Pudukottai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inaugurated 44 completed development projects worth about Rs 68.31 crore and laid the foundation stones for 70 new projects valued at Rs 11.72 crore in Pudukkottai, marking his first official visit to the district since taking office in May.
During the visit, Vijay also distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 62.73 crore to 13,676 beneficiaries. Among the major inaugurations was a new bus terminal built at a cost of Rs 23.25 crore, featuring 60 bus bays, commercial complexes, waiting rooms, and designated facilities for nursing mothers and people with disabilities.
The chief minister further opened a multipurpose indoor sports stadium constructed at a cost of Rs 6.29 crore, which is intended to train local athletes in disciplines such as badminton, volleyball, kabaddi, and table tennis. Alongside the infrastructure rollout, Vijay inspected local agricultural produce and interacted with farmers to address irrigation concerns, particularly the demand for Cauvery river water to alleviate local water shortages.
He was also briefed on the local cashew industry in Adanakottai, which serves as a vital livelihood source for approximately five lakh families in the region. Vijay had earlier arrived in Tiruchirappalli on a special flight from Chennai before traveling by road to Pudukkottai, where large crowds gathered along his route to greet him during a roadshow.