Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday announced that the government would consider upgrading Sivakasi municipality to municipal corporation.
Addressing a meeting held to mark the birth centenary celebration of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran here, Mr. Palaniswami said Sivakasi, which was a special grade municipality, would be integrated with Tiruthangal muncipality and village panchayats of Sithurajapuram, Viswanatham, Naranapuram, Pallapatti, Anuppankulam, Thevarkulam, Anaiyur, Sengamalanachiyarpuram and Saminatham to form the new corporation.
The Chief Minister also said the work to acquire land at a cost of ₹82.45 crore to lay a 33.48-km-long by-pass road for Sivakasi would be expedited.
Detailed project reports were being prepared for constructing new road overbridges on Srivilliputtur-Parthibanur Road between Sivakasi and Tiruthangal railway stations, between Sivakasi and Srivilliputtur railway stations, and one near Rajapalayam railway station between Rajapalayam and Vembakottai and another one on Sattur-Irukkangudi-Nenmeni Road.
Acquisition of land at a cost of ₹35.40 crore for laying a by-pass road for Aruppukottai was under way, he said.
A primary health centre at Vadapatti, and new buildings for Sivakasi and Tiruthangal police stations were the other announcements made by the Chief Minister.
Mr. Palaniswami also said efforts would be taken to execute a new combined drinking water scheme for Virudhunagar, Sattur and Aruppukottai to benefit two lakh people with water source from Tamirabharani river.
Additional facilities like MRI scan equipment, geriatric ward, nephrology ward, oncology ward, echocardiogram and dialysis unit would be created at Sivakasi Government Hospital a cost of ₹9 crore.
Virudhunagar Collector A. Sivagnanam was present.
