The IT Park on Madurai-Theni Road was proposed about five years ago. After a prolonged period, nothing tangible has come on the campus, except for a bridge which is being built. | Photo Credit: G_Moorthy more-in Four years ago, when the last elections for the Lok Sabha were held, various political parties and contestants gave a long list of promises to transform Madurai. Likewise in 2016, when the elections were conducted to the State Legislative Assembly, there were even more promises. A look at the poll promises indicates that nothing tangible has come about from those who are enjoying power in the Assembly and Parliament. In reality, the woes of residents of the Temple City are piling up every day. Be it surface/rail/air transport, health, agriculture, power or education, there has not been any big improvement. The Hindu team, which visited the airport, the proposed IT Park near Madurai Kamaraj University (on Madurai-Theni Road) and the latest addition of the site earmarked for the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) near Thoppur and other places, could not see any activity. The announcements continue to remain on paper. Cutting across party lines, during electioneering, the contestants promised to place Madurai in the international aviation map. The parties vied with one another in promising to work hard to make the world look at Madurai. In the last four years, according to airline sources, the airport expansion remains on paper. Except for a few airline companies, which are directly operating to Colombo, Dubai and Singapore, there has not been much improvement in the form of globally renowned players cominghere. Associations led by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other bodies have been writing to the Union Ministers, but to no avail. Collector’s conferences A reliable source in the district administration said that in 2013, the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced that bridges would be constructed at Goripalayam and Kalavasal intersections. Similarly, announcements to build elevated corridors at Periyar bus stand and Yanaikal were also made. In 2014, again at a Collectors’ conference held in Chennai, there was an announcement to build ROB connecting Thuvariman and Paravai across Vaigai river. That The American College, represented by its Principal and secretary, approached the High Court recently praying for a stay on the proposed bridge at Goripalayam is a different story. IT Parks Soon after the announcement that IT Parks would come up at Ilanthaikulam and Vadapalanji, the only development was that land prices went up in these remote locations then. While ELCOT IT Park at Ilanthaikulam has some activity with companies like HCL setting up shop, the one near the MKU has no takers. A long bridge has been built inside and the security guard refused permission for The Hindu team to go around the campus. Airport For a long time, there has been statements on expansion of the airport. The Airports Authority of India officials had promised to get into action as and when the required land was handed over to them. Recently, when Madurai Central MLA P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan raised the issue in the Assembly, Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabaskar claimed in his response that the government had earmarked ?166.69 crore to the Madurai Collector for land acquisition. But an official said that 26 blocks had been identified for land acquisition. As some of the landowners had approached court seeking higher compensation citing a Central government order on enhanced compensation, the issue remains in cold storage for now. Industrial corridor The State government, through a special announcement in the Assembly, informed five years ago that Madurai-Thoothukudi highway would become an industrial corridor. According to official sources, since the announcement the only forward move made is to appoint an officer in the rank of Executive Engineer in Thoothukudi. When contacted, the official said that he had no clue about the project and requested not to be quoted. The latest announcement is that Madurai would get AIIMS, the prestigious medical institution in the country. Revenue officials said that a gazette notification would be the first step to take it forward. Elevated highway However, the AIADMK government has ‘hurriedly’ announced construction of an elevated highway for about eight km along the northern side of the city towards Natham at a cost of ?600 crore. Similarly, the government has begun work to build a road overbridge at Kalavasal after Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami laid the foundation stone two months ago. The much publicised 58-canal scheme has finally been implemented and a trial run completed. Now, prior to the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 2019, the Election Commission is expected to hold by-poll to Tirupparankundram Assembly constituency in a month or two following the demise of the sitting MLA. Yet another opportunity to listen to promises.

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