CM Stalin opens Chennai’s supertree tower, lays foundation for Guindy eco-park

Chennai: The city is set for a green upgrade, with chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday laying the foundation for a 37.85-crore eco-park at Guindy and inaugurating the 30m-high, nine-level supertree tower at Kalaignar Centenary Park, built at 11.84 crore. Stalin inaugurated projects totalling 4,000 crore.The 25-acre Guindy eco-park will have thematic gardens, play zones, bird habitats, water bodies, dense groves, and shaded walkways, aimed at boosting biodiversity, improving air quality, and recharging groundwater. The tree tower, touted as a first-of-its-kind structure in India, offers an aerial view of Chennai's skyline. Stalin also renamed the Marina Loop Road as ‘Sindhanai Sirpi Singaravelar Salai', honouring labour leader Singaravelar, who organised India's first May Day in Chennai in 1923.At the Secretariat, Stalin inaugurated 229 completed projects worth 2,732.77 crore under municipal administration and water supply department and laid foundation stones for 19 other works valued at 655.36 crore. The basket includes combined drinking water schemes, underground sewerage expansion, tertiary treatment plants, and smart water meters.The CM also opened the 63-crore ‘Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Arangam' at the State College campus, honouring the late chief minister M Karunanidhi. The air-conditioned, 60,672sqft auditorium seats 2,042. Laptops were distributed under the ‘Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil' scheme. For police, buildings worth 75.80 crore, including 200 quarters and two stations, were inaugurated, along with 22 smart classrooms at 15 crore. As many as 2,138 TNHB apartments in Sholinganallur, Ambattur, and Mahakavi Bharathiyar Nagar were handed over to personnel.In sports, 14 projects worth 42.94 crore, including a district complex in Chengalpet and mini stadiums in Namakkal and Salem, were opened, along with three others worth 37.84 crore.