‘Oxford of South India’ waits for desirable level of infrastructure, sufficient supply of drinking water

Palayamkottai, which is known as the ‘Oxford of South India’ for its century-old educational institutions, has a large literate population, including teachers and government employees, but the constituency needs better infrastructure, and Tirunelveli Corporation and other government departments are yet to focus on the vital issue.

The electoral history of the constituency is interesting. While the neighbouring Tirunelveli segment elected Dravidian stalwart Naavalar Nedunchezhiyan to the Assembly in 1980, Palayamkottai sent another prominent leader of the Dravidian movement, Nanchil Manoharan, who contested on the ADMK ticket in 1977. Although the DMK rested this constituency in 1984, the AIADMK bagged it again in 1991 in the aftermath of the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the sympathy wave that swept across Tamil Nadu in favour of the AIADMK–Congress alliance.

However, the DMK had the last laugh in 1996. The constituency boasts of century-old educational institutions run by Roman Christian missionaries and CSI Diocese and a large population of teachers and government employees. Also, it has better infrastructure as compared with the Tirunelveli Assembly seat. DMK’s T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, who got elected from this constituency for the first time in 2001, comfortably won in the next three elections, became a Minister in 2006 and held the position till 2011.

When the DMK fielded M. Abdul Wahab in 2021, he too won the seat for his party. In a nutshell, Palayamkottai has reposed its faith in the DMK eight times in the last 11 elections since 1977.

For the coming April 23 Assembly elections, the main contestants are Mr. Abdul Wahab and AIADMK’s Syed Sultan Samsudeen, while actor Vijay-led TVK has fielded S. Maria John, a leading builder and timber importer.

On the civic front, Palayamkottai has relatively good amenities, but the infrastructure created by the Corporation and other government departments is far from satisfactory. After the Tirunelveli Corporation miserably failed to expedite the ongoing third phase of underground drainage works, most of the roads in the town are in bad shape. At grievance redressal meetings, the civic body has a ‘readymade response’ to petitioners that the roads can be laid only after the underground drainage work is completed. Till then, residents have been forced to endure the hardships.

“The residents are really upset with the progress of the underground drainage work that is being executed at a snail’s pace and it will reflect in the elections. The ordeals I personally undergo everyday due to the delay is unbearable,” says Maideen, a small builder from Melapalayam.

Another project that drags on is the Murappanaadu drinking water scheme, which was designed to provide regular supply of drinking water to residents in the peripheral areas of Palayamkottai. The Corporation supplies 91 litres a day per person upon getting 48 million litres a day (MLD) from six drinking water schemes even as the demand stands at 70.50 MLD. The Ariyanayagipuram drinking water project, the latest drinking water project of Tirunelveli Corporation, has added another 35 MLD.

Since the demand for drinking water in another 25 years will grow further, the Murappanaadu drinking water scheme, costing about ₹35.63 crore, was designed to provide drinking water round-the-clock to residents of peripheral wards. It is estimated that the cost of the project may now escalate up to ₹40 crore considering allied expenses also.

“Even though the project was started two years ago, it is still under execution due to the Corporation’s inability,” says N. Saravanan, a banker from Thiyagaraja Nagar, a peripheral area.

Another lingering issue is the M.K. Stalin-led government’s inexplicable lethargy in starting the construction of the ‘Y’-shaped rail overbridge at Kulavanigarpuram manned level crossing. Even after the Chief Minister himself announced two years ago that the ROB would come at the spot, the ordeals of commuters continue as the level crossing closes 14 times a day. While the cost of the project has been estimated only at ₹125 crore, it appears to be in limbo.

“Even though a rail overbridge has been built at the manned level crossing near Maharaja Nagar farmers market, an underpass should also be provided at the spot as four-wheelers going to Anbu Nagar and other adjoining areas cannot use the ROB. Since cars and vans going to the residential areas cannot turn right on the eastern side of the ROB, the underpass will be of great help,” says Dharmar of Thiyagaraja Nagar.

The farmers’ market at NGO Colony, which has immense potential of selling fresh farm produces to consumers, is dying a natural death. Since the Department of Horticulture is not interested in developing the market, only traders have their shops here. Only one farmer, Nambi from Ittaeri, comes here.

“While the farmers’ market at Maharaja Nagar draws many farmers due to better bus connectivity from villages like Sivanthipatti, Muththur, Kuththukkal, Seythungalallur and Karungulam, the NGO Colony market does not have the facility. It is under the control of traders and not producers,” said S. Arumugam, a resident of Jeba Garden.

The Melapalayam residents’ plea for a government higher secondary school, a government college and removal of encroachments along the already cramped roads still remain unfulfilled.

The long-pending demand for a 1.50 km-long road to connect Nehru Auditorium in Palayamkottai with South Bypass Road is still in cold storage. The Corporation has shown zero interest in it, even though the new road will phenomenally reduce traffic congestion along Thiruvananthapuram Highway.

Published – March 31, 2026 08:14 pm IST