Infra, health, education get a push in Madurai corpn budget

Madurai: Madurai corporation on Tuesday presented its budget for 2026–27 at the first council meeting held after a four-month gap, outlining major plans to strengthen infrastructure, healthcare and education across the city. The corporation projects a total income of Rs 1,450.44 crore against an expenditure of Rs 1,459.31 crore, resulting in a deficit of Rs 8.87 crore.Deputy mayor T Nagarajan, who chaired the session, presented the budget in the presence of corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan. "The focus remains on Madurai's infrastructural development to ensure it continues as a cultural and economic capital with modernised facilities," Nagarajan said, highlighting key drainage and drinking water projects. Infrastructure projectsMajor infrastructure proposals include a Rs450 crore project to repair underground sewage pipelines around the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple and nearby areas, in line with the chief minister's directions. Proposals have also been submitted to restructure pipelines under the Vaigai I and II drinking water schemes and to overhaul a pumping station with a capacity of 118mld. In addition, a five-phase plan to construct and revamp rainwater drains across Madurai is being prepared. Officials said these projects are expected to receive administrative sanction and commence during the current financial year. Healthcare initiativesThe budget announced the launch of a new dialysis unit at Ansari Nagar urban primary health care centre. The corporation will also roll out a "Hospital on Wheels" initiative to provide medical services directly to underprivileged residents in suburban areas by coordinating with private hospitals and conducting outreach visits to residential localities. EducationIn the education sector, the corporation announced monetary incentives for students from corporation schools who secure first rank in Class X and XII government examinations. A "virtual lab" will be established in one corporation school in each of the five zones through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, along with the installation of smart boards in all classrooms. The corporation also plans to paint all its schools in a uniform colour scheme within this financial year and distribute ID cards to all students. The council meeting lasted around 20 minutes, from 10.30am to 10.50am. It marked the first council session since the resignation of mayor Indrani Ponvasanth in Oct 2025. All five zonal chairpersons had also stepped down earlier following a probe into alleged large-scale irregularities in property tax assessments. A public interest litigation was later filed before Madras high court citing the delay in convening the council. The court recently disposed of the plea after the corporation informed it that the meeting would be held on Feb 10.