Tiruchi Corporation speeds up construction of multi-purpose ward offices

The Tiruchi Corporation has stepped up efforts to expedite the construction of multi-purpose ward offices across all five zones of the city, aimed at improving access to civic services for residents at the ward level.

The offices were first proposed in the Corporation’s budget for 2023-24 at an outlay of ₹16.25 crore, covering all the 65 wards utilising its General Funds. However, the project was initially shelved owing to delays in identifying suitable sites and fund allocation.

Following persistent demands from councillors, the civic body commenced construction of the ward offices in 2024. So far, work on around 25 ward offices is nearing completion, with only minor finishing work remaining.

Multi-purpose ward offices at Crawford, Pakkali Street, and Milaguparai have become operational. Similarly, offices in wards 55, 57 and 62 are gearing up for inauguration. In ward 23, nearly 80% of the construction had been completed, with finishing work such as electrical installations, flooring and painting pending, said Councillor K. Sureshkumar.

A senior Corporation official said that construction work had been launched in all wards and is progressing at various stages. “Several ward offices are at the final stages and are expected to be completed within a month. The facilities will be made operational immediately after completion,” he added.

Each multi-purpose ward office is being constructed on about 1,000 sq. ft. of land at an estimated cost of ₹25 lakh. The facilities will include separate office spaces for the ward councillor, revenue inspector, bill collector, sanitation inspector, and sanitation supervisor. A storeroom has been provided to house tools and equipment used by sanitation workers.

Officials said the ward and sanitation offices would enable residents to resolve ward-level grievances locally, reducing the need to visit zonal or the main Corporation offices.