak and a huge gathering of local residents vied with each other to take glimpse of three high profile dignitaries who were closely associated with TVS Nagar in one way or the other.
Some showed keen interest in shaking hands with Mr. Alagiri, while a few others were elated to see Ms. Shobana who is also the head of TVS group of schools. A couple of women pushed their way into the crowd to see the correspondent of the school in which their children study. “It is a long time since I saw her last. It is nice to see her from close quarters,” a woman told another.
Later, the Union Minister left to Melaponnagaram where he inaugurated a Corporation hospital constructed at a cost of Rs. 31 lakh including Rs.8 lakh allotted by Member of the Legislative Assembly K.S.K. Rajendran from his local area development fund.
Spread over 2,800 sq.ft., the hospital was equipped with scanning and blood testing facilities.
He also laid the foundation stone for constructing 220 houses at Gomaspalayam slum under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission.
The project was estimated to cost Rs.4.6 crore. The Government would grant a subsidy of Rs.91,000 for each house measuring 275 sq.ft. The rest of the amount has to be borne by the beneficiaries.
Revolving funds of Rs.25,000 each to seven self help groups, Marriage assistance of Rs.20,000 each to 12 girls and free gas stove to 180 people were also given away during the function.
The Minister released a book on the performance of the Corporation in the last four years and handed over the first copy to the Commissioner.
He also named a few new born babies in the locality.