Chennai: Residents of Egmore are set to get a range of new public facilities, with a sports complex, anganwadi and gym, community hall and Muthalvar Padaippagam among the projects being taken up in the area.Santhosh Nagar residents of ward 61 get multi-sports turfs which have been completed. Regional Deputy Commissioner (North) Swetha Suman said they will be ready for inauguration. “We are looking to finalise inaugural time,” she said.The ₹1.88lakh project, funded through the MLA’s constituency development funds, comes with a synthetic mat surface and fencing. Fathima Muzaffer Ahmed, councillor of the ward said all basic facilities, including drinking water and toilets, would be ensured. “A watchman will be appointed for safety,” she said. She added that the turfs will benefit several youngsters in the neighbourhood. “As a first phase, football and basketball amenities will be made. Then it will be expanded to other sports. We are waiting for the minister to inaugurate it,” she said, referring to school education minister and Egmore MLA A Rajmohan.Apart from this, work is progressing on construction of a ₹44.08lakh anganwadi centre and gym in Santhosh Nagar. “Work is progressing, work will be completed by next month,” the IUML councillor said.Meanwhile, work is progressing on two larger community facilities in Ward 58. A Muthalvar Padaippagam is being constructed at Kannapar Thidal, Periyamet, at an estimated cost of ₹4.65 crore. “About 70% of the work is completed. Whitewashing work remains, it will be completed in November,” a GCC official said. Another community hall is also being constructed at Naval Hospital road, the official added.“There was a longstanding demand in my ward for a Muthalvar Padaippagam,” said ward 58 DMK councillor Rajeshwari Sridhar. “It is a main location in the main road, so it will benefit youngsters who are from other areas as well. The local library here had a good response, which showed that there was a need for a larger space where youngsters could study and prepare for competitive exams,” she said.
