Porunai Archaeological Museum ready for inauguration on December 20; Chief Minister Stalin also lays foundation stone for 100 crore library

The ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’, which has been built at the cost of ₹56.60 crore near Reddiyarpatti hillock on the Tirunelveli – Kanniyakumari four-lane national highway to showcase the ancient Tamil civilization to the world, is ready to be inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on December 20.

The Chief Minister will also lay foundation stone for the public library to be built on an outlay of ₹100 crore near Anna Stadium, Palayamkottai.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday after inspecting the museum being spruced up now, Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru said the ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’ created with 54,000 square feet on 13 acres of land would showcase the artefacts excavated at ancient Tamil civilization sites of Aditchanallur, Sivakalai and Korkai, all in neighbouring Thoothukudi district.

The two-storey Korkai block would be the largest with 17,429 sq.f,t and the Aditchanallur block with 16,486 sq.ft would also be a two-storey structure. The artefacts recovered at Sivakalai would be showcased in 8,991 sq.ft. Each block and the administrative building had been connected by roads, and the unused space had been utilised for creating lawns, parks, fountains, ornamental lights, open air theatre etc. For the benefit of the senior citizens and the differently abled visitors, battery-operated vehicles would be deployed.

“For showcasing the artefacts in interactive spaces, ₹6 crore has been spent,” Mr. Nehru informed.

While visiting the museum on December 20, Mr. Stalin will inaugurate the facility and then participate in the function to be held at Tirunelveli Medical College grounds where the Chief Minister will also inaugurate the additional buildings built in the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

Mr. Stalin will also lay foundation stone for the Quaid-E-Millath public library to come up near Anna Stadium, Palayamkottai. The Tamil Nadu Government, after sanctioning libraries for Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchi, had announced that the public library, to be named after Quaid-E-Millath, would come-up on 3 acres of land near District Industries Centre near Anna Stadium on an outlay of ₹100 crore.

The three-storey facility with five lifts is coming-up with 77,586 square feet area including the auditorium with 250 seats, competitive examination section, children’s section with mini theater, digital library, special reading room for the differently abled, conference hall, food court etc. Over a lakh books on a range of topics will be available here besides providing facilities for accessing e-books.

“Mr. Stalin will also inaugurate 16 completed projects during his visit,” Mr. Nehru said.

Minister for Finance Thangam Thennarasu, District Collector R. Sukumar, MLAs M. Abdul Wahab of Palayamkottai and E. Raja of Sankarankovil, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan and Deputy Mayor K.R. Raju were present.