Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday laid the foundation stone for the proposed International Furniture Park to come up in Tuticorin at an outlay of about Rs 1,500 crore, aimed at boosting economic activity in southern districts. The facility, expected to commence operations in the first phase would generate 1.50 lakh new jobs, the state government said. In the second phase of expansion, expected to take place in 10 years, an investment of Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,500 crore would be made, which would further generate 3.50 lakh jobs, an official release said. "The objective to set up an international furniture park in Tuticorin was to enhance the living standards of the people in southern Tamil Nadu by providing job opportunities," Stalin said.