Heeding the demand to develop Madurai under the Heritage City Development Programme, the Union government, about a decade ago, earmarked ₹5 crore for the purpose.
The officials drafted a number of proposals, including a multi-tier parking facility in the area where the vegetable market was functioning, close to the Meenakshi Temple. The officials vacated the market, which had been operating for over four decades on the five-acre land. Till now, no parking facility has come up in the area.
Mega plan
The officials had also prepared a mega plan to build a multi-storey building close to the temple and shift all the shops in order to ease entry into the temple. A bhoomi puja was performed at Kunnathoor Chatram and a foundation stone was laid for the multi-storey building. Now, only stones remain.
A senior official of the Madurai Corporation said the officials who were in charge back then had used the funds to lay paver block tiles along the Mariamman Teppakulam tank and fit ornamental lights.
The funds were also used to set up a gallery on top of the south zone office of the Madurai Corporation for tourists to view the gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple, the official added.
