Union Minister inaugurates civic infrastructure projects in Puducherry

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Saturday (December 27, 2025) inaugurated a slew of civic infrastructure projects, including a mini stadium completed under the Smart City Project. Mr. Rai also launched compact substation facilities, the laying of 11-KV high tension underground cabling and related works, and opened 220 multi-storey apartments built for the economically weaker sections in Chinnayapuram. Lt. Governor K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Speaker R. Selvam, Home Minister A. Namassivayam, Public Works Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, Rajya Sabha Member S. Selvaganabathy, and MLAs G. Nehru, Annibal Kennedy, and R. Baskar participated. Also present were Government Secretaries P. Jawahar, A. Muthamma, D. Manikandan, and R. Kesavan, Collector A. Kulothungan, PWD Chief Engineer K. Veeraselvam, Pondicherry Municipality Commissioner M. Kandasamy, and A. Sureshraj, Oulgaret Municipality Commissioner. A press note said that as part of the ₹17-crore refurbishment of the Anna Thidal mini stadium, standing on a 9,600 sq m area, the facility had been provided a proper playground for schoolchildren from nearby institutions/neighbourhoods and the general public, a gallery for 4,500 viewers on the eastern and western side of the ground, and a two-sided gallery for 500 viewers, with a stage in the middle on the southern side of the ground. It is also equipped with a parking space for 1,500 two-wheelers, an office, dormitory, multi-purpose hall, toilets, and water supply, drainage, and electrical facilities. Another project commissioned related to the replacement of 26 oil type distribution transformers with maintenance-free compact sub-stations consisting of dry-type distribution transformer with SCADA controllable ring main unit. In addition to this, 19 km of overhead line were replaced by 11-KV HT cable with associated equipment in the coastal part of the Union Territory. The project was executed at a cost of ₹28.20 crore. At Chinnayapuram, the dilapidated tenements were demolished and 220 new units built in six blocks under the housing scheme for the economically weaker section people by the Slum Clearance Board and the Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department. Undertaken under the Smart City Mission, the units have been equipped with facilities such as approach roads, water supply, drainage, sewage connection, and elevators. Later, Mr. Rai chaired a meeting to review the progress of the implementation of the Central government’s flagship schemes and the new criminal laws. The Lt. Governor, Chief Minister, Ministers, government secretaries, and top officials of the Police Department, including Shalini Singh, Director-General of Police, participated. Published - December 27, 2025 08:04 pm IST

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