Puthur commercial complex nearing completion, after years of delay

Construction of the much-delayed commercial complex at Puthur in Tiruchi is expected to be completed by December with the Tiruchi City Corporation completing major civil work.

Work on the air-conditioned commercial complex, which is being constructed at a cost of ₹20 crore under the Smart Cities Mission after demolishing the Puthur market, had progressing very slowly compared to other other infrastructure projects in the city.

Although the preliminary work was launched in December 2019, work picked up pace only in October 2020. After several missed deadlines, the work had been dragging beyond the scheduled completion date of December 2022. Funds crunch and shortage of raw material and manpower during the pandemic were cited as reasons for the delay.

More than five years since the commencement of construction, the complex is yet to see the light of day. During the recent Corporation Council meeting, a section of councillors urged the Mayor to take measures to commission the facility.

“Due to the delay, the civic body lost a significant amount of revenue that could be gained through renting out the shops,” said councillor K. Suresh Kumar.

A senior official, however, said only 10% of the work remains, largely minor and external finishing tasks. Once completed, the facility will be leased to commercial establishments. The Corporation expects to complete the work by December.

The complex, which is built on an area of 1.06 lakh sq. ft., will have ground plus two floors with the basement earmarked for parking. The facility was initially designed to have three floors, but due to a funds crunch, the Corporation had dropped one floor.