Roads, SWG get key focus in Trichy corpn spending

Trichy: Road development received key focus from Trichy corporation in the 2024-25 financial year, accounting for as much as 37% of its annual expenditure (excluding special funds), followed by solid waste management, 18%. While basic amenities including water and drainage were key areas that received attention, the amount spent on afforestation as well as rejuvenation of water bodies was comparatively low.
According to the annual expenditure statement of the financial year gone by, Trichy corporation has spent Rs992.7 crore for development work under 76 parameters. During 2023-24, the sum spent was Rs927.8 crore, a 7% surge, indicating that the civic body was not cash surplus. It utilised general funds to cover projects related to basic amenities, new infrastructure, maintenance, and sustainable living. Special funds from infrastructure and amenities (I&A) and AMRUT schemes were used for projects such as integrated bus terminus (IBT) and underground drainage (UGD) respectively.
Excluding special funds, Trichy corporation spent Rs 421 crore on development projects in 2024-25. Works to relay bituminous and cement concrete roads damaged for UGD project and conversion of earthen road to bituminous road received a lion's share. It spent Rs 76.7 crore on solid waste management which includes outsourcing of daily waste collection. Local body sources said since a deficit budget was presented after nearly a decade, expenditures were heavily scrutinised based on necessity.
Bus stand development became a prominent sector with the local body spending Rs65.7 crore, around 16% of annual expenses, including for the upcoming satellite terminus in Srirangam. In previous years, only a negligible sum was spent in this category. For new infrastructure development and maintenance of existing facilities, Rs45.8 crore was spent, or 11% of the expenditure. Officials said that the sum spent on building additional infrastructure in corporation schools went up. However, components for sustainable living including renovation of waterbodies and afforestation were not well focused in 2024-25. The corporation spent only Rs1.2 crore on development of waterbodies, and Rs70 lakh on afforestation, less than 1% of the annual expenditure. "We will propose specific plans to raise the green cover this year. There was a delay in launching Kollankulam tank redevelopment work due to a legal barrier, which will be sorted out soon," a senior corporation official told TOI.