Madurai Corporation Commissioner tables surplus budget

MADURAI

A surplus budget was presented for the Corporation of Madurai for the financial year 2018-19 on Wednesday.

Presenting the budget, Commissioner Aneesh Sekhar, who is also the special officer of the council, said during 2018-19, Madurai, which had found a place in the list of Smart Cities, would witness major development activities as the Corporation had proposed to implement Centre-sponsored schemes under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), which would have grants from Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters, he said most of the activities would revolve around the old Madurai, with Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Naick Palace and Mariamman Teppakulam being the focus. With the proposals for major projects being submitted to the Centre, the Corporation was expecting administrative sanction and release of funds. When this happened within the next 100 days, work would begin and, in all probability, the city would witness real transformation in the next two years, Dr. Aneesh Sekhar noted.

While there was not much fund allocation to added wards towards provision of infrastructure such as underground drainage and drinking water supply, the Commissioner, however, said proposals had been sent for approval. But, presently, the Corporation focussed on bringing in major capital expenditure under AMRUT.

In a bid to decongest traffic, it had been proposed to build a flyover at Apollo Hospital junction on Sivaganga Road at a cost of ₹36.50 crore. The work, he said, would begin in about two to three months. Likewise, Kuruvikkaran Salai too would get a flyover at a cost of ₹27.50 crore.

While the Corporation had till Tuesday collected 82% of tax dues for the financial year 2017-18, which included property tax, water tax and UGD tax, the Commissioner was hopeful of achieving the target, as the tax collection centres would be open till 8 p.m. on March 31.

When the city turned smart, the Corporation too would enhance automation in all its offices. “We are preparing ourselves to remain paperless. We have plans to procure hardware for which ₹1 crore has been sought from the State government. The idea is to computerise all service records and introduce e-governance and biometric facility for employees,” he said.

The Commissioner also said the Corporation would introduce a standard design for all bus stop shelters and implement them under public-private partnership mode. It had also proposed to install CCTV cameras in all its schools.

Deputy Commissioner Manivannan, City Health Officer Satish Raghavan and other officers were present.