Following TVK’s victory in the by-elections to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced development projects worth an estimated Rs. 15.46 bn. The package covers drinking water, agriculture, education, healthcare, housing and civic infrastructure, with departments instructed to begin implementation at the earliest.

In Madurantakam, a check dam will be built across the Pukkathurai stream at Athimanam at a cost of Rs. 50 mn. Lake sluice renovation at Sembundi, desilting and bank-strengthening at Nelvai, and a community hall at Thinnalur will cost Rs. 45 mn, Rs. 13 mn and Rs. 7 mn respectively. Six paddy procurement centres, a 20,000-t warehouse at Athur and a 25-acre state seed farm will be established at Rs. 18 mn, Rs. 200 mn and Rs. 100 mn.

A Government Arts and Science College for Women will be set up at Acharapakkam, while the Madurantakam Government Hospital will receive an accident and emergency care unit, each costing Rs. 200 mn and Rs. 100 mn respectively. The Madurantakam High-Level Canal, built in 1984, will be desilted and renovated to improve water supply to 30 lakes. A tourism park, working women’s hostel, youth knowledge centre, weekly market and stormwater drainage systems are also planned.

The Pukkathurai Government High School will be upgraded, and a mini sports ground will be developed at Karunguzhi for Rs. 8 mn. An additional 25-MVA transformer will be installed at the Madurantakam substation for Rs. 30 mn. Housing, additional bus services across Chengalpattu district and other basic amenities have also been announced.

In Dharapuram, a Cauvery-based combined drinking water scheme worth Rs. 14.39 bn will serve 1,232 rural habitations across several panchayat unions. The government will distribute 2,700 house-site pattas and address land-title issues affecting around 87 families. Irrigation improvements include 159 desilting works costing Rs. 100 mn and clearance of channels extending about 271 km. Overhead tanks will provide around 13,000 connections, while a Fire and Rescue Services station will be established at Mulanur. Dharapuram Municipality will receive Rs. 60 mn each for water infrastructure and solid waste management, and Rs. 4 mn for street lighting, alongside stormwater drain improvements.