The previous State governments completely ignored Madurai’s fundamental developmental needs while in power, said Minister for Energy Resources and Law R. Nirmalkumar.
Speaking at the 102nd annual general body meeting of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he stated that vital infrastructure—such as roads, drainage systems, drinking water, and business development initiatives—had all taken a back seat.
Even though the local business fraternity has worked hard for generations to build enterprises in the district, past governments failed to provide the necessary catalyst to help them grow and thrive, he alleged.
“As a government elected with the support of the people, I assure you that the TVK government will not just talk, but act to implement changes immediately,” he noted.
To kickstart these changes, Mr. Nirmal Kumar said that efforts were already under way. “One such measure is fulfilling the long-pending demand for a cancer centre in the city to cater to the needs of people from the southern districts,” he noted.
Not only have land and funds been allocated for the centre, but a school of excellence in law has also been sanctioned for the district, he added.
Furthermore, he shared, “I have started discussions with Highway officials to study and plan roads and bridges in the city, and to assess the need for additional infrastructure to decongest traffic within city limits.”
In a historic move for the district, an unprecedented ₹2,000 crore has been allocated to the Madurai Corporation specifically for repairing and constructing drainage channels, he concluded.
Speaking at the event, Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan stated that regardless of political parties and the leaders chosen by the people, everyone shares the primary responsibility of developing the city.
“An example we must take from Kerala is that, despite repeated clashes between the Congress and the Communist parties there, they stand together when it comes to the welfare of the State,” he added.
Standing united, they successfully prevented the Union government from closing even a single railway station over reported operational losses, he noted.
“When we speak of development, it means holistic development. Take the Goripalayam flyover construction, which was completed at a cost of ₹370 crore. Such a massive project did not include a single bus stop in its design,” he pointed out.
Because of this poor planning, he noted, lakhs of commuters—including thousands of students from nearby colleges and visitors to the government hospital—are forced to wait under the scorching sun.
On a positive note, he highlighted that regional milestones, such as the 340-crore-rupee expansion of the railway station and the upgrading of the airport to international status, have significantly boosted the city’s progress.
“As these two vital transport hubs define the city’s growth, they have truly taken shape in recent days,” he concluded.
N. Jegatheesan, President of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about the remarkable growth of the forum, which has expanded from just 24 members in 1924 to over 5,600 members and more than 300 affiliated associations today.
Highlighting the forum’s contribution to the city’s development, he noted that they have donated 52 lakh rupees to install CCTV cameras at key traffic junctions, alongside various other civic initiatives.
Questioning the pace of regional transport infrastructure, he asked why cities like Coimbatore and Madurai cannot have metro rail systems, given that other States like Maharashtra have implemented metro networks across multiple cities.
He urged elected representatives to expedite the necessary steps to bring the metro project to Madurai. Additionally, he called for the immediate planning and implementation of an integrated bus terminus connected to both the airport and the AIIMS hospital, he added.
Published – September 26, 2026 09:21 pm IST
