Madurai Business and Social Groups Present Demands to DMK Manifesto Committee
In a significant pre-election gathering, various associations, trade bodies, and social activists from Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, and Virudhunagar districts presented their key demands to the DMK election manifesto committee. The committee held a sitting in Madurai on Tuesday evening, chaired by party deputy general secretary and Member of Parliament K Kanimozhi.
Economic and Infrastructure Proposals
Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president N Jegatheesan submitted a petition calling for several major initiatives. He advocated for the organization of a global investors meet to attract international business to the region. Additionally, he emphasized the urgent need for a bus port in Madurai, a project previously announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The expansion of the Madurai airport runway was also highlighted, with a specific proposal to construct an underpass and extend the runway above it to enhance aviation capacity.
Agri and All Trader Chamber president S Rethinavelu focused on cultural and economic development. He requested the government to establish a Heritage Park in Madurai to promote tourism and preserve local history. Furthermore, he urged state authorities to pressure the Union government to upgrade Madurai airport to international status and include it in Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA). Rethinavelu also sought the creation of a convention and trade centre in Madurai, similar to the Chennai Trade Centre and Coimbatore Codissia, to boost commercial activities.
Urban Development and Administrative Requests
Madurai Infra & Development Association president P Balamurugan presented ambitious proposals for urban transformation. His petition demanded the declaration of Madurai as Tamil Nadu's second administrative capital to decentralize governance. He also called for accelerating the Madurai metro rail project and implementing a smart parking system at congested locations. This system would include a parking guidance system, digital payments facility, and IoT sensors to improve traffic management and urban mobility.
District-Specific and Social Demands
The Dindigul Chamber of Commerce submitted requests tailored to local agricultural needs. They demanded a cold storage and research facility in the district to help farmers market moringa and scented flowers more effectively. Additionally, they proposed setting up a Tidel park in Dindigul to foster technology and industrial growth.
The Students Islamic Organisation of India raised important social concerns. They urged the state government to enact special legislation to prevent hatred against the Muslim community in Tamil Nadu. The organisation also recommended establishing schools and colleges for minorities on unused Waqf lands under the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board to enhance educational opportunities.
Committee and Attendees
The manifesto committee included prominent DMK members such as party spokesman Constantine Raveendran, IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, party environmental wing secretary Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, Dream Tamil Nadu convenor Suresh Sammandham, and MLA Tamilarasi Ravikumar. Other notable attendees included Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, P Moorthy, and K K S S R Ramchandran, along with MLAs G Thalapathy and A Venkatesan, and MP Thanga Tamil Selvan, underscoring the importance of this consultation in shaping the party's electoral agenda.
