Pledging their support wholeheartedly to get Madurai included in the list of Smart Cities, representatives of various organisations, including the Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association and Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the steps taken by the Mayor and team of officials of Corporation of Madurai in this direction.
At a consultative committee meeting held here on Wednesday, presided over by Mayor (in-charge) K. Thraviam, speakers hailed the initiative and stressed that it was the need of the hour for a city like Madurai for a big transformation.
The speakers, at the same time, urged the authorities to ensure that burning issues, which included drinking water, solid waste management, storm water drains and intelligent public transport system, were accorded top priority.
Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri, who has been leading the core team, in his introductory remarks listed out the steps taken by the civic body. If the city got selected this time, the citizens could experience a phenomenal change in their lifestyle. There would be world class amenities around. Above all, the potential of individuals would improve, he said.
From the city’s perspective, Madurai, which has an identity as ‘temple city’ with the world famous Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, would be given a facelift that would transform tourism sector into a vibrant industry. The Smart City plan would focus on Veli streets, Avanimoola streets and Chitirai streets, covering 15 wards in and around the temple with about one lakh population.
Under the Smart Cities Mission, when a city got selected, it would get Rs. 100 crore every year for five years each from the Union government and State government, which meant that Madurai would get a whopping Rs. 1000 crore, Mr. Sandeep Nanduri said.
With just a week left for submission of the proposals, he said that the consultative meeting was mandatory as the public’s views had to be incorporated.
Speaking on the occasion, MADITSSIA secretary K. P. Murugan said that apart from providing a facelift to the important shrines, solid waste management should also be accorded priority. TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry joint secretary Selvam said that the Smart City project would be a boon to the industry.
