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Chennai: The Greater Chennai Corporation will inaugurate a free food scheme for its thousands of sanitation workers starting November 15. The announcement was made by Chennai Corporation Mayor Priya Rajan during a media briefing, where she also detailed several ongoing development projects across the city.
The Mayor stated that the free food initiative is being launched on the special instructions of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The scheme is set to benefit a total of 31,373 sanitation workers, providing them with three meals a day. This program has been welcomed by the workers, who often labour for many continuous hours without adequate time for meals, and is expected to be a substantial support for them.
Highlighting the government's focus on civic infrastructure, Mayor Priya provided updates on the development of community welfare centers. She revealed that a total of 16 community welfare projects are currently underway across the city at a combined cost of approximately ₹180 crore.
In the first phase, the community welfare center at the port is being constructed at a cost of about ₹14 crore. The multi-level facility will feature special parking for two-wheelers and four-wheelers on the lower ground, a large dining hall capable of accommodating 600 people on the first floor, and a wedding hall on the second floor. Additionally, eight rooms are being set up for the accommodation of families during events. This project is slated for completion by December.
Similarly, a community welfare center in the Kolathur constituency is expected to become operational for the public by January. The Mayor emphasized that special importance is being given to North Chennai, with 11 of the 16 welfare projects located in that region.
Reiterating the state government's priority for education and healthcare, Mayor Priya stated that the buildings of educational institutions under the corporation are being continuously improved. She also provided an update on the much-anticipated Victoria Hall renovation, confirming that work is progressing briskly with only a few tasks remaining. The restored landmark is expected to be completed in the next few weeks and will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister shortly.
Addressing the seasonal concerns, the Mayor spoke about the city's preparedness for the Northeast Monsoon. Acknowledging the meteorological department's forecast of lighter rains this year compared to the last, she assured that the corporation is not taking any chances. She informed the media that monsoon-related work has been ongoing since last August, with officials fully mobilized. Further steps will be activated based on the intensity of the rainfall predicted over the next five days.
