Fri Jun 20 02:37:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Puducherry and Oulgaret Municipalities are investing ₹34 crore in infrastructure improvements in low-income settlements through the Union Government’s CITIIS Challenge program. Projects include road construction, LPG crematoriums, dhobikhana renovations, drain construction, burial ground upgrades, community toilets, and park construction. These projects aim to improve living conditions, reduce pollution, and prevent flooding. Many projects are completed or nearing completion and incorporate pollution control measures in crematoriums.

**News Article:**

**Puducherry Undergoes Major Infrastructure Overhaul in Low-Income Areas**

**Puducherry, June 20, 2025** – A significant infrastructure revamp is underway across low-income settlements in Puducherry and its suburbs, spearheaded by the Oulgaret and Puducherry Municipalities. A combined investment of ₹34 crore, facilitated by the Union Government’s Cities Investments to Innovate Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) Challenge program, is fueling the extensive civil works.

The ambitious project encompasses a wide range of improvements, including the construction of concrete internal roads with drainage systems, modern LPG crematoriums, renovated dhobikhanas (traditional laundry facilities), upgraded storm water drains to mitigate flooding, improvements to cremation and burial grounds, construction of community toilets, and the creation of public parks.

“Many of these projects are nearing completion, and some are already open to the public,” stated a senior municipal official. “The completion of these projects, particularly the road infrastructure and the new park in Pavanar Nagar, will have a significant positive impact on the quality of life for residents in low-income settlements.”

The new LPG crematoriums are equipped with advanced pollution control measures, including two-chamber incineration systems and 30-meter high chimneys, adhering to Pollution Control Board norms. These measures aim to significantly reduce emissions and minimize environmental impact.

The CITIIS Challenge, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2018, selected Puducherry as one of the key regions for implementing sustainable urban infrastructure projects in low-income areas. The current initiatives mark a significant step towards achieving those goals and improving the lives of countless residents in the region.

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