Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru on Sunday said the State government is committed to develop Tiruchi’s infrastructure and address the city’s growing needs.

Replying to a felicitation by the Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, in recognition of his role in the construction of the new Integrated Bus Terminus (IBT) at Panjapur, he said the Chief Minister had allocated approximately ₹1,000 crore for various development projects in the area.

“An integrated wholesale market, an elevated corridor near the bus terminus, along with the widening of the two-lane bypass between Thuvakudi and Panjapur into a four-lane road, and an IT park are all under way at Panjapur. Additionally, waterbodies in the vicinity, including the Kollankulam, Pirattiyur, Kallikudi, and Panjapur tanks, are slated for renovation and redevelopment into recreational spaces,” said Mr. Nehru

Speaking about the functioning of the IBT, he said that since its commissioning until July 31, 41,896 services had been operated transporting around 19 lakh passengers. The terminus recordeed an average daily footfall of approximately 1,19,489. In August alone, about 60,246 buses departed, with nearly 30 lakh passengers utilising the services. During this period, the average daily footfall increased to 1,33,796. Additionally, around 5,971 bus crew members made use of the dormitory facilities at the terminus.

K. Thiruneelakandan, Trustee of Cauvery College, S. Pushpavanam, Secretary, Consumer Protection Council, C.T. Selvakumar, President of the Council, Kalavathy Shanmugam, Exnora, N. Gopalaswamy, former director, Dalmia Cements, and Mayor M. Anbazhagan were present.