MADURAI:Welcoming broadly some of the important announcements in the Tamil Nadu Budget for the year 2022-23, the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has however expressed disappointment on behalf of the people of southern districts that the State budget did not have any announcement on major infrastructure projects such as Madurai airport expansion for which an underpass is required, Madurai Metro rail project and Madurai AIIMS.
“The State budget contains several welcome announcements particularly a monthly allowance of Rs.1,000 to be given to girl students studying in government schools from 6th to 12th standard and the announcement that book fairs will be held in each district capital. It is to be welcomed that revenue deficit has been reduced by Rs.7,000 crores. But, the budget had no announcement of major infrastructure projects for boosting the trade and industry in southern districts of Tamil Nadu,” said Mr.N.Jegatheesan, president of TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while reacting to the budget which was presented in the Assembly today- on 18th Marc 2022.
He said that 615 acres of land was already handed over to the Airports Authority of India for Madurai airport expansion. “But, an underpass has to be constructed on the highway near Madurai airport for the expansion work to begin. It is not known whether the expansion of Madurai airport will begin this year as there is no announcement in the State budget for underpass project which is estimated at Rs.800 crores,” Mr.Jegatheesan has said in his budget reaction today.
The TN Chamber president had also reminded about the missing of Madurai Metro Rail project DPR announcement in the State budget and the Madurai AIIMS for which the revised estimate is at Rs,2,000 crores. “There was an expectation not only from the trade and industry but also from the general public for announcement of major infrastructure projects. As there is no announcement, the budget has disappointed. However there is a hope that suitable announcements for Madurai airport expansion underpass project near Madurai airport and the Madurai Metro Rail project besides the Madurai AIIMS will be taken up during the demand for grants discussion in the Assembly,” the TN Chamber president said in the press statement issued from Madurai today in his reaction to the Tamil Nadu State budget for 2022-23 which was presented on 18th March 2022.
