A press statement from the Secretariat said that the CM kick-started the construction works for the Kallakurichi Medical College and government hospital proposed at a cost of Rs 381 crores.

The CM also inaugurated public health centres and new hospital buildings in several districts at a cost of Rs 7 crores.

The sprawling college will be set up on 8.328 hectares and will pave way for filling 150 MBBS seats.

The Centre would contribute 60 per cent of the project cost leaving 40 per cent contribution from the state.

Under the first phase of financial sanction, the State had released Rs 110 crore and the Centre, Rs 50 crore.

The college and hostel will cost Rs 132 and Rs 66 crore leaving around Rs 182 crore for a government hospital.

Law Minister CV Shanmugham, Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar and Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan were among those present on the occasion. During the day, the CM announced that the lockdown in Madurai will be extended by a week till July 12. However, the full lockdown imposed for the worst affected districts, including Chennai will end by Monday, but for Madurai, the stringent full lockdown will continue for one more week.

In Chennai, the full lockdown will turn into partial lockdown with exemptions from Monday, secretariat sources said. Meanhile, the Madurai District Hotel Owners Association has decided to continue only parcel service till the end of July 31 as cases continue to rise alarmingly.

According to K.L. Kumar, president of the association, Madurai, several people have tested positive for the dreadful COVID as many failed to maintain social distancing. So, the association has decided to not to allow dine-in facility in hotels.