Tamil Nadu CM inaugurates ₹23.67 crore temple infrastructure project

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated infrastructure facilities worth ₹23.67 crore at the Irukkankudi temple in Virudhunagar district on Tuesday, reinforcing the state government's commitment to preserving and developing major religious sites across Tamil Nadu.

The development project at the historically significant shrine represents a substantial investment in enhancing visitor amenities and temple infrastructure. Officials associated with the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department oversaw the execution of the construction works, which encompassed multiple facilities designed to improve the pilgrimage experience.

The inauguration event holds particular significance for the HR&CE Department as it reflects a modernisation of its institutional practices. For the first time, the department recruited Assistant Engineers (Construction) and Assistant Sthapathis—traditional temple architects—through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), marking a departure from previous recruitment methodologies and introducing standardised examination-based selection processes for these specialist positions.

The move towards TNPSC-based recruitment is expected to strengthen the department's technical capacity and ensure merit-based appointments for heritage conservation and temple construction roles. This approach aligns with broader administrative reforms aimed at professionalising the workforce managing the state's extensive religious endowments portfolio.