Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) unveiled a ₹432.92-crore development package for Mayiladuthurai district, signalling a major thrust in infrastructure, welfare delivery, and coastal development.

At a government function in the district headquarters, Mr. Stalin inaugurated 47 completed projects worth ₹48.17 crore, laid foundation stones for 12 new initiatives valued at ₹113.51 crore, and distributed welfare assistance totalling ₹271.24 crore to 54,461 beneficiaries under various State schemes.

Ministers K.N. Nehru, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, and Siva V. Meyyanathan, along with Mayiladuthurai MP R. Sudha and local MLAs M. Panneerselvam and Nivedha M. Murugan, were also present.

Additionally, Mr.Stalin announced a series of upcoming projects for Mayiladuthurai district, aimed at addressing long-pending infrastructure needs. These include the construction of a railway overbridge at Neithalur Panchayat at a cost of ₹85 crore to ease regional traffic congestion, and the widening of the Tharangampadi-Manganallur-Aaduthurai road into a two-lane corridor at an estimated ₹45 crore.

Honouring the district’s legacy in the freedom movement, Mr. Stalin also declared that a statue of Sami Nagappan, who joined Mahatma Gandhi in the South Africa satyagraha, would be installed in Mayiladuthurai. Further announcements included the renovation of Kuthalam Canal for ₹7 crore, development of coastal infrastructure in Thazhampettai and Vellakkoil for ₹8 crore, and the construction of a new municipal office in Sirkazhi at ₹5 crore.

In the fisheries sector, dredging work is set to commence at the Poompuhar harbour at a cost of ₹4 crore, while a separate study by IIT Madras is under way for expanding and fortifying the Thirumullaivasal harbour, which the Chief Minister assured would be acted upon promptly. Additionally, in Sirkazhi Municipality, key roads such as Ther Keel Veethi, Melaveethi, South Street, and North Street will be upgraded along with new stormwater drainage infrastructure on both sides at a cost of ₹8 crore.

The completed projects inaugurated earlier in the day span key sectors, including school and higher education, healthcare, highways, agriculture, revenue, and rural development. These include classroom and library buildings in government schools and colleges, upgraded hospital wards and new sub-health centres, registrar offices, a 1,000-metric-ton grain godown in Kuthalam, bridges across Palavaru and Ayvayanar rivers, and e-service centres.