Its good to start a new thread for the Southern parts of Tamilnadu(Tuticorin, Tirunelveli & Nagercoil). Guys lets all put together new developments, projects and pictures as and when you get to know.

Regards

Welcome Jyas, so far we took the Tuticorin events with Madurai region and now there you are!

We will do our best in our effort.

MaduraiSelvam

Nice move Jyas in opening a topic for this region.
-----------------

Tuesday August 29 2006 00:00 IST
UNI

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu goverment will promote cruise tourism in a big way, tourism Minister Suresh Rajan announced in the State Assembly on Monday.

Moving the demand for grants for his department, he said at least six luxury liners were berthed at Chennai and Tuticorin ports from countries like Bangkok, the us and the united kingdom during 2005-06.

He said Mumbai, Kochi and Goa ports were on international cruise map for over 40 years and now the focus had turned to develop Kochi, New Mangalore, Moromogoa (Panaji), Mumbai, Kolkata, Port Blair and Tuticorin ports as cruise shipping stations.

''Efforts were taken to attract a large segment of cruise traffic from the united states and Europe to Indian ports, including Chennai and Tuticorin ports. As part of marketing the ports in Tamil Nadu, the tourism department had proposed to coordinate with Mumbai Port trust for cruise marketing'', Mr Suresh Rajan said.

As part of its efforts to attract more tourists, the government would improve basic infrastructure facilities at the traditional tourism centres like Thanjavur, Madurai and Kanniyakumari at a cost of Rs five crore each in the first phase.



http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920060828102359&Page=9&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&

"Pearl Cruise II" the passenger ship which can carry 720 passengers at a time is currently berthed at the Ashroff jetty codbay, Trincomalee awaiting to operate a passenger service between Colombo and Tuticorin in India commencing in mid August. This vessel registered in Sri Lanka and flying the Sri Lankan flag is owned by Pearl Cruise Line (Pvt) Ltd.

The ship is fully air-conditioned and is equipped with safety equipment. She has a duty free shop, a perfume shop, a bar and two cafeterias. With a Sri Lankan crew 'Pearl cruise II' is skippered by captain G. Rupadeva, an ex Sri Lanka Navy Commander.

Passengers in midsea requiring urgent treatment whether it be a Sick or injured passenger can be air lifted. Arrangements have been made to summon a helicopter for an emergency.

There is a space to keep the patient on top deck and the helicopter can lower the winch wire, hook the patient and lift him or her to the helicopter.

Source: Daily News, Sri Lanka

The Colombo - Tuticorin passenger ship service will commence at the end of September this year, announced the Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Minister of Port Development Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Rauff Hakeem.

The Minister's announcement follows discussions held between the Minister and the visiting Indian shipping delegation headed by the Chairman of the Tuticorin Port Trust N. K. Ragupathy, at the Ministry yesterday.

Five Weekly trips would be operated between the two countries and each passenger would be allowed to carry baggage of 50-70 kgs. A single way passage is expected to cost between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 3.500.

A special visa counter will be opened at the passenger terminal of the Colombo Port, for issuing visas on the same day.

Source: Daily News, Sri Lanka

Nice to see the Cruise ships to Tuticorin. It was proposed few years back and didn't move on due to political differences.

MT Tuticorin commissioned

THOOTHUKUDI: M T Tuticorin, a new tug built at a cost of Rs 25.64 crore was inducted in to service at Thoothukudi port, on Tuesday.
Chairman of Tuticorin Port Trust, NK Raghupathy inaugurated operations of the boat, at a function organised at the port. Speaking on the occasion, he said, ‘‘it is the first time that a tug vessel with capacity to haul in 40- tonne vessels has been added for operation under the Tuticorin Port Trust.’’
The tug, which should have been inducted into service this March, was delayed due to the tsunami and other factors, he added. Describing the unique feature of the tug vessel, he said, the two other tugs existing with the port have the capacity to pull cargo vessels 265 metres long, while the new tug vessel can pull cargo vessels up to 300 metres in length.
He further said that the tug was equipped with fire fighting devices and special machines and that it could also be used as in rescue operations at sea. Among its other features, the tug been fitted out with a Voith Schneider Propulsion (VST) system that allows greater maneuverability in all directions, he said.
The tug was designed by TEBMA Shipyards limited and her ‘vital statistics’ include: Pollard Pull-45 ton, Max Speed-12 knots, Length-32 metre, Breath-10.65 metre, Depth-4.7 metre and Draught-5.3 metre A demonstration of the fire fighting ability of the tug was demonstrated following the commissioning of the vessel.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060830013032&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

BSNL ready with high-end technologies for IT park

It has sophisticated facilities in all the six places identified

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2,000-km-long Optical Fibre Cable across the district
Managed Leased Line Network technology already in place
Data circuits can be provided immediately
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIRUNELVELI: As the Tamil Nadu Government and the Union Ministry of Information Technology are firm on establishing an information technology park in this industrially backward Tirunelveli, the Tirunelveli Telecom District of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is prepared to provide state-of-the-art technologies to the proposed venture.
The State Government has identified six places at Gangaikondan, Abhishekapatti and Chathram Puthukkulam, in the Tirunelveli taluk, Keezhanaththam and Panaiyankulam in the Palayamkottai taluk and North Valliyoor Part I and Perungudi Part II, in the Radhapuram taluk for setting up the park. Since BSNL has established in these places all sophisticated facilities, the Government is expected to tie up with the telecom major.
BSNL, which has laid 2,000-km-long Optical Fibre Cable across the district to ensure quality and uninterrupted communication, has extended the cable to these areas too. Moreover, any required bandwidth can be provided on demand, as infrastructure has already been established. Data circuits can be provided by the BSNL from these locations to any part of the country. The managed leased line network technology deployed by BSNL for providing data circuits of any capacity is also in place, BSNL sources told The Hindu .
"The modern multi-protocol label switching technology used in the Virtual Private Network, which carries the cheapest tariff for the corporate houses and which functions at Tirunelveli will certainly give BSNL an edge over private players. Moreover, we can provide VPN circuits and leased internet connectivity of any bandwidth to all these six locations under consideration," the sources said.
As the Tirunelveli Telecom District, which won the national award for `Best Customer Service in India for 2004-2005,' provides "high quality telecom services" to the Indian Space Research Organisation, the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project, the INS Kattabomman, India Cements, Madura Coats, the Life Insurance Corporation of India and banks, BSNL hopes it will be part of the IT park project.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090507180500.htm

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/1039/tnport1ak5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy Dinamalar.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/1039/tnport1ak5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Courtesy Dinamalar.

Translation: Research by Wardon Bussiness School from USA have concluded that Tuticorin is the BEST PORT IN INDIA in over all performance.

deleted..double post

Land at the two proposed sites where IT park would be set up in Tirunelveli district, one on the premises of Manonmaniam Sundarar University at Abisekapatti and another in SIPCOT Industrial Centre at Gangaikondan, was inspected by Managing Director of Electronics Corporation of Tamilnadu (ELCOT), C Uma Sankar, here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Cynthia Pnadiyan said that though the University had identified 25 acres of land for setting up of the IT park, it would be ready to provide another 75 acres of land.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060905120638&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

Tuticorin, Sept 7. (PTI): The ISO 14001 certificate for environment compliances granted to Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) would be extended till August 2007.

The Indian Register for Quality System (IRQS) in Chennai has decided to extend the certificate after the IRQS auditors conducted a surveillance audit at the port, a TPT release said on Wednesday.

The port got the ISO certificate from IRQS for the first time on September 16, 2005.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200609070312.htm

TIRUNELVELI : The Department of Animal Husbandry is planning to establish a veterinary college here and a proposal, which is under preparation now, is expected to be included in the XI Five Year Plan.

"Considering the infrastructure available here and to substantially enhance and ensure better quality of service to farmers, the State Government has planned to establish a veterinary college here. And the proposal will be sent to the State Planning Commission for its nod," the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Geetha Jeevan, told reporters here on Thursday after reviewing the performance of her department. The Minister asked the officials to prepare a list, detailing infrastructure available.

She said that the Tamil Nadu University for Veterinary and Animal Sciences had successfully prepared vaccine for blue tongue disease and one lakh doses of the vaccine would be manufactured in the research station at Ranipet this year to save goats being reared in southern districts.

Ms. Geetha said that 12 of the 55 mobile veterinary dispensaries in the State were dormant, because of poor maintenance and equipment. Steps had been taken to replace six of the 12 latent units at the cost of Rs. 40.90 lakh and provide equipment in adequate numbers for all 55 mobile dispensaries. Moreover, all veterinary hospitals and dispensaries across the State would be getting mobile phones soon.

Expressing displeasure over the present condition of the research stations at Abhishekapatti and Ramaiyanpatti, Ms. Geetha said that though there was heavy demand for white piglets, no step was taken to meet the requirement.

Steps would be taken to improve the situation and emphasize would be on preparing fodder for the livestock in the depots of the department.

"The research station at Ramaiyanpatti would get Rs. 15 lakh for ensuring the supply of hybrid goat varieties to farmers," she said.

Admitting that over 5,000 posts in her department remained vacant, Ms. Geetha said 280 doctors would be appointed within a month.

Earlier the Minister visited the research stations at Abhishekapatti, Ramaiyanpatti and the veterinary hospital at Sripuram at Tirunelveli Junction.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/08/stories/2006090808340300.htm

Call to set up apparel, automobile parks

THOOTHUKUDI: All India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (AICCI), Thoothukudi, in a memorandum sent to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, has demanded that steps should be taken to set up an apparel park and an automobile park in Thoothukudi.
The president of AICCI, JP Joe Villavarayar, said that, after the declaration of the Tuticorin Port as one of the major ports in the country, the district was thronged with new industries.
Moreover, due to the outstanding performance of the port and the upcoming Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, many more new industries were likely to come up in and around Thoothukudi. Hence, for expediting on-going developmental activities and enhancing infrastructures in the district, the State Government should extend its full support.
Since exporters and industries all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala preferred the port as it provided fast and excellent service, the periphery covering 50 km around Thoothukudi should be developed suitably for new industries to come up, in terms of power, water and communication, to captivate them.
The Chamber further demanded the State Government that measures would be taken for further expansion of SIPCOT and SIDCO units immediately. Apart from this, the provision of incentives and concessions from the Government would attract the industrialists here and outside, to pump in money as they had the advantage of the availability of cheap labour. This would, in turn, trigger off employment and cause rapid economic growth.
APPAREL AND AUTOMOBILE PARKS: Pointing out the existing ready-made garment units at Puthiyamputhur at Ottapidaram taluk in the district, the president said that the creation of an apparel park would, certainly, give the industries a boost.
With the availability of the vast port land , Thoothukudi had been said to be an ideal city to be promoted as the second automobile industrial equipment manufacturing hub, next to Chennai in the State.
He also expressed his hope that steps would be taken to establish new salt based chemical industries and pharmaceutical industries in the district. With the availability of the vast port land, Thoothukudi had been said to be an ideal city for industries.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060909003033&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

A Kolkata-based real estate developer, the Avani Group, is likely to pick up a majority stake in the Nanguneri High-Tech Park, a special economic zone coming up near Tuticorin.

The Nanguneri High Tech Park was promoted jointly by the US-based INFAC Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Company Ltd (TIDCO) through a special purpose vehicle, ATMAC Ltd.

The sources said that INFAC has identified the Avani Group as co-promoters. Officials in Avani Group confirmed their participation in the project. However, they declined to provide details, which are being finalised, they said.

When the project was envisaged over six years ago it was as an industrial park for high tech industries in engineering, electronics and pharmaceuticals to attract investments of over Rs 8,000 crore. The master plan was by JTC, Singapore. Subsequently, the Centre recognised it as a Special Economic Zone.

Now with the new rules stating that a minimum of 2,500 acres would be needed for a multi product SEZ, the private promoters will have to acquire an additional 500 acres, the sources said.

Last month the State Government announced that a 250-acre industrial park for pharmaceutical industries would come up at the Nanguneri Hi-Tech Park. It would have facilities for 50 large pharmaceutical units and 10 ancillaries. This would generate over 2,800 jobs directly and 2,800 indirectly.

Sources said that the State Government was keen to promote the project fast. With SEZs coming up all over the country with similar proposals and concessions to attract investments it would be the early movers to who get the big names in.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/09/11/stories/2006091101951500.htm

Sivakasi (Tamil Nadu), Sep 6 (IANS) Like a song bird, an idea that took flight in 1964 in a small Tamil Nadu town famous for its fireworks industry has now spread its wings all the way to the United States, Europe and the Gulf to bring home today over Rs.2 billion a year in export earnings for this company.

Nightingale is a stationery company in southern India that has made its mark globally.

One can find the 'Nightingale' brand in most book stores these days - exquisite jute-cover or leather-bound diaries, planners and organisers, telephone books with old maps and compasses printed on pastel covers, notebooks with quills and inkpots that one doesn't ever want to throw away.

A thousand different kinds of Nightingale stationery products made by Srinivas Fine Arts (P) Ltd (SFA), a Sivakasi-based company, are distributed globally today. The company is rapidly moving from being a niche player to a utility and gifts segment.

'We are also supplying Nightingale stationery to the White House,' J. Varatharajan, SFA's national marketing manager, told IANS.

The supplies to the US - including such prestigious clients as the White House and Capitol Hill - include Nightingale diaries, note pads, scrapbooks, spiral notepads and other stationery. He was unwilling to disclose the figures though. The firm also sells 25,000 Arabic diaries to the Middle East every year.

It has a warehousing facility in London and an R&D and design centre in Chennai, where a 30-strong team develops prototypes.

When it was set up in 1964, the company was just a label printer for the textiles industry in Tamil Nadu. But entrepreneur R. Chockalingam as well as his brothers had their own vision for SFA.

In the late 1960s, SFA saw growing opportunities in the printing industry and began to focus on technological superiority, rather than volume.

Chockalingam sent his son Rajesh to Britain to train as a printing engineer and buy Rs.150-million worth of machines from Germany. 'It was unheard of in those days in this small town where only labels for matchboxes and fireworks industry were printed,' Varatharajan said.

In 1969, SFA became the first Indian graph paper printer. Graph sheets were being imported from Germany when India switched to the metric system.

The company is also credited with bringing outsourcing of printing to India. That happened in 2000.

Today it prints not only fancy Nokia manuals and Motorola yearly diaries but also the Bhagvad Gita for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the Bible for the International Bible Trust, and beautiful old-world-looking tomes for the Library of Shakespeare.

In the 1980s, SFA captured the posters, banners and billboards market.

The brand 'Nightingale' was launched in 1990. 'Nightingale products are customised and go to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and the US,' Rajesh adds.

The boards for the covers come from Germany, the polyurethane material from Italy. Even the corner clips come from Britain. 'Our sourcing is our strength,' says Varatharajan.

The branded stationery market in India is around Rs.5 billion while the global export market is estimated to be around Rs.100 billion.

From the very beginning, SFA focused on export and '50 percent of our market is abroad', says C. Rajesh, managing director of SFA.

Every year, Rs.20-million worth of made-for-the-occasion notebooks are sold during the Sabarimala festival. 'The Ganesha journals sell in thousands during the Ganesha Chaturthi,' Varatharajan said.

Earlier this year, 50,000 diaries with Hindu gods and goddesses printed on them were sold within three months of printing. There is also an order of Rs.1 million for supply of these to Canada.

More than 100,000 copies of the mini Bhagavad Gita in seven languages have been sold. SFA calendars with reproduction of the old sculptures in Badami by artist Kalki Mani are in great demand.

For the coming festive season, SFA has a new range of 50 products under the sub-brand Vedic Cosmos, 'to re-invent Indian culture' with illustrations by G.L.N. Simha.

The range includes greeting cards with pictures of Hindu deities, Vedic diaries that have already sold 25,000 copies, diaries with Agasthya's predictions and a 10-inch-long meditation kit that contains a mini Gita, a suktha (shloka) booklet, incense, 'panchapatra', a bell, sandalwood garland, water from the river Ganges, a spoon and 'gopichandana' - all the paraphernalia for worship that NRIs love to possess.

The 'Sacred Scents' kit contains sandalwood, juniper, myrrh, olibanum (Frankincense), musk and charcoal. For Sun Pharma, SFA has made a Feng Shui diary for use by medical professionals.

It also has diaries for engineers and architects, up-market products for corporate houses, home-books to take notes from the next-door granny but with tips from 'Lalitaji', a popular character in a TV spot.

There is also the Baby Book and Family Tree Book, a journal where you can keep track of generations with anecdotal spaces.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/57731.php/Sivakasis_Nightingale_now_in_the_White_House

The Minister for Highways and Ports M.P. Saminathan laid the foundation stone for three bridges in the district on an outlay of Rs.1,168 lakh at a function at Srivaikundam near here on Tuesday.

A new high-level bridge will be constructed on the Major District Road connecting Srivaikundam with Tiruchendur, situated about 30 km from Tiruchendur, at a cost of Rs.818 lakh.

The remaining projects included construction of a bridge on the Tuticorin-Tiruchendur MDR at a cost of Rs.330 lakh and another one at Sattankulam along the State Highway stretch connecting Alwarthirunageri with Valliyoor at a cost of Rs.20 lakh.

The PWD sources said 95 per cent of the total project cost of Rs.1,168 lakhs was taken as loan from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The remaining amount was taken from the State Exchequer. The entire works were expected to be completed before December 31, 2008.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091311810300.htm

The Centre has allotted Rs.65 crore for modernising the Indian Rare Earths Limited unit at Manavalakurichi in Kanyakumari district, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan has said.

Launching the expansion of the unit at Manavalakurichi on Monday, he said the unit had a production capacity of 90,000 tonnes a year of ilmenite and other associated products. In the first phase, the capacity would be increased from 90,000 tonnes of ilmenite to 1.50 lakh tonnes. In the second phase, the capacity would be increased to 2.50 lakh tonnes.

Monazite reserve

The plant played an important role in the country's nuclear programme. This area abounded with monazite reserve and supplied Monazite to the IREL unit at Alwaye in Kerala for processing monazite to separate uranium and thorium. This helped in the IREL stockpile sufficient quantum of thorium for being used as a nuclear fuel.

Mr. Chavan said the raw material needed for the plant, which employs 500 people, was sourced from the beach washing available in the Arabian sea coast that stretches for 8 km in the Manavalakurichi - Colachel coastal belt and the Midalam beach. The beach mining was being carried out with the help of 2,500 people belonging to seven fishermen village societies.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091302990500.htm

Rs. 1,400-cr. shipbuilding yard planned for Tuticorin

Expected to generate employment for about 5,000 persons

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin Port Trust plans to establish a shipbuilding yard on its premises on an outlay of Rs. 1,400 crore, to be built on build-operate-transfer (BOT) or lease basis.
Korea Maritime Consultants Company Limited, which conducted a feasibility study, submitted its report to the port authorities a few days ago.
Speaking to The Hindu , N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, TPT, said the proposed facility would be established on 49.68 hectares — 31.68 ha of reclaimed area and 18 ha of waterfront. "We plan to build six Panamax-size vessels every year," he said.
The yard would have a building dock of 390 metres in length, 65 metres in breadth and 10 metres in height and five berths with a total length of 1,200 metres.
The other facilities include a pipe fabrication and assembly unit, pre-erection yard, galvanising unit, hull fabrication section and provision to stack steel, pipes and hull blocks. About 60,000 to 66,000 tonnes of steel meant for shipbuilding would be handled at the yard in a year. Mr. Raghupathy said the yard would provide employment to 5,000 persons.

More jobs will be generated
"The ancillary units that will come up once the yard is established will generate more jobs," he said.Construction of the yard would be completed in four years, once the Centre accorded statutory clearance, he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091414090100.htm

Development works planned on 99 highways in Tuticorin

24 rural roads in the district to be strengthened at a cost of Rs.380 lakh

Tuticorin: Development works on 99 highways will be carried out in the district at a cost of Rs.4,568.66 lakh in the current fiscal, said the Minister for Highways, M.P. Saminathan. The works include strengthening of existing roads, laying of new stretches and construction of three bridges, all over a stretch of 219.447 kms. Mr. Saminathan told this at a review meeting of the road development works taken up in the district during the current fiscal as well as in the previous financial year, held here on Tuesday. He said that besides development of highways, 24 rural roads would be strengthened during the current fiscal at a cost of Rs.380 lakh. The Minister said that of the 162 road development works taken up at a cost of Rs.5,998.67 lakh during the last fiscal, 56 works to the tune of Rs.2,647 lakh were completed before March 31, this year. The remaining 106 works would be completed before February 2007.

District road upgraded
Mr. Saminathan said that the Government had upgraded Tuticorin-Tiruchendur Road, as a State Highway. Till now, the road was classified as a Major District Road (MDR).
He said that the remaining widening works on Tuticorin-Tiruchendur highway on a stretch of two km, would be completed soon. To bring down fatal accidents, speed breakers would be put up on highways. The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, and senior officials from the State Highways Department attended the meeting.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091412410300.htm

Rs. 1,400-cr. shipbuilding yard planned for Tuticorin

.................
http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091414090100.htm

It's a great news for Tuticorin and TN in general.

It's a great news for Tuticorin and TN in general.


Yes without delay if they start working on it right away it would be a boom to the Southern districts. Who knows when the guard change will take place at Fort St.George. The deal should strike and start going when TR Balu is there at the higher end.

Really a very good news.

Yes without delay if they start working on it right away it would be a boom to the Southern districts. Who knows when the guard change will take place at Fort St.George. The deal should strike and start going when TR Balu is there at the higher end.

Really a very good news.

Yes it is really a good news, esp for Tuticorin because there are plentiful ship craftmans in the region who are at present working across India and worldwide.

There are already boat construction yards in Tuticorin and the coastal regions around. The people from here make boats on contract, even from other states.

Road over-bridge to be constructed at Tenkasi

TIRUNELVELI: Accepting a plea from Tenkasi MLA, V. Karuppasamy Pandian, the Minister for Highways and Ports, Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan, has announced that a road over-bridge (ROB) will be constructed at the manned railway level crossing on Tenkasi - Madurai Road at a cost of Rs.27.50 crore to ease traffic congestion.

Addressing a meeting held at the Collectorte to review the performance of his department on Wednesday, Mr. Saminathan said that a sum of Rs.93.75 crore had been allocated during the current fiscal to construct 24 bridges, including a rail over bridge, and to lay 367 km-long road in the district.

While Rs.45 crore would be spent for construction of bridges, including the ROB at Tenkasi, Rs.48 crore would be earmarked for laying of roads.

Mr. Saminathan said that 320 `black spots' have been identified in the district and rectification work on fifty of these accident-prone areas would be taken up during the current financial year.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091412420300.htm

The Pamban rail bridge will be opened for traffic on April 1 next year, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu announced on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the ongoing gauge conversion work on the 92-year-old historic bridge, he said the work, which commenced on July 16, was progressing well. All works would be completed before March 31 next year.

Mr. Velu said out of 145 steel girders, 98 would be modified for Broad Gauge standard at the site itself. The rest would be replaced by new girders, manufactured by the Southern Railway Engineering Workshop at Arakonam. So far, 25 girders had been replaced with new ones and 60 modified girders were installed. Similarly, 13 bed blocks were also set up.

On doubts over the decision on laying broad gauge rails on the existing structure, he said though the bridge was old, the masonry pillars and their foundation were still very strong. The pillars remained intact even after the 1964 cyclone that ravaged Dhanushkodi.

Moreover, a study to ascertain the strength of pillars was conducted. The under water study of all piers and foundations had also been carried out.

Similarly, experimental stress analysis was also done. The existing bridge was analysed by finite element method. The studies revealed that the masonry structure was strong, intact and suitable for broad gauge.

"Safety is being given top priority. We have incorporated several safety methods suggested by experts," Mr. Velu said.

Several famed institutes including Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, and Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai had been engaged for technical consultancy and proof checking for modification of openable part of the bridge.

Moreover, new trains would be run only after the Safety Commissioner's green signal. Hence, there was no need to raise doubts regarding the conversion work on the existing structure.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091407080400.htm

TIRUNELVELI: The metre gauge train services between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur would be stopped from January to expedite broad gauge conversion. Work on this 62-km-long section, which was opened in 1923, is expected to be completed by June 2007.

After gauge conversion, the journey time on this section will be reduced by 30 minutes.

Though patronage for train services on this stretch, being operated with seven coaches, is good in the morning and evening with a minimum of 500 season ticket holders, revenue from the afternoon services is relatively thin. If a push-pull train is introduced in this section with chair cars, the time taken for changing the engine, about 30 minutes, can be avoided. Once the gauge conversion is over, it will pave the way for increased cargo movement, especially salt transport, from areas such as Arumuganeri.

Southern Railway has completed the construction of 130 of the 187 small and big bridges. It has spent Rs. 20 crore against the total project outlay of Rs. 93 crore. "Services on this section will be resumed in June," the General Manager (in-charge), Southern Railways, Raja Goundan, who was here to evaluate the progress of the project, told reporters here on Thursday.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/15/stories/2006091516950100.htm

The long pending demand of the planters in Kanyakumari district to set up a rubber industrial park has now materialised after the Government has decided to implement this project at an estimated cost of Rs.15 crores at Chembagaramanputhur near Nagercoil.

Following a feasibility study carried out by the Rubber Board, Kottayam, the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) has initiated a detailed market survey for setting up an industrial estate for the production of rubber-based products.

As per the market survey report, there is a vast scope for setting up a rubber park in a sprawling area of 136 acres at Chembagaramanputhur.

The aim of setting up the park is to manufacture all type of rubber-based products.

The State Government has already issued orders for acquiring 140 acres for this project.

Meanwhile, the TIDCO is taking steps to identify a promoter for the project and also ready to provide Rs.6.5 crore as subsidy under the critical infrastructure balance scheme alternatively.

It has also been decided to make use of water requirement, i.e., 12 lakh litres per day by tapping it in to Pazhayar river.

In the meantime the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) has proposed a water supply scheme for bringing water from the Pazhayar river near Bhoothapandy by laying a pipeline for a distance of 10 km and also a suitable treatment plant at the park.

To meet the power requirement a 33/11 KVA sub-station would be established by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) adjacent to the site.

Leading promoters of rubber industry in Kanyakumari district, Kurian Abraham told The Hindu that the residents of more than 24 villages, Kulasekaram, Kaliyal, Pechipparai and Perunchani were involved in the vocation of growing rubber plants on over 35,000 hectares.

Scientific cultivation

Moreover, as there was a lot of scope for under taking scientific cultivation of various spices like nutmeg, pepper, cloves and vannila as intercrops in rubber plantations, it was decided to develop a software in the high end and outing edges fields of embedded systems and systems integration.

The executive member of Small Growers Association, Nampoothry from Kulasekaram, said that the Government should identify proper promoters to ensure the smooth functioning of the proposed industrial park in the district.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/15/stories/2006091508080300.htm

The Southern Railway has planned to strengthen infrastructure facilities in 12 railway stations under Madurai Division at an outlay of Rs. 12 crore, the General Manager (In-Charge), Southern Railways, Raja Goundan, has said

Mr. Raja, who was here to evaluate the progress made in the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur Gauge conversion, said platforms in 12 stations under Madurai Division would be extended under this programme. Moreover, Rs. 12 crore would be spent for strengthening infrastructure facilities in some of the railway stations in this division.

The Tirunelveli Railway Junction would get its share of Rs. 3 crore for extension of platform, new buildings (Rs. 70 lakh), foot-over-bridge (Rs. 70 lakh), parking facilities, touch screen facility, drinking water, toilet and other basic amenities. All these works would be completed by June 2007, he informed. Moreover, the railway stations at Cheranmahadevi, Ambasamduram, Kadayam and Paavoorchathram would get new buildings at the cost of Rs. 1.20 crore.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/15/stories/2006091508070300.htm

Our Correspondent

Madurai, Sept.14

Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) will be presenting shortly the report of pre-feasibility study for the construction of a shipbuilding yard to the Joint Board of Trustees and would seek the approval of the Government of India for offering the project on Build-Operate-Transfer basis or lease basis.

The study was carried out by the Port in association with Goodearth Maritime Ltd, Chennai. The consultants Korea Maritime Consultants Company Ltd, Korea, submitted the report on September 9.

The salient features of the proposed shipyard at an approximate project cost of Rs 1,400 crore would facilitate a shipbuilding capacity up to 6 Panamax size ships per year. The project, if cleared would be completed in a period of 4 years, a TPT press release said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/09/15/stories/2006091503141900.htm

double post - self edited

Tuticorin: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) conducted a public hearing at the Collectorate here on Thursday, to elicit the views of the public on the proposed multi-crore projects to be taken up by three private firms in Tuticorin on an outlay of Rs.1,583.79 crore.

The Collector, R Palaniyandi, chairman of the Public Hearing Committee, recorded the opinions on the Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (REIA) report presented by the Sterlite Industries (India) Limited, Ind-Barath Power Gencom Limited and DCW Limited, on their projects.

The DCW Limited plans to upgrade its plant at Sahupuram, near here, at a cost of Rs.475.79 crore, including establishment of a plant to convert mercury cell to membrane cell at a cost of Rs.160 crore to avoid pollution, a reverse osmosis nanosystem and synthetic grade iron oxide plant at a cost of Rs.125 crore and a co-generation power plant on an outlay of Rs.175 crore.

The remaining amount was earmarked for other development works.

The Ind-Barath Power Gencom Limited proposes to establish a 3X63 mw thermal power plant at Keezha Velayudhapuram at an estimated cost of Rs.598 crore. Presenting the REIA, the company officials said the power generated would be distributed to the State grid and to industries situated near the plant.

The Sterlite Industries proposes to establish 2X60 mw coal based power plant to generate power to meet its captive requirements and export a share to the State power grid at an estimated cost of Rs.510 crore.

A group of social activists led by Anton Gomez of National Union of Fishermen walked out from the public hearing, expressing dissatisfaction over the pollution control measures taken by the Sterlite Industries in their previous ventures.

Refuting the allegations, A. Thirunavakarasu, General Manager of Sterlite, stated that adequate amount was earmarked to combat pollution in the proposed project too.

Dr. Palaniyandi asked Tagore De Rose, another activist, to confine his views to the project, when he tried to praise previous projects of Sterlite Industries as a counter to the allegations made against the company by a section of the public. Tension prevailed for a while when members of various NGOs, who supported the DCW's project and those who opposed it, got engaged in verbal duels. S. Shanmugasundaram, District Environmental Engineer, TNPCB, was also present.

special economic zone at Nanguneri would commence soon - TIDCO Chairman and MD S Ramasundaram

Work on the multi-product special economic zone at Nanguneri, which had been a non-starter so far, would commence as a promoter for the project. Kolkata-based Avani group would be the joint promoter for the project, which would come up on a 2,000 acre site. Tidco would make available nearly 500 acres of land required for the project.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060915014037&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Repeated post, self edited

^^ repeatuuuuuuuu

Tuticorin: The State Highways Department plans to upgrade the 117.9-km road stretch between Tuticorin and Ramanthapuram to national highway standards by December 15, 2008, on an outlay of Rs. 132.91 crore. This stretch is a component of the `eastern corridor,' connecting Tuticorin with Nagapattinam.

Speaking to The Hindu , V. Yesu Dhas, Divisional Engineer of Highways (Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project), said that the crust thickness of 17 district and village roads on this stretch would be raised uniformly to 70 cm. It would facilitate in bearing heavy volume of traffic envisaged in the sector once upgraded. The road would be widened to seven metres from the present 3.7 metres to facilitate two-lane traffic movement; 124 culverts and seven bridges would be reconstructed.

Preliminary works such as soil testing commenced recently. Wherever subsoil was found expansive in nature with higher clay content, it would be replaced by gravel sand to strengthen the base, Mr Dhas said.

Preliminary work


Pre-construction activities such as shifting of water supply lines and electricity poles, resettlement of houses, besides land acquisition, is under way.

Mr Dhas said that 37.5-km long water pipes were shifted at a cost of Rs. 143.96 lakh with assistance from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.

Besides, 465 electricity poles and three transformers were shifted to facilitate widening of the road.

The remaining 130 poles and a transformer would be shifted before this month-end, Mr. Dhas said.

Under resettlement and rehabilitation component of the project, 15 houses and four shops were constructed in Tuticorin district and three houses in Ramanathapuram district, to rehabilitate those who were shifted from the roadside.

Mr. Dhas said the upgradation of the road between the two towns would act as a catalyst for the development of 22 revenue villages (11 villages in each district).


http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/16/stories/2006091612220300.htm

Hello FM (106.4) radio is to be launched in the city on October 2. This news was announced at a function at Park Sheraton on Sunday.

Hello FM, part of Malar Publications Limited, would be initially available round-the-clock for listeners within a 40-km radius of the city. The radio service would be extended to Madurai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Pondicherry, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin soon. Sivanthi Adithan of The Daily Thanthi conveyed his wishes to the Hello FM team, headed by Balasubramanian Adithan.

Producers AVM Saravanan, R.B. Choudari and Ramkumar; lyricist Vairamuthu; actors Radhika Sarath Kumar, Satyaraj, Suhasini Maniratnam, Madhavan, Vijayakumar, Sinni Jayanth, Silambarasan, Dhanush and Ramesh Kanna participated.

Source : Tuticorin News

Madurai, Oct 4: Construction work at Koodankulam nuclear power project (KKNPP Unit-I) has entered a significant phase with the erection of the reactor dome liner top portion (crown), a top official said today.


Project Director K C Purohit told reporters that the 2 x 1,000 MWe 'VVER reactor', being constructed at KKNPP with Russian cooperation, has got a hermetically sealed steel liner inside the reactor inner containment and dome.


The dome liner was constructed in three parts. The first and second parts, weighing 100 tonnes and 190 tonnes respectively, were erected last month.


With the completion of the erection of the crown yesterday (the third part), electrical commissioning works of the 'Polar Crane', already erected inside reactor building-I, would start.


Civil construction works for almost all the major buildings had been completed and erection works of the process systems and electrical system equipment were in full swing.


Most of the major equipment for the plant had been received at KKNPP site and were in various stages of erection, Purohit said. (Agencies)




http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B209D77E3-C622-45D8-8D4C-1D8A04E07CB0%7D&CATEGORYNAME=TECH

TNEB to increase production - Three units for Ennore, Tuticorin thermal stations cleared

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's generating capacity is set to go up by at least 3,000 megawatt (MW) in the next five years with three additional units for Ennore and Tuticorin thermal power stations getting approval.

The board is carrying out spadework for projects at the Mettur and North Chennai thermal power plants and in the Kundah group of hydel plants.

For implementing all the expansion projects, an investment of Rs. 12,000 crore will be made, considering that the average cost of one MW is Rs. 4 crore.

While Tuticorin will have two more units of 500 MW each, Ennore, Mettur and North Chennai will get one additional unit of the same capacity. At Kundah, there will be four units of 125 MW. These projects will be in addition to the TNEB's participation in a few joint venture schemes.

At present, the TNEB's plants — hydro, coal-fired and gas-based — have the total capacity of generating 5,550 MW. Besides, the State gets power from the private sector, stations run under the Central sector and other sources, accounting for around 4,530 MW. Apart from them, the total capacity of windmills, biomass and solar plants and co-generation units is about 3,365 MW.

In the case of the projects in Ennore and Tuticorin, the board will initiate the process of selecting consultants soon, sources say.

They will prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) and provide specifications of the proposed plants. Studies on environment impact assessment and environment management plan will be carried out. After obtaining statutory clearances, global bids will be floated.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/05/stories/2006100507720100.htm

Three units for Ennore, Tuticorin thermal stations cleared

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's generating capacity is set to go up by at least 3,000 megawatt (MW) in the next five years with three additional units for Ennore and Tuticorin thermal power stations getting approval.

The board is carrying out spadework for projects at the Mettur and North Chennai thermal power plants and in the Kundah group of hydel plants.

For implementing all the expansion projects, an investment of Rs. 12,000 crore will be made, considering that the average cost of one MW is Rs. 4 crore.

While Tuticorin will have two more units of 500 MW each, Ennore, Mettur and North Chennai will get one additional unit of the same capacity. At Kundah, there will be four units of 125 MW. These projects will be in addition to the TNEB's participation in a few joint venture schemes.

At present, the TNEB's plants — hydro, coal-fired and gas-based — have the total capacity of generating 5,550 MW. Besides, the State gets power from the private sector, stations run under the Central sector and other sources, accounting for around 4,530 MW. Apart from them, the total capacity of windmills, biomass and solar plants and co-generation units is about 3,365 MW.

In the case of the projects in Ennore and Tuticorin, the board will initiate the process of selecting consultants soon, sources say.

They will prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) and provide specifications of the proposed plants. Studies on environment impact assessment and environment management plan will be carried out. After obtaining statutory clearances, global bids will be floated.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/05/stories/2006100507720100.htm

Madurai division aims net revenue of Rs. 323 crore

Staff Reporter

Railway plans to handle more cargo Of the 10.06 lakh tonnes of cargo handled, 85 percent was contributed by `Tuticorin freight handling complex'


Tuticorin: Hemant Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway (Madurai division), said that the division hoped to achieve net revenue of Rs. 323 crore this financial year against Rs. 264.46 crore realised during the previous year.

Of the Rs. 179.40 crore achieved till September 30, Rs. 83.15 crore was generated through passenger movement and the rest from cargo loading, he told reporters here on Wednesday.

On cargo handling, the division has set a target of 25 lakh tonnes for the fiscal against 19.7 lakh tonnes loaded during the previous financial year.

This fiscal, till August 31, a total of 10.06 lakh tonnes of cargo was loaded, surpassing Rs. 10.05 lakh tonnes achieved during the corresponding period last fiscal.

Of the 10.06 lakh tonnes of cargo handled, 85 percent was contributed by the `Tuticorin freight handling complex' comprising Meelavittan, SPIC siding and Tuticorin Harbour stations.

An increase of 0.01 lakh tonnes in the period could be attributed to higher imports of wheat, coal and fertilizer through Tuticorin port, as well as larger quantity of gypsum and salt movement from Meelavittan station.

Payload of wagons stood at 63 tonnes.

By utilising the infrastructure in a better way, the wagon turnaround time in the division would be reduced from 1.7 days clocked in the last fiscal, and the speed of trains increased from 28 km per hour to 30 km or 477 km for an engine a day to 500 km.

Prizes given


Mr. Kumar gave away prizes to the staff of `Tuticorin freight handling complex' in recognition of their contribution in increasing the cargo load.

I. Jayakumar, Senior Divisional Operations Manager, and Robert Rajasekaran, Divisional Engineer, was present.

Saturday October 7 2006 13:39 IST
TIRUNELVELI: The public hearing by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) at Tirunelveli District Collectorate on Friday on the proposed expansion of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project was postponed following a strong protest from people, mostly fishermen and farmers from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.

Terming the public hearing as a secret hearing, environmentalists and activists, who attended the hearing, charged the TNPCB with wantonly giving advertisement about the hearing a month ago in ‘Economic Times’, the readership of which in the three districts is very negligent, and the Tirunelveli edition of a vernacular press.

‘This is a blatant violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 1994, according to which, a public hearing is to be conducted for any project with its total project outlay crossing Rs 50 crore, be notified in all vernacular dailies so as to let people in the vicinity of the project site, register their opinions if any,’ said the State committee member of Coastal Action Network (CAN) Jeeva.

The next objection was raised from the farmers in Vilavankode and Kalkulam taluks of Kanyakumari district and some parts of Radhapuram taluk in Tirunelveli district, located adjacent to Kanyakumari district, who depend on water from Pechiparai Dam for cultivation.

Former Killiyoor MLA Kumaradoss who was present on the occasion, said 11.27 million cubic metre water (30,891 cubic metre a day) was needed to meet the annual water demand (for domestic services, fire water make-up and chemical treatment) of the proposed expansion project. Drawing such huge amount of water from Pechiparai Dam could certainly affect the livelihood of the farmers, he added.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061007031738&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Real estate and infrastructure development group DLF plans to invest Rs. 10,000 crore in the development of Special Economic Zones, integrated townships, hotels and convention centres in Tamil Nadu.

DLF vice-chairman Rajiv Singh met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi here on Sunday and submitted a number of proposals.

DLF chief executive, commercial, S. Vasudevan told The Hindu that the proposals included an offer to build a multi-product special economic zone and satellite town at Nanguneri, Hosur or Perambalur, all three mentioned in the Chief Minister's budget speech.

During the meeting, Mr. Singh also offered to develop roads, bridges and airports across the State through public-private partnership.

A government release said the Chief Minister was keen that large-scale multi-product SEZs were taken up by groups like DLF. He asked the company to present more concrete and detailed proposals to the departments concerned.

Meetings planned

Mr. Vasudevan said meetings with the Chief Secretary and other departmental secretaries would take place this week and specific announcements were likely by the end of the month.

The release said the projects would "not only generate massive direct and indirect employment, but would also strengthen Tamil Nadu's position as a leading investment destination in the country, and accelerate economic growth in the State."

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/09/stories/2006100903170500.htm

Our Correspondent

Madurai, Oct. 9

Maldives National Shipping Ltd (MNSL) has introduced an upgraded service, deploying a bigger vessel m.v.`Kinship Bangar' with a capacity of 300 TEUs in the port rotation route of the Tuticorin-Colombo-Maldives. The ship will call at Tuticorin Port on Thursday mornings. MNSL which had introduced the service since 2003, had been running two vessels with a capacity of 2000 TEUs with a transit time of four days.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/10/10/stories/2006101001211900.htm

Government will set up Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) in Tirunelvelli - Dayanidhi Maran, union minister of communications and information technology.

http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_m/mindtree/20061019_branches.html

Titanium Dioxide project in Tamil Nadu: Tata Steel will invest Rs 2,000 crore in its titanium dioxide plant in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts.

http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?leftnm=1&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=262527&tab=r

Air Deccan Chief of Corporate Planning Krishnaswamy told reporters that apart from the recently introduced Tuticorin-Chennai flight, an additional flight could be operated to Tuticorin provided improved lighting facility is available at the airport for night landing.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200610241511.htm

TIRUNELVELI : A huge desalination plant established at Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project site at a cost of Rs.116 crore is all set to be commissioned

shortly, according to the Project Director, KKNPP, K.C. Purohit.

In a statement, Mr. Purohit said the fresh water requirement of the KKNPP - both drinking and industrial purposes - would be met by the desalination plant, having a total capacity of 7,680 cubic meter per day.

Supplied by IDE, Israel through Tata Projects Limited, the plant is based on mechanical vapour compression technology.

The desalination plant has four units (three operating and one standby unit), each with the capacity of 2,560 cu.m/day, which will meet the water requirements for commissioning and operation.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/25/stories/2006102502320300.htm

Air Deccan Chief of Corporate Planning Krishnaswamy told reporters that apart from the recently introduced Tuticorin-Chennai flight, an additional flight could be operated to Tuticorin provided improved lighting facility is available at the airport for night landing.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200610241511.htm

How does the Tuticorin airport look like? Is it outside the Tuticorin municipality?

Tuticorin airport is located at vagaikulam around 10 kms from town. It takes around 45 mins to reach the airport by road from tirunelveli. It has a 1350 meter runway.

From Tuticorin its hardly 15 mins to the airport. Maybe around 15 - 20 kms. Its on Tuticorin - Tirunelveli highway NH7A.

Tuticorin airport is located at vagaikulam around 10 kms from town. It takes around 45 mins to reach the airport by road from tirunelveli. It has a 1350 meter runway.

The cabinet has approved the purchase through a global tender of seven container scanning systems at a cost of Rs.1.72 billion.

The container scanning systems will be deployed at Mumbai, Chennai, Tuticorin, and Kandla ports 'and will reveal discrepancies, if any, between the declaration made in documents and the actual contents of the containers', the minister stated.

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20061027/4521.htm

Anyone here have photos of Tuticorin beaches?

Tuticorin: A new maternity ward will be established on the Tuticorin Medical College and Hospital premises, on an outlay of Rs.50 lakh, according to V.K. Subburaj, State Health Secretary.

The construction would commence this financial year and the facility would start functioning in the next fiscal.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Friday, he said that the present maternity ward with 100 beds was insufficient to cater to the increasing number of in-patients.

The department would distribute quality mattresses and bed linen for all the 600 beds at the hospital.

Work on the proposed Rs.19-crore super-specialty block at the hospital would commence this financial year and completed within a year.

Modern canteens would also be established — one near the hospital and another near the hostel for house surgeons.

On the large number of posts lying vacant at the hospital, and reported to be crippling its effective functioning, he said that steps would be taken to fill the 200-odd vacancies.

He said that instructions had been issued to the Director of Medical Education, Director of Public Health and Director of Medical Services to fill the vacancies at the earliest.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/30/stories/2006103011730100.htm

TIRUCHI : The much awaited Information Technology Parks in Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Salem, Tirunelveli and Krishnagiri, conceptualised by the State Government showcasing tier-II cities as ideal IT destinations, may be only months away.

Accompanied by the Secretary, Department of Information Technology, S. Chandramouli and the Managing Director of Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), S. Uma Shankar, the Collectors of the districts are camping in Bangalore to hard sell the potential of their respective regions to IT majors and investors, on the sidelines of the launch of `bangaloreIT.in 2006', and the IT Road Show.

On Monday, the Collectors are scheduled to interact with the IT majors and address the media there on the advantages the IT industries will enjoy in tier-II cities.

They will present details on the facilities they have created for establishing facilities the IT industries expect: built-up space and land for campus style development, infrastructure and human resource potential.

In Tiruchi, the Collector, Ashish Vachhani, has forwarded proposals to the Government for entering into a joint venture with the Corporation on establishing a Tidel Park.

CII representation


With a view to making Tiruchi an international gateway for central districts, the district administration has communicated to the Government the representation made by the Confederation of Indian Industries, Tiruchi Zone, for expediting the launch of 11 Air India Express services to destinations in Far East and Middle East.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/30/stories/2006103013820700.htm

Anyone here have photos of Tuticorin beaches?

I will try to put some pics of Tuticorin beaches this December when I visit there.

New weekly service to Nagercoil

CHENNAI: A new weekly superfast express to Nagercoil from Chennai Egmore will be formally inaugurated on Thursday. Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran will flag off the new service at Chennai Egmore. The service will leave Chennai Egmore at 4.45 p.m. and reach Nagercoil at 5.30 a.m. the next day.
Regular service
Regular service will commence on November 3 from Nagercoil and on November 9 from Egmore. The train (2667) will leave Chennai Egmore at 7 pm on all Thursdays and reach Nagercoil at 8.10 am the next day. In the return direction train no 2668 will leave Nagercoil at 7.40 pm on all Fridays and reach Egmore at 8.50 am the next day. The train will stop at Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar Sattur and Tirunelveli.
Advance reservation is available for the above trains, according to a Southern Railway press release.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/02/stories/2006110214030500.htm

CM to lay foundation stone for water project to be implemented at a cost Rs.671 crore

RAMANATHAPURAM:Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will lay the foundation stone for the Cauvery drinking water project here next month, Housing Minister S. Thangavelan said.
He said the Government had speeded up administrative work for laying pipes. The project, to be implemented at a cost Rs.671 crore, would solve the drinking water problems in the district.

Works on East Coast Road and broad gauge conversion taken up on a war footing

Works on East Coast Road and broad gauge conversion between Manamadurai and Rameswaram were being taken up on a war footing. The Sethu project will start this month in Rameswaram.

Work on the four-lane of the road from Madurai to Rameswaram and the Cauvery drinking water project will start very soon. Housing schemes for the fishermen would also be taken up under phase two of the tsunami project.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/03/stories/2006110306210300.htm

CM's memorandum to PM includes development of Colachel port

CM requested the Centre to take up development of Colachel port as a major port on completion of the draft feasibility report/detailed project report by Sethusamudram Corporation.

Both reports indicated the port's high economic potential. The Centre could take it up on the lines of the Sethusamudram ship canal project, since the viabilty would be better after completion of the project and it would contribute to developing the industrially backward southern districts, he said.


http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/401200611040925.htm

PM extends centers support for the developement of Colachel port into a major container port once the feasibility report is completed.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200611041601.htm

Project report for container transhipment hub at Colachel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The port is close to the international shipping route.
Steamers of around 15,000 tonnes can anchor at the port, which is now managed by the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd has invited bids from consultancy companies to prepare a detailed project report to develop a container transhipment hub at Colachel, a minor port in southern Tamil Nadu.

According to an official, the corporation, which is implementing the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project, estimates that the container transhipment hub could cost more than Rs 2,000 crore. The Ministry of Shipping wanted it to do a feasibility study on the project.

The port is close to the international shipping route. Steamers of around 15,000 tonne can anchor at the port, which is now managed by the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.

`Suitable port'

RITES Ltd, a consultancy organisation, in its "Port Vision 2020" report identified Colachel as a suitable port for a container transhipment hub. In 1998, the Tamil Nadu Government prepared a detailed feasibility report, which was later updated in 2000 by the Malaysian Government through the Construction Industry Development Board, Malaysia, for a greenfield port costing Rs 2,000 crore.

However, the interest shown by the Malaysian Government did not materialise for want of suitable financial arrangements by them.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, had taken up the issue of developing the transhipment hub at a recent meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Considering the potential and viability of the project, the State Government has now taken up with the Union Government to develop Colachel as a container transhipment hub, says the State Government's Policy Note for 2006-2007.

Feasibility report

The new feasibility report would include traffic study, vessels size analysis, perspective plan and development proposals, cost estimate and techno economic analysis of the proposed schemes. The study would also necessitate reviews of earlier feasibility reports. It will also review developments in container handling in neighbouring transhipment hubs and Indian container handling ports, especially Tuticorin, JNPT and Kochi, according to sources.

In 2005, around 1.80 million twenty-foot equivalent units of Indian containers (both import and export) were transhipped through Singapore and Colombo ports. This presents a ready market for the need to develop a South Indian transhipment hub to boost container throughput in the country. A hub is also required to handle post-Panamax vessels initially and super post-Panamax vessels immediately, thereafter.

To participate in the bid, the tenderer should have prepared one detailed project report of port planning assignment with a total project cost of at least Rs 1,000 crore any time during the past five years.

Project report for container transhipment hub at Colachel

I guess with this move, the Airport for Kanyakumari should be pushed. An Cargo Airport for this region is very much needed. Otherwise the closest one is at Madurai and Trivandrum. The Airport has a strategic location with respect to International maritime routes.

Tuticorin-Chengalpattu BG line doubling in phases

Velu flags off two new train services

CHENNAI: Doubling and electrification of the Tuticorin-Chengalpattu broad gauge line will be done in phases, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said here on Saturday.
Flagging off the Chennai Central-Coimbatore (weekly) and Central-Mangalore (tri-weekly) superfast expresses, Mr. Velu said preliminary work on doubling the Madurai-Dindigul section had begun. Sanction had been given for the Chengalpattu-Villupuram section. Doubling of the remaining stretches between Villupuram-Dindigul and Madurai-Tuticorin was under consideration.
Mr. Velu said doubling of the BG line from Chennai Egmore to Tuticorin had become imperative in view of the growing passenger traffic. Southern Railway had to run special trains during festival and peak seasons on the sector.
He said in the last two years 40 new trains were introduced, services of 20 others extended and frequency of nine trains increased. As the zone was passenger oriented, the Ministry wanted to provide additional amenities. In the current financial year, the zone had been permitted to spend about Rs 40 crore.
Responding to State Transport Minister K.N. Nehru's demand for bullet train services from Chennai to Madurai and Coimbatore, the Minister said a policy decision had to be taken for introducing bullet trains. Earlier, Mr. Nehru said the State Government would soon introduce feeder bus services from major railway stations in the State for the convenience of passengers from the North.
Demand met
Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese said this was the first time that two new train services were being introduced on the same day. With the introduction of the Chennai Central-Mangalore superfast express, a long-pending demand was met. The new service would provide 1,400 additional berths to Mangalore.
Train no 2681 Chennai Central-Coimbatore (weekly) super fast express will leave Chennai Central at 10.20 p.m. on Saturday and reach Coimbatore at 7.15 a.m. the next day. In the return direction, train no 2682 will leave Coimbatore at 11.30 p.m. on all Fridays and reach Central at 8 a.m. the next day.
Train No 2685 Chennai Central-Mangalore superfast express will leave Central at 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and reach Mangalore at 7.40 a.m. the next day. Train No 2686 will leave Mangalore at 4 pm on all Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and reach Chennai Central at 8 a.m. the next day.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110505250400.htm

NLC to invest Rs 4,500 cr to set up a 1,000 MW plant in TN

Mumbai, Nov 8. (PTI): State-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd on Tuesday said, it plans to invest Rs 4,500 crore to set up a 1,000 MW power plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. "We have received approval from our Board to set up a lignite-based power plant. In a week's time, we will send the proposal to the Union Power Ministry for clearance," NLC Chairman and Managing Director S Jayaraman told PTI.
Jayaraman said the company would finance 30 per cent of the project cost from its internal accruals, while the rest would be borrowed from the domestic market. The company hopes to receive all the necessary approvals in the next six months. "We have started working on the tendering process," he said, adding the company would place orders for machineries after getting Government clearance.
NLC has already signed an MoU with Tuticorin Port Trust for the project that would come up on a 200 acres of land. The company would feed the plant with its captive lignite mines. Lignite is known to have far lower ash content than coal and, so, becomes a clean option for thermal energy. The project has also received clearance from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, he added. "The project will be completed in 42 months from the zero date of construction work," he added. NLC currently generates 2,490 MW of power.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/006200611080311.htm

Reliance proposes to extend its gas pipeline from Chennai to Tuticorin

RIL has planned a large network of pipelines to evacuate gas from its two gas sources. With an investment running into billions of dollars, the three mega gas pipeline projects proposed by the company include the 1,500-km Kakinada-Uran (Maharashtra), 1,400-km Kakinada-Chennai-Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and the 1,100-km Kakinada-Basudebpur-Howrah (West Bengal) routes.

The petroleum ministry has already floated expressions of interest for booking capacities from these three pipelines, to be built on a common carrier basis. In addition, Reliance also proposes to extend its pipeline from Chennai to Tuticorin, besides covering Bangalore and Mangalore.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=145812

Jet airways and Paramount Airlines are planning to start new services to Tuticorin Airport soon.

(As news is in tamil, I have provided the link below)

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DND20061112000007&Title=Districts+Page&lTitle=U%F4YhPeLs&Topic=0

Tata Steel will be investing Rs 2,500 crore in its titanium dioxide project in Tamil Nadu.The company has completed the feasibility study and is likely to start production in the first quarter of 2009.

Sources said the size of the project would be 5 lakh tonne of ilmenite (iron titanium oxide from which titanium dioxide is extracted).

The new business will generate significant revenues for the company as titanium dioxide pigment in India is selling at Rs 1-1.2 lakh per tonne.

Tata Steel will have a technology partner for the project and can even explore the possibilities beyond just a technical partnership. “We will need a partner, if only someone want to come on board,” said the sources.

The feasibility study was conducted with a consortium of partners comprising Outokumpu Finland’s physical separation division based in the US, Outokumpu-Lurgi,Germany, Pincock Allen and Holt, US, a resource and mining consulting company, and L&T.

The company was granted prospecting license over 80 sq km area in Tamil Nadu in Tirunelveli and Tutitcorin districts. Tata Steel was supported by MN Dasturco and TZMI, Australia-based marketing and process consultants. The study was designed to be carried out in two parts, the geological resources evaluation and the mineral separation, validation and optimisation of flow sheets.

The sources said the feasibility study had shown that there was not enough water and the company have to set up a sea water desalination plant.

The construction time for the project will be 18-24 months. The project will be in phases with the first one involving mining, mineral separation and value addition.

The final phase will see production of titanium dioxide or pigment, a key ingredient for the paints industry, among others.

However, the project is running 6-7 months behind schedule due to delay in possession of the land. The target was to start the project in the middle of 2008.

Tata Steel requires 5,000 acres of land for the project, which will come up near Tuticorin. The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government in the middle of 2002

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=264541&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

Tata Steel will be investing Rs 2,500 crore in its titanium dioxide project in Tamil Nadu.The company has completed the feasibility study and is likely to start production in the first quarter of 2009.

This is a great news to the people of tuticorin and tirunelveli.This huge investment by TATA could spur the industrialisation of south TN. The titanium dioxide being a key ingredient for paint manufacturing could attract more paint industries to setup their plant in the region. The project by itself could generate employment directly and indirectly to a huge number of people.

Jet airways and Paramount Airlines are planning to start new services to Tuticorin Airport soon.

(As news is in tamil, I have provided the link below)

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DND20061112000007&Title=Districts+Page&lTitle=U%F4YhPeLs&Topic=0

It's a great news. Nice to see that Tuticorin service is the best for Air Deccan. Airport expansion might take some time. But, if the other airlines start their services and show that it's viable, then airport upgradation will gain pace.

This is a great news to the people of tuticorin and tirunelveli.This huge investment by TATA could spur the industrialisation of south TN. The titanium dioxide being a key ingredient for paint manufacturing could attract more paint industries to setup their plant in the region. The project by itself could generate employment directly and indirectly to a huge number of people.

This has been in the news for over an year. If this becomes a reality, it will definitely boost the industrialisation in the South. Let's hope for the best.

This has been in the news for over an year. If this becomes a reality, it will definitely boost the industrialisation in the South. Let's hope for the best.

Not just an year. The MoU was signed in 2002 during Jayalalitha's tenure. So the news has been around for nearly 4 yrs :lol: .

I hope it sees light at the end of the day given the "love affair" ;) between the dmk and tatas.

Also if somebody could provide updates on this comprehensive but slightly outdated thread it would be great!! I tried doing it once and I went totally crazy.:crazy:

TN project monitor
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=234419

Nagercoil, Nov 14. (PTI): The Tamil Nadu Government proposed to start a helicopter service from Madurai to Kanyakumari, Kodaikanal and Udhagmndalam to attract foreign tourists, Tourism Development Minister Suresh Rajan said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters here, he said there were plans to provide cable car facilities at these three places at a cost of Rs 45 crore.

Steps would also be taken to develop hotels of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation at Madurai, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Mahabalipuram and Nagapattinam.

There were also plans to operate a separate ferry service to the Tiruvalluvar statue in the sea off Kanyakumari and a tourism exhibition in Chennai in December, he said.


http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200611140310.htm

Interestingly, Kumar informed that not all new routes take time to mature. Some of them are profitable from the first day or first week itself. Giving example of such routes, he said Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Kulu and Chennai-Tuticorin started generating profit on day one while Coimbatore-Hyderabad, an airbus flight, turned profitable in a week’s time.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1063341

Government is contemplating developing seven ports as cruise shipping stations. These are - Kochi, New Mangalore, Marmugao, Mumbai, Kolkata, Andaman and Nicobar and Tuticorin.

More....

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=335591&ssid=50&sid=BUS

ECR road upto Ramnad

Highways Minister M P Saminathan said that the long-pending demand for extension of East Coast Road to Ramanathapuram would be taken up after completion of land acquisition process.

http://newstodaynet.com/14nov/ld6.htm

Sterlite plans to invest around $1.9 billion on the Orissa power project and though company officials were not available for details, sources said the balance from the $2.8 billion raised could be used to ramp up capacity of Sterlite’s 0.3 million tonne per annum refined copper smelter in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. Vedanta’s proposed Rs 7,000 crore aluminium smelter project includes a 1,000 MW captive power plant.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1064487

Tuticorin : For an 18-hour halt, the luxury cruise liner, M.V. Spirit of Adventure, carrying 268 tourists (all Britons) and 206 crew members, arrived at Tuticorin port on Tuesday.

The 139 metre long and 17.5 metre wide vessel, owned by Saga Group based in the United Kingdom and registered at Bahamas, was equipped with 206 cabins spread over six passenger decks, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a hospital, cafeterias, library with a collection of 3,000 books and health clubs.

The District Tourism Officer, T Chellappa, and the Public Relations Officer of the Tuticorin Port Trust, Arunachalam, received the tourists at Berth 8 in a traditional manner to the accompaniment of `Nagaswaram,' before they embarked upon a sightseeing trip to the Nellaiappar Temple and ancient Cathedrals in Tirunelveli district and a fruit farm at Sawyerpuram in Tuticorin district.

A bullock cart drive was organised at the fruit farm for the tourists.

Hardman, a cafeteria owner from Manchester, was ecstatic about the trip to India. "The cultural diversity, food and pristine locations in the country were fantastic," he said.

This set of tourists, who boarded the ship at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat on November 8, touched the Indian coast in Mumbai on November 12.

It was followed by visits to Goa, Mangalore and Kochi before reaching Tuticorin.

Martin Breen, captain, echoed the tourist's words. "Even the entry into India was something to cherish since Mumbai skyline looked majestic from the sea, which simply cannot be matched, if one enters the city by other means of transport," he said.

The vessel will sail to Colombo in the early hours of Wednesday, where a fresh set of tourists will join.

The Tuticorin Port Trust gave a 33 per cent concession on berth hire charges to the vessel, to promote cruise tourism in the region.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112204390200.htm

For an 18-hour halt, the luxury cruise liner, M.V. Spirit of Adventure, carrying 268 tourists (all Britons) and 206 crew members, arrived at Tuticorin port on Tuesday.

The District Tourism Officer, T Chellappa, and the Public Relations Officer of the Tuticorin Port Trust, Arunachalam, received the tourists at Berth 8 in a traditional manner to the accompaniment of `Nagaswaram,' before they embarked upon a sightseeing trip to the Nellaiappar Temple and ancient Cathedrals in Tirunelveli district and a fruit farm at Sawyerpuram in Tuticorin district.

Many more Cruise liners at tuticorin port would help to develop the tourism industry in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari etc.

Many more Cruise liners at tuticorin port would help to develop the tourism industry in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari etc.

Yes, the government both Central and State should come up with a plan and revive the places of interest and try to advertise it. Only then the visitors will know and will be keen in visiting those spots. Advertise, they can do on the web, coz most of the foreigners go to web and get the data.

Mr. Shiv Nadar of HCL evinced keen interest during Connect 2006 that he will contribute for the development of Thiruchendhur (his native) / Tuticorin area.

The regional bigwigs (without Political interference) can rope in TNMB (HQ @ Tuticorin) and HCL for development of the area. Adhityan family can also help.

Tuticrin port is the main attraction and Nanguneri SEZ is a boon for this region.

If there is any trade / industry association in Tuticorin, we can arrange a seminar on Tuticorin through their platform. All the relevant and interested companies / agencies / associations can be invited.

If there is any trade / industry association in Tuticorin, we can arrange a seminar on Tuticorin through their platform. All the relevant and interested companies / agencies / associations can be invited.

Why not the SPEED 2006, where the CII Madurai Zone also representing the Tuticorin region, ELCOT and other trade and industrial associations of this region would be present. If many private companies and industries show keen interest then surely seminar showcasing Tuticorin and Tirunelveli would be a great success for this region.

Mr. Shiv Nadar of HCL evinced keen interest during Connect 2006 that he will contribute for the development of Thiruchendhur (his native) / Tuticorin area.

The regional bigwigs (without Political interference) can rope in TNMB (HQ @ Tuticorin) and HCL for development of the area. Adhityan family can also help.

Tuticrin port is the main attraction and Nanguneri SEZ is a boon for this region.

If there is any trade / industry association in Tuticorin, we can arrange a seminar on Tuticorin through their platform. All the relevant and interested companies / agencies / associations can be invited.


A wonderful idea to start with. Almost all chapters are there in Tuticorin like All India Chamber of Commerce, FICCI, CII etc...I am pretty sure that they will be ready to host and make the stage ready for you.

Severe congestion at Tuticorin port

There is a severe congestion at Tuticorin port. Twenty vessels were waiting outside the port this morning, and ten more expected to arrive in the next three days.

Waiting vessels are carrying cargo such as logs, rock phosphate, wheat, granite and copper concentrate. "This is the first time in the last four-and-a-half years that such a situation has happened in the port," according to Mr N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust.

"We were working ahead of time in the last five years. However, the present situation is putting too much pressure on the port's performance. We are handling more than our capacity," he told Business Line.

Except for coal and oil jetties, the capacity utilisation at all other berths were over 100 per cent, Mr Raghupathy said.

Handling capacity

In the last 21 days of this month, the port handled 12.06 lakh tonnes of cargo compared with 9.35 lakh tonnes last year - around 30 per cent increase. The port is handling around 80,000 tonnes a day compared to the capacity to handle around 55,000 tonnes a day, he said.

"We are growing at a rapid pace, and we need to speed up our development activities at the port," he said.

The port trust procured three high capacity cranes for around Rs 20 crore and issued tender for two wharf cranes. It recently procured a 45-tonne Bollard Pull Tug — M.T. Tuticorin — from Tebma Shipyards Ltd, Mr Raghupathy said.

Ninth berth to be constructed at Tuticorin port at a cost of Rs. 46.6 Crore

The port trust would take up construction of the ninth berth at a cost of Rs 46.6 crore. The Kolkata-based ITD Cementation would construct the berth and the foundation stone for this would be laid on December 10, he said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/24/stories/2006112406411000.htm

Work on the Rs.19-crore super-specialty block and 50 Lakhs maternity ward at Tuticorin hospital would commence this financial year and completed within a year.

Tuticorin: A new maternity ward will be established on the Tuticorin Medical College and Hospital premises, on an outlay of Rs.50 lakh, according to V.K. Subburaj, State Health Secretary.

The construction would commence this financial year and the facility would start functioning in the next fiscal.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Friday, he said that the present maternity ward with 100 beds was insufficient to cater to the increasing number of in-patients.

The department would distribute quality mattresses and bed linen for all the 600 beds at the hospital.

Work on the proposed Rs.19-crore super-specialty block at the hospital would commence this financial year and completed within a year.

Modern canteens would also be established — one near the hospital and another near the hostel for house surgeons.

On the large number of posts lying vacant at the hospital, and reported to be crippling its effective functioning, he said that steps would be taken to fill the 200-odd vacancies.

He said that instructions had been issued to the Director of Medical Education, Director of Public Health and Director of Medical Services to fill the vacancies at the earliest.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/30/stories/2006103011730100.htm

TIRUNELVELI: The railway junction here, which is expected to be bustling with more activity once the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur metre gauge conversion activities start from next January, is all set to get a facelift and more infrastructure facilities, the Divisional Railway Manager, Madurai, Hemant Kumar, has said.

After flood entered the Railway Colony here, the residents, largely women, detained the Quilon-Madurai passenger train at the junction for about 15 minutes from 1.05 a.m. on Friday, demanding immediate steps to drain the floodwater.

The protestors gave up their agitation after Railway Police and other railway officials assured them that concrete measures would be initiated to solve this problem.

In this backdrop, Mr. Hemant Kumar, accompanied by a team of officials, visited the Railway Colony and inspected the junction.

During an informal chat with the reporters, he said that steps had been taken to drain the water and permanent measures would be in place soon to avoid flooding in future.

Mr. Kumar said a new administrative building for Tirunelveli Railway Junction would come up at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.02 crore as work on this project would be completed before next September.

Traffic on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur meter gauge line would be stopped from December 31 to facilitate gauge conversion work, to be completed within seven months.

Platform extension


The first platform of the junction would become the main platform once the conversion works were completed and this platform would be extended to accommodate 24 coaches, he said.

To ease traffic congestion around the junction, Mr. Kumar, who had discussions with City Police Commissioner, G. Uma Ganapathi Sastry, said that the road close to the railway parcel office would be widened to ensure free flow of traffic, and a parking bay created for cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers.

The road now being used by the VIPs to board train at junction could be extended up to Madurai Road, so that traffic management around this busy spot would be easier, Mr. Sastry suggested.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/25/stories/2006112508120300.htm

The Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee has cleared a proposal to convert the eighth berth at Tuticorin port as a second container Terminal on build, operate and transfer (BOT) model.

"The committee cleared the project in its last meeting, but we are yet to receive a formal communication. Once we receive the communication, we will issue a tender for Request for Proposals from bidders," Mr N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust, told Business Line.

Container terminal

The port trust plans to convert its eighth berths into a container terminal at a cost of Rs 150 crore. Five companies, including PSA-Sical, Chettinad Logistics, Larsen & Toubro and Dubai Ports, are in the fray for the project, he said.

The committee, on the lines of the Public Investment Board, consists of members from various government departments and scrutinises major public-private partnership projects before implementation.

For the fiscal ending March 31, 2006, the port handled 3.21 lakh TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) compared with 3.07 lakh the previous year - a 4.47 per cent growth. The present private container terminal is operated by PSA-Sical on BOT.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/25/stories/2006112505891000.htm

COIMBATORE: World Park Hotels, an upcoming hospitality management company in South India, is on expansion plans and will shortly come up with the concept of no frills budget class hotels in the sub metro cities of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka targeting corporate customers as well as tourists. Its Managing Director, T. N. C. Vijayasarathy, told The Hindu that the company had planned budget hotels in Tuticorin and Kanyakumari by 2007-end and followed by a heritage concept resort in Thanjavur by mid-2008. It is also finalising deals to manage hotels in Hyderabad and Mysore. The company from the family of LIFCO publishers, Chennai, presently has hotels at Madurai. For details log onto www.worldparkhotels.com and www.hotelroyalpark.in. Running a chain of hotels in the State since 1996, the company has opened a luxury hotel, that is, Royal Park in Rameshwaram.

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/23/stories/2006112302371700.htm

Deployment of artificial reefs along Tuticorin coast begins

To protect biodiversity and augment fish population

Tuticorin: The Department of Fisheries has commenced the deployment of 400 artificial reefs in the inshore waters along the Tuticorin coastline on Saturday, to protect the biodiversity and augment the fish population in the Gulf of Mannar.
The artificial reefs made of concrete structures that `caricature' the coral reefs were placed at two places, which were identified by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
"The inshore waters about 10-12 km from Vellapatti village and at about 10 kms from Vembar village, both at a depth of 8.5 metres, were selected as sites for deployment," Collector R Palaniyandi told.
On the choice of sites, H.M. Kasim, Principal Scientist, CMFRI, said "sunrays effectively touch the sea bottom only in the inshore waters, which was essential for the primary production of single cell algae and secondary production of micro organisms, on the reef structures, that subsequently act as source for food and breeding for fish."
Different modules
Of the 400 artificial reefs, 130 were classified as well ring modules, 140 as reef fish modules, and the remaining as grouper fish modules. R. Amal Xavier, Assistant Director of Fisheries, said the reefs were constructed by the Tamil Nadu State Apex Fisheries Co-operative Federation Limited on an outlay of Rs.14,52,600 earmarked under the Fisheries Development Mission of the State Government, which aimed at enhancing the marine fish stock through setting up of artificial reefs.
"The entire deployment of reefs would be completed over the next two days and the conditions of the reefs would be periodically monitored by the CMFRI scientists using underwater cameras," he added.
Full-fledged habitat
Dr. Kasim said the reefs deployed would become a full-fledged habitat for fish in 3-6 months, after micro algae and fouling organisms developed on its structures. "The non-migratory fish species such as perches, snappers, serranids, groupers, ornamental fish, octopus and cuttle fish, which live close to the sea bottom, would prefer the reef, which acts an abode for them since lot of natural reef were destructed in the tsunami and owing to indiscriminate fishing," he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/26/stories/2006112604390300.htm

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has turned `100' on Friday.

Established on November 24, 1906, as Tuticorin Chamber under the chairmanship of M. J. Milligan, an European, it was subsequently re-christened in 1967 to obtain its present name.

Started with 12 European members, the Chamber opened its membership to the Indian merchants and companies on the eve of Independence in 1947.

The Chamber at present has 26 members in its fold, which included 10 corporate members like SPIC and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, eight shipping companies and eight individuals.

"Traditionally, the Chamber was very selective in awarding membership, with focus on high quality of service to the merchant fraternity and hence the list of representatives remained short, without any overcrowding," says P.S. Sundaram, its secretary.

However, the chamber now plans to slightly enlarge the membership repertoire to 50 during the centenary year, after growing pressures from the traders and professionals (i.e., 24 more members to be inducted).

According to Mr. Sundaram, professionals like chartered accountants will be inducted as members.

"Our aim is to use the wisdom of the members to train youngsters on entrepreneurial skills and make them bring more capital to Tuticorin," he says.

On the `vision' of the Chamber, Mr. Sundaram said that it would put pressure on the Centre to augment the facilities at the Tuticorin port on a war footing, for the growth of trade and tourism in the region.

The Chamber is now planning to take up the request for more number of North-bound trains from Tuticorin and pressure the Centre strongly.

"We will ask for frequent shuttle trains to connect Milavittan with Maniyachi, so that the public can have access to all trains coming from Tirunelveli going to Chennai and other destinations in the North, at Maniyachi," Mr Sundaram says.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/26/stories/2006112604520200.htm

The proposal to convert the eighth berth at Tuticorin Port into a second container terminal on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis has been approved by the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee, it is learnt.

The Committee, on the lines of the Public Investment Board, consists of members from various government departments, which scrutinise major public-private partnership (PPP) projects before implementation.

Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT), however, has reportedly not yet received a formal communication to this effect. When it does receive the communication, TPT will initiate the process of issuing a tender for Request for Proposals from bidders.

Five companies, including PSA Sical, Chettinad Logistics, Larsen & Toubro and DP World, are reportedly in the fray for the Rs 150-crore second terminal project.

The present private container terminal at the Port is operated by PSA Sical. It registered a throughput of 3.21 lakh TEUs in 2005-06.


http://www.eximin.net/past_news/news_template.asp?newsid=25777

Six major ports to be developed as world-class cruise terminals and promoted as integrated Indian cruise circuit

The government has identified six major ports, which will be developed as world-class cruise terminals and promoted as integrated Indian cruise circuit. YOU may now enjoy dutyfree shopping at six major ports. The government is considering to provide duty-free shopping facilities at Mumbai, Mormugao, Kochi, New Mangalore, Tuticorin and Chennai. All this to make cruise tourism more attractive. These ports will also be equipped with ATM services, restaurants and foreign exchange counters.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RVRELzIwMDYvMTEvMjgjQXIwMDQwOA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Shriram EPC with the technology from EcoSecurities is in the process of setting up a 42MW wind-mill project in Tirunelveli

Two Tamil Nadu companies are in the process of popularising clean development mechanism among small and medium scale industries to reduce industry emissions.

Empee Sugars and Shriram EPC will adopt technology from EcoSecurities, a global company in the business of developing and commercialising carbon credits - certificates issued for reducing emission of greenhouse gases which cause global warming - for their power projects.

EcoSecurities, with 16 different technologies, is one of the world's leading buyer of carbon credits in 26 countries. EcoSecurities buys carbon credits - in the form of points given for adhering to clean emission norms - from firms in developing countries, and then sells it to developed countries that have exceeded the emission restrictions so that the total emission globally remains within permissible limits. It is capable of buying more than 121 million such carbon credit.

'We are in the process of setting up a 42MW wind-mill project in Tirunelveli,' Ram Kumar of Shriram EPC said.

The first phase of the 20MW project is complete and the remaining 22MW is to be completed by March 2007. 'Whatever credits we earn will be passed on to our customers. As a stand alone, windmill projects are not viable, so we have entered into a partnership with EcoSecurities,' Ram Kumar noted.

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20061128/8388.htm

Vedanta Resources PLC said it has completed the full commissioning of its Korba aluminium smelter and has increased its Tuticorin copper smelter capacity.

The metals and mining company said the aluminium smelter is expected to reach its full capacity of 245,000 tpa by the end of this financial year.

The company added that the Tuticorin copper smelter has been de-bottlenecked to expand its capacity to 400,000 tpa.

This 100,000 tpa capacity increase has been achieved ahead of schedule, Vedanta added.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/12/01/afx3220048.html

Tuticorin : The tardy execution of four-laning of the National Highway 7A, which connects the Tuticorin Port to north-south corridor of the National Highway Development Project at V.M. Chatram in Tirunelveli, causes concern among the industrial fraternity and technocrats.

Though the National Highways Authority of India began the work on the 47.2 km long NH 7A in March 2004 with a lot of fanfare, the project subsequently was caught in the cobweb of `functional red-tapism' and they failed to finish it before August 2006, the scheduled month of completion.

All that the works the NHAI carried out, so far, were to strengthen the road surface on a few kilometre stretch wherever it was wide. Since the strengthening was done on one-half of the stretch, the other part remains vulnerable to the motorists.

Official sources said that the pace of work did not gain momentum owing to `certain functional problems' and delays in the acquirement of land spread over 47 hectares. "We are now trying to expedite disbursement of compensation to the owners of lands, houses and commercial establishments, which were to be acquired for the widening of the road, so that the entire four laning would be completed before December 31,2007," the sources said.

But technocrats and industrialists have doubt over the NHAI's new claim. "It's hard to believe that they will be able to evacuate 20 temples, 200 edifices, and shift about 50 kilometres of pipeline and about 1,000 electric poles, before four-lane the entire stretch, all within next 12 months."

Raja Sankaralingam, president, SIPCOT Industrialists Association, feels that delays in the road infrastructure projects will have cascading effect on the industrial potential of Tuticorin, as it remains one of the best transportation modes of cargo movement, both inward and outward from the port.

"The speedier execution of road projects will also attract more capital to the town faster," he adds.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120302770200.htm

On the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project, Mr. Baalu said dredging operations on the Palk Straits were progressing well. On December 11, dredging work on the Adams Bridge would begin with special dredging ship owned by the Dredging Corporation of India stationed there. On December 9, work on the Ninth Berth in Tuticorin Port costing Rs. 75 crore will also commence.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120306270400.htm

Finance Minister P Chidambaram's special address at 'SPEED 2006'

He stressed the need to promote the SEZ at Nanguneri, for which the foundation stone was laid five or six years ago.

"We have the Tuticorin Port broad gauge track and four- lane road work is on. We must have a large multi-product SEZ at Nanguneri for developing the southern districts, which can use infrastructure facilities," he said.

Investments are needed for infrastructure development, which should keep pace with economic growth or else productivity would be affected as in the case of Tuticorin port, Chidambaram said.

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B2A607F58-95ED-4223-B823-2C6D0B3ABFC7%7D&CATEGORYNAME=CHN

Six major ports to be developed as world-class cruise terminals and promoted as integrated Indian cruise circuit
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RVRELzIwMDYvMTEvMjgjQXIwMDQwOA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

It will be great to have this cruise.

My dream is to make small islands closer to Tuticorin (Nala Thani Theevu, Muyal Theevu, etc.) as tourist destinations. If a private company like VGP(hailing from this region), Water world, Athisayam, etc. could install a theme park in these islands and make 'a cruise and theme park' experience for the tourists.

It will be great to have this cruise.

My dream is to make small islands closer to Tuticorin (Nala Thani Theevu, Muyal Theevu, etc.) as tourist destinations. If a private company like VGP(hailing from this region), Water world, Athisayam, etc. could install a theme park in these islands and make 'a cruise and theme park' experience for the tourists.

Enviro Concerns and Defence issues may not allow this to happen.

Enviro Concerns and Defence issues may not allow this to happen.

Environmental concern could be address at any level, esp. these places are lying in the normal Maritime zone so there wont be any problem. Actually these islands are deserted and bringing some vegetation will help the Environment.

Defence issue, no way. Its very far from International water body. Except Mullai theevu, which is very south, other islands in Tuticorin will have no problem in the defence issue. The Indian Navy has a very strong control of this region.

Monday December 4 2006 13:16 IST
MADURAI: The Tuticorin Port should be developed in order to promote ‘cruise’ tourism, said Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) Chairman N K Raghupathy.

Speaking at the CII’s ‘SPEED 2006’ conference on ‘Development of cruise tourism and air connectivity in southern districts of Tamil Nadu’, he said the Tuticorin port, which had ‘‘better facilities than Panama’’, would be able to attract more cruise ships carrying tourists if road links to places of tourist importance like Rameswaram and Kanyakumari were developed.

The port, he said, had all advantages like a clear water harbour and clean berths and was ideally located, providing an ingress to South Tamil Nadu.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061204025526&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

‘‘If the Tuticorin Port has to be exploited, a large multi-product SEZ is essential,’’ Chidambaram said urging the entrepreneurs to take up the cause of the speedy implementation of Nanguneri SEZ, which, he said, would play an instrumental part in the development of southern districts if promoted.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061204023348&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

Guage conversion work on progress over the pamban railway bridge in Rameshwaram. Going by earlier announcements it should be ready early next year.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5089/pamban20photo120mandapaul8.jpg

Nice Pic :)

Hope they get it done quick.

Tuticorin posts record cargo handling in Nov

The Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) has created a record in November, handling 18.03 lakh tonnes of cargo in a single month, according to an official press release.

The previous record was 16.03 lakh tonnes handled inAugust, 2005.

The port also created a new record on November 30, by unloading 6,013 tonnes of urea in bulk at Berth No. IV from the vessel, m.v. Pessada, in a single day, the release added

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/07/stories/2006120704050700.htm

Rubber industry park near Nagercoil at a cost of Rs 14.50 crore

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said in assemby that a rubber industry park would be set up at Chembagaramanpudur near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district at a cost of Rs 14.50 crore. The government would take steps to implement proposed projects in this year itself.

He said the DMK government during its earlier regime itself had initiated steps to set up the rubber industry in Kanyakumari district and added that so far 150 acres of land had been acquired and the government was in the process of acquiring 100 more acres of land for this project.

To Congress Whip Peter Alphonse's question, he said the government had been taking steps to set up industries in southern districts. He recalled the initiatives taken up by former Union Minister for Industries Murasoli Maran to establish Nanguneri Technological Park, but it couldn't materialise following change of government.

The government has the report of Justice Ratnavel Pandian Committee that was set up to recommend steps for industrial development in southern districts, he said and added that the government would also implement the recommendations of the committee for the development of the southern districts.

http://www.newstodaynet.com/07dec/rf10.htm

Foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of 9th berth at Tuticorin port to start tommorrow. Road work from port to check post in harbor and commissiong of dredging at zone B(fishing harbor) are also to be started tommorrow.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006dec09/general_tn15.asp

Gauge conversion of Quilon-Tenkasi, Tenkasi-Tirunelveli and Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur sections have been taken up as part of Quilon-Tiruvelveli-Tiruchendur and Tenkasi-Virudhunager gauge conversion project (357 kms.). On this project, gauge conversion of Tenkasi-Virudhunagar (122 kms.) has already been completed and commissioned. Gauge conversion of Quilon-Punalur (45 kms.). Tenkasi-Sengottai (8 kms.) and Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur (61 kms.) sections have been targeted for completion during 2006-07. However, progress on Quilon-Punalur is affected because of land disputes and Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur due to slow progress and failure of contractors. These sections are expected to be completed during 2007-08.

On Tenkasi-Tirunelveli (72 kms.) section, bridge works have been taken up and is planned for completion in next 2-3 years. The balance portion of this project from Punalur to Sengottai is a Ghat section where final location survey has been completed and detailed estimate is under process. No target has been fixed for completion of gauge conversion of this section. There is no proposal at present for introduction of long distance trains from Tiruchendur.

This information was given by Shri R.Velu, Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=23069

Once the SETHU Canal is built, this port will become huge....It can compete with Singapore...They should develope this into a mega city before it becomes big.

Once the SETHU Canal is built, this port will become huge....It can compete with Singapore...They should develope this into a mega city before it becomes big.

Actually you are right, thats why the TN Govt. is trying to push developments in south TN, esp Madurai. Tuticorin is being connected to Madurai airport for cargo handling. The SEZ, IT parks, Industrial park, coming up in Madurai and around is also being done with the view of Tuticorin.

Will sea port at Colachel affect Tuticorins prospects?

Colachels pros and cons over Tuticorin port

The State Government’s appeal to the Central Government to develop the existing Colachel fishing harbour in Kanyakumari district into an international transshipment hub port has created apprehension among the business community here over the prospects of Tuticorin Port being severely affected or minimised to a considerable extent.

The expansion plan of the inner harbour and the outer harbour of the Tuticorin Port in a phased manner at a cost of Rs 4571.75 crore under the National Maritime Development Project (NMDP)-Phase I and II-will further enhance the port’s infrastructure.

Though some members of the Tuticorin Hub Port Development Council (THPDC) concede that Colachel has some advantages like the natural depth of about 15- meter-draft and the minimal distance from the major sea routes, they say that it cannot be a better choice than the Tuticorin Port, which receives more mainline vessels from Europe and the US next only to the Mumbai Port.

According to an expert study undertaken by Tuticorin Port Trust, a copy of which is available with ‘The New Indian Express,’ among Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, Colachel and Vizhinjam ports, Tuticorin Port has the best chance, followed by Chennai and Cochin, to be developed into a transshipment port in South India.

Even in terms of the network of established services, hinterland, connectivity (including the ongoing projects) and the existence of established port facilities, Tuticorin had an edge over any other port in the south, it said.

The study further revealed that weather played an important part in Tuticorin Port scoring over the proposed Colachel Port. The sea off Colachel was rough and unstable by nature, unlike off Tuticorin Port. During the tsunami havoc two years ago, no big damage was caused to Tuticorin Port whereas Colachel was one of the worst tsunami-hit areas in the country, the study further stated.

The only advantage of the Colachel Port was its strategic location on the east-west sea routes, it said.

Though the members brushed aside the advantage, they did not rule out the possibility of development of Coalcehl into a port becoming detrimental to the interests of the Tuticorin Port as the construction of the Navha Sevah Port affected the business prospects of the Mumbai Port.

CPM district secretary Kanagaraj, whose party in Kanyakumari district is lobbying for the Colachel Port, said the importance being given to setting up an international transshipment port at Colachel would create a favourable situation to Vizhinjam for which the Kerala Government was lobbying hard.

Colachel, being situated within 40km from Vizhinjam Port, too would be another advantage for Kerala’s claim for making Vizhinjam a transshipment port,’ Kanagaraj claimed.

http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061208123145&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Will sea port at Colachel affect Tuticorins prospects?
http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061208123145&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

I think after the completion of Sethu Samuthiram Project, Colachel will over strip Cochin and Colombo not Tuticorin. The southern tip location of Colachel, is at entry point of SSP. Thats why Kerala Govt. is very much against Colachel. I think both Colachel and Tuticorin will compliment each other as Entry-Exit spots of the SSP.

Bringing up the Colachel port is a big political master stroke by TN Govt. both Nationally and Internationally. Giving a cord to Kerala in this Maritime business will be a blunder as TN had experienced in other projects.

I want Colachel port to be developed and create a healthy competition to the other ports in this region. South needs more projects and let us hope that the political parties don't mess up the few projects that the South gets once in a while.

Does anyone know that TamilNadu is the only state to have 3 major ports(Chennai, Tuticorin and Ennore(though its corporatized)). Colachel if develped would be another major port because of its location. Just with basic infrastructre colachel port can be developed quickly, because no dredging is needed as of now. I am sure to implement this project, there would be hindrance from nearby state(Kerala), not nearby port(Tuticorin).

Does anyone know that TamilNadu is the only state to have 3 major ports(Chennai, Tuticorin and Ennore(though its corporatized)). Colachel if develped would be another major port because of its location. Just with basic infrastructre colachel port can be developed quickly, because no dredging is needed as of now. I am sure to implement this project, there would be hindrance from nearby state(Kerala), not nearby port(Tuticorin).

Three major ports of Tamilnadu will get 13284 Crore for development. Also this article says that Tuticorin port is the leading port in the country.

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DNT20061210092442&Title=TamilNadu+Page&lTitle=R%AAZLm&Topic=0

Tuticorin: The second phase of dredging works at the fishing harbour here, was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R.Baalu, here on Sunday.

"Under this phase, 60,000 cubic metres of silt would be removed from the harbour bay and the approach channel by the Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation Limited at a cost of Rs. 1.44 crore. The works would be completed before the end of the current fiscal," he said.

The depth would then be increased to 3.3 metres. The silt would be deposited in the sea about 12 km from shore.

During the first phase, 35,000 cubic metres of silt was removed for a width of 21 metres from the wharf.

Mr. Baalu said the dredging works were carried out to upgrade the facilities at the harbour at an overall project outlay of Rs. 5.04 crore.

The Minister for Animal Husbandry, P. Geeta Jeevan, the Chairman of Tuticorin Port Trust, N.K. Raghupathy, the Collector, R. Palaniyandi, and the Joint Director of Fisheries, Prabhakaran, were present.

Later, Mr. Baalu inaugurated a new building at Das Navis Matha Girls HSS school here, which was built under the Coastal Community Development Programme (CCDP) of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP).

The Minister said the CCDP was carried out to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to fishermen and establish infrastructure such as roads, buildings and drinking water in the coastal villages, spread over six districts. "These developments, aimed at the welfare of coastal communities, would set off the impact of SSCP on fisherfolks, if any," he added.


Stone laid for Berth 9



Later, Mr. Baalu laid the foundation stone for the Berth 9 at the Tuticorin Port and inaugurated the work of widening and strengthening port roads.

He said the berth, to be constructed on an outlay of Rs. 44.57 crore, would be a westward extension of Berth 8 and it was designed to handle large sized mainline vessels of 65,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) with a maximum draught of 12.8 metres.

Mr. Baalu said about six hectares of sea area behind the berth would be reclaimed, using dredged materials extracted during the deepening of harbour basin and the channel, as a back-up area.

This back-up area would be paved with heavy-duty cement concrete blocks, he said adding that the berth will be made of pile foundations of 1,200 mm diameters with Reinforced Cement Concrete deck.

Mr. Baalu said the new berth would augment the cargo handling capacity of the port by another two million metric tonnes per annum.


Port roads to be widened



The Minister said the port roads for a length of 11.725 km would be either widened or strengthened on an outlay of Rs. 16.83 crore.

"At present, 3,900 vehicles were registered at the green gate of the port a day, which was expected to touch 6,000 during 2007." The existing two-lane V.O.C. Road to a length of 4.165 would be converted into four-lane traffic. Besides, four-lane South Breakwater Road, and two-lane Dr. Ambedkar Road, Container Yard Road and North-South Road, totalling 7.560 km stretch, would be strengthened.

"The road works would be completed within 12 months," he added.

N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman of TPT, Geeta Jeevan, Minister for Animal Husbandry, A.K. Bhalla, Joint Secretary (Ports), spoke.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/11/stories/2006121105730300.htm

Tuticorin: The Central Government will focus on augmenting port infrastructure to match the 10.44 per cent annual growth in the cargo traffic in the country, T. R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, said.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he said during the last fiscal year, the 12 major ports and 187 minor ports in toto handled 568 million metric tones of cargo against a total capacity of 600 million metric tonnes.

He cited projections that the country will be earning $200 billion per annum by 2009, an increase from the $135 billion trade traffic recorded in the port sector last fiscal, which underscored the need for enhancement of port infrastructure.

Thus, the ports together needed capacity to handle at least 1,300 million metric tonnes of cargo by 2012, and facilities to handle 2,000 million metric tonnes by the end of the 12th Plan.

He said as part of augmentation of port facilities, a major port was planned at Colachel.

"The State Government has accorded a `no objection certificate' to the project and the Ministry would now conduct a feasibility study within the next eight months, before going in for Cabinet approval," he said.

He reiterated that a port at Colachel would not jeopardise the growth of Tuticorin port.

They would complement each other, he said.

Container scanners


Container scanners would be established Tuticorin, Chennai, Kandla and Kochi ports in a phased manner, he said.

"This will help the Customs department to discharge its statutory functions smoothly," he added.

Saying that creation of multi-lane highways were necessary for economic growth, the Minister said construction of an expressway from Vadodara to Mumbai (400 km) would be completed shortly. Similarly, six-lane traffic would be established in 6,500 km in phases. "During the first phase, six-lane traffic would be established between Bharuch and Surat for 100 km," he said.

He said inland water transport facilities would be created from Kakinada to Puducherry over 1,095 km at a cost of Rs. 495 crore.

Mr. Baalu said dredging at Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project was progressing smoothly. "We have dredged 8.6 million cubic metre at Palk Strait so far," he added.



http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/11/stories/2006121104130400.htm

Sethusamudram project dredging

The dredging of Adam's Bridge, the southern end of the Sethusamudram project, is to start from today (Monday, December 11) in the presence of the Union Shipping Minister, Mr T. R. Baalu. An estimated 48 million cubic metres of silt will be removed over the next two years to achieve a draft of 12 metres by end 2008.

The state-owned Dredging Corporation of India, which has been entrusted with the job, will deploy three of its own dredgers immediately — one cutter suction dredger and two trailer suction hopper dredgers. "We'll need more dredgers which may have to be acquired on charter but not immediately, may be after the next monsoon," said Mr N. K. Raghupathy, Chairman of the Tuticorin Port Trust and also CMD of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project, indicating that the dredging of Adam's Bridge was a critical job.

Dredging Corporation of India has also been engaged in dredging the northern end of the channel for more than a year now. It may be noted that the cost of dredging for the entire project has been revised upwards from the original Rs 1,720 crore to Rs 2,170 crore to take into account the impact of service charge which became effective from April 2005.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/11/stories/2006121100370600.htm

Does anyone know that TamilNadu is the only state to have 3 major ports(Chennai, Tuticorin and Ennore(though its corporatized)). Colachel if develped would be another major port because of its location. Just with basic infrastructre colachel port can be developed quickly, because no dredging is needed as of now. I am sure to implement this project, there would be hindrance from nearby state(Kerala), not nearby port(Tuticorin).

Lol, not to create an argument...but to put the facts right.

- Colachel does not have a natural harbour and hence needs extensive breakwater construction. It also has a rocky sea bed and hence needs significant hard-rock dredging (blasting) to reach even 12-15 m.

- Whereas Vizhinjam has a natural port formation and existing depths of 18-23 m, Tuticorin has less than 9 m and Colachel about 12 m.

- Tamilnadu is not the only State to have multiple major ports. Gujarat has Kandla, Hazira, Mundra and others. In fact, it is now the top maritime state in India.

- I don't think there is any hinderance from Kerala towards Colachel and Tuticorin. In fact, given the current composition of the Union Cabinet, there are concerns that it is the other way round.

Finally, India will require 100 million TEUs of container handling capacity by 2015. Vizhinjam, Colachel and Tuticorin combined will not make up for more than 15-20 % of this at most. So, considering all three have strategic locations, there is no cause for cut-throat competition, rather for co-opetition. :)

Cheers!

- Colachel does not have a natural harbour and hence needs extensive breakwater construction. It also has a rocky sea bed and hence needs significant hard-rock dredging (blasting) to reach even 12-15 m.
The benefit of hard-rock sea bed is that it doesnt need to be dredged often like other sandy sea beds. All the ports in India get constant desilting because of gulf stream, which is much stronger in the western coast and the importance of TN ports is that it sandwiched between Srilanka and India protected from Gulf stream.

Traditionally in coastal Tamil Nadu, sea is classified based on the water current by gender as Male and Female, and most of the sea in TN coast are Female. The Female sea is good for port and fishing and it can eventually become Male and vis versa. The mood and character of the sea is never static, therefore for choosing a sea port, for any given time then situation is not an advantage or disadvantage.

- Whereas Vizhinjam has a natural port formation and existing depths of 18-23 m, Tuticorin has less than 9 m and Colachel about 12 m.
Vizhinjam has its advantage, and the advantage of Colachel is its strategic location and Tourism (Kanyakumari). Vizhinjam is having higher depth because the place is away from the maritime routes to get silted. Tuticorin is one of the natural port, an ancient port, but still get stilted as it is used extensively.

- I don't think there is any hinderance from Kerala towards Colachel and Tuticorin. In fact, given the current composition of the Union Cabinet, there are concerns that it is the other way round..
Ohya, couple of months ago, whole group of Kerala MPs made a trip to Delhi against Colachel project put forwarded by T.R. Balu. They projected Vizhinjam and voiced against Colachel. Well in a federal union, one should always get the fair chance as and when it comes. Political advantage is also benefit, it does not come like a lottery. It means the people votes in consensus focused towards a leadership for development.

- Finally, India will require 100 million TEUs of container handling capacity by 2015. Vizhinjam, Colachel and Tuticorin combined will not make up for more than 15-20 % of this at most. So, considering all three have strategic locations, there is no cause for cut-throat competition, rather for co-opetition. Cheers!
Well good then you wont be against Colachel kind of project.

Lol, not to create an argument...but to put the facts right.

- Tamilnadu is not the only State to have multiple major ports. Gujarat has Kandla, Hazira, Mundra and others. In fact, it is now the top maritime state in India.

Cheers!

Bingo! well said. Apart from having many major/minor ports, Gujarat has longest coastline in India. Can someone tell the capacity of ports of Gujarat/MH/TN?

Bingo! well said. Apart from having many major/minor ports, Gujarat has longest coastline in India. Can someone tell the capacity of ports of Gujarat/MH/TN?

Tamil Nadu Ports
Chennai (Major)
Tuticorin (Major)
Rameswaram
Valinokkam
Kattupalli
Ennore (Major)
Pamban
Colachel
Cuddalore
Thiruchopuram
Kanyakumari
PY - 03 OIL FIELD
Nagapattinam
Tirukkadaiyur
Mannapad
Punnakkayal


Gujrat Ports
Kandla
Mundra
Dholera
Hazira
Maroli
Mithivirdi
Positra
Vijaydurg
Simar
Vansi-Borsi

Maharashtra Ports
Bombay
Alewadi
Dighi
Dabhol
Jaigad
Ratnagiri
Rozi (Bedi)
Redi

If anyone knew more than this can add up

I referred to major ports in our country. Out of 12 major ports, Tamilnadu has 3(Tuticorin, Chennai and Ennore), Maharashtra(Mumbai and JNP) has 2 and Gujarat has 1(only Kandla). There may be other ports but they maybe from private sectors or minor ports. Guess its clear.

Lol, not to create an argument...but to put the facts right.

- Colachel does not have a natural harbour and hence needs extensive breakwater construction. It also has a rocky sea bed and hence needs significant hard-rock dredging (blasting) to reach even 12-15 m.

- Whereas Vizhinjam has a natural port formation and existing depths of 18-23 m, Tuticorin has less than 9 m and Colachel about 12 m.

- Tamilnadu is not the only State to have multiple major ports. Gujarat has Kandla, Hazira, Mundra and others. In fact, it is now the top maritime state in India.

- I don't think there is any hinderance from Kerala towards Colachel and Tuticorin. In fact, given the current composition of the Union Cabinet, there are concerns that it is the other way round.

Finally, India will require 100 million TEUs of container handling capacity by 2015. Vizhinjam, Colachel and Tuticorin combined will not make up for more than 15-20 % of this at most. So, considering all three have strategic locations, there is no cause for cut-throat competition, rather for co-opetition. :)

Cheers!

Good work MaduraiSelvam. Just one more to add, I have marked in red. Yday T.R.Baalu started the dredging work.

Tamin Nadu Ports
Chennai (Major)
Tuticorin Zone A (Major)
Tuticorin Zone B (Minor port)
Rameswaram
Valinokkam
Kattupalli
Ennore (Major)
Pamban
Colachel
Cuddalore
Thiruchopuram
Kanyakumari
PY - 03 OIL FIELD
Nagapattinam
Tirukkadaiyur
Mannapad
Punnakkayal


Gujrat Ports
Kandla
Mundra
Dholera
Hazira
Maroli
Mithivirdi
Positra
Vijaydurg
Simar
Vansi-Borsi

Maharashtra Ports
Bombay
Alewadi
Dighi
Dabhol
Jaigad
Ratnagiri
Rozi (Bedi)
Redi

If anyone knew more than this can add up

Vizhinjam has its advantage, and the advantage of Colachel is its strategic location and Tourism (Kanyakumari). Vizhinjam is having higher depth because the place is away from the maritime routes to get silted. Tuticorin is one of the natural port, an ancient port, but still get stilted as it is used extensively.


Good point, Madurai. However, you should note that Vizhinjam is only 8 nautical miles from the main shipping lanes, the same as Colachel. Siltation has nothing to do with proximity to shipping lanes or usage and is a factor of coastal currents and subsea strata.

Ohya, couple of months ago, whole group of Kerala MPs made a trip to Delhi against Colachel project put forwarded by T.R. Balu. They projected Vizhinjam and voiced against Colachel. Well in a federal union, one should always get the fair chance as and when it comes. Political advantage is also benefit, it does not come like a lottery. It means the people votes in consensus focused towards a leadership for development.

I don't anyone protested against Colachel at all. Their only claim was that Vizhinjam was being neglected by the Union Ministry. For example, despite being India's deepest port project, Vizhinjam has still not been included in the National Maritime Development Project, eventhough many lesser ports have been stuffed in. The policy should live and let-live, which I totally support. :) Let's not bring politics here, since we would then diverge into how regional politics has recently swamped national interests. :nuts:


Well good then you wont be against Colachel kind of project.

Most definitely not, I believe there is room and requirement for multiple transshipment terminals at the Southern tip of India. :)

BTW an FYI - There is a separate thread on sethu project

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=205276

If any body has any pics or updates it be nice.

:)

Body mooted for industrialisation of southern districts

Special Correspondent

SPEED 2006 attracts investment commitments worth over Rs.5,000 crore

Government should come out with a master plan
Immediate need for Madurai is immigration and customs facilities at the airport



MADURAI : The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has mooted the formation of a joint body, including representatives of the Government and the industry, to facilitate a hassle-free industrialisation of southern districts.

Addressing media persons here on Monday on the impact of the recent three-day Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) 2006, a meet organised to showcase the strengths of the southern districts, T. Kannan, its chairman, said that a joint body had become imperative when investors were looking at Madurai in a big way.

............

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/12/stories/2006121210960100.htm

T.E. Raja Simhan

To set up international shipyard

Shipyard project
Ennore Port Ltd will be the nodal agency to make a preliminary preparation for the project
EPL has invited global expression of interest from firms


Chennai , Dec. 11

The Ministry of Shipping has short-listed Tuticorin and Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh in the East Coast for setting up an "international size shipyard".
The Ministry constituted a high-level committee to facilitate setting up two international shipyards - one each on East and West coasts. The committee identified the three locations on the East Coast.

Ennore Port Ltd (EPL) will be the nodal agency for making a preliminary preparation, including inviting expression of interest, for the project, according to sources.

EPL has invited global expression of interest (EoI) from firms to participate in global competition to set up the shipyard on the East Coast on build-operate-transfer licence basis at a suitable location.

The project would entail developing the shipyard consisting of two big docks, and preferably three (two for building and one for repair), quay side length of at least 2.5 km with 12 metre water depth with various support facilities. This is to build and repair ships up to size of very large crude carriers (VLCC), which have carrying capacity of 3 lakh tonnes.

Potential to construct


The yard should also have the potential to construct ultra large crude carrier (ULCC), if need arises. The yard should have easy approach from the sea and may require a land area of around 4 million sq mt, according to the notice inviting EoI.

The selected firm must design, finance, engineer, construct, operate, market and maintain the shipyard of adequate capacity to build and repair merchant ships of up to VLCC/ULCC and all other ships within this range.

The firm may also be required to develop a green field project at a suitable location on East coast exclusively for the shipyard, the EoI says.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/12/stories/2006121200550700.htm

T.E. Raja Simhan
To set up international shipyard
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/12/stories/2006121200550700.htm

I guess there are few shipyards in Tuticorin already! what is the status of it?
From my visits, I remember that the one that is used for making boats and lauchies (beside Periya Koil) is still used but the other one, which was used to build ships, is not used anymore.
Maybe some in Tuticorin can give a update?

Plan to reconstruct Dhanushkodi dropped - T. R. Baalu

The plan to reconstruct Dhanushkodi at a cost of 100 crore dropped. This was actually included as part of the Sethu Samudhram project but had to be dropped as the previous TN government failed to hand over those region to central government during early stages of sethu project.

He also said that central government would consider if request was made by state government to link Rameshwaram to Thalai Mannar.

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DND20061211221958&Title=Districts+Page&lTitle=U%F4YhPeLs&Topic=0

The one besides periya koil is for making medium to big size boats, it doesnt have adequate depths to have a berth efficient for ship building. As of now there are no ship building yards at Tuticorin.

I guess there are few shipyards in Tuticorin already! what is the status of it?
From my visits, I remember that the one that is used for making boats and lauchies (beside Periya Koil) is still used but the other one, which was used to build ships, is not used anymore.
Maybe some in Tuticorin can give a update?

--Tuticorin Stevedores' Association seeks intervention of the Centre Centre must develop the port as a Southeast Asian transhipment hub

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin Stevedores' Association (TSA) has sought the intervention of the Central Government to augment the infrastructure facilities at Tuticorin port on a war footing to arrest the slide in the efficiency of the port.

In a memorandum submitted to Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu, the association's president M.S. Tajudeen has pointed out that the proficiency of the port had slid pertaining to parameters such as average pre-berthing detention, average turnaround time, average output per day and percentage of idle time while a vessel was berthed.

Mr. Tajudeen said that labour-related issues, lack of adequate infrastructure, age-old handling gadgets, lack of innovation in the stevedoring practices and non-synchronization of the activities of stevedores, port traffic department, dock labourers and equipment operators, were some of the key factors attributable to the poor performance.

Transit godown

On the infrastructure front, the association wanted the Central Government to create a transit godown at the port since large quantities of food grains and fertilizers were imported through Tuticorin. "Presently, we are beleaguered with acute shortage of storage space," Mr Tajudeen said.

The association further asked the government to expedite the implementation of projects identified for the upgradation of Tuticorin port under the National Maritime Development Programme, through public- private partnerships.

Mr, Tajudeen appealed to the Centre to develop Tuticorin port as a Southeast Asian Transhipment hub, since the port possessed all inherent strengths for the status. "By making it a hub port, there will be an overall cost reduction and an increase in the inflow of foreign exchange, which is essential for the economic growth of the country," he said.

The creation of hub port will also generate employment opportunities in and around Tuticorin, the association pointed out.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/14/stories/2006121412000300.htm

Punalur-Shenkottai stretch, major bottleneck for Egmore-Thiruvananthapuram broad gauge link

Broad gauge link to Thiruvanathapuram from Chennai Egmore via Tenkasi, Punalur and Quilon may be delayed as conversion of the Punalur-Shenkottai stretch is said to be the major bottleneck.

Oldest route

It is the oldest route and for a long time trains were operated on this metre gauge only. Subsequently, when the uni-gauge project was taken up, they were diverted via Erode, Ernakulam and also via Madurai and Nagercoil.

Work on gauge conversion has been going on for over a decade. Conversion has been completed from Egmore to Tenkasi and between Quilon and Thiruvanathapuram.

In the remaining portion from Tenkasi to Quilon, work is on from Tenkasi to Shenkottai (8 km) and between Quilon and Punalur (45 km). The two sections are likely to be completed by March next.

The remaining 50 km-stretch from Punalur to Shenkottai is posing major problems for the Railways, as it is a ghat section with a number of tunnels. Southern Railway initially decided to convert the existing metre gauge line. But later, it found that it was not feasible as the height of the tunnel had to be increased.

Survey completed

As it involved heavy expenditure, it decided to lay a new BG line. Location survey for the new line had been completed and a detailed estimate was being prepared. The estimate would be sent to the Railway Board for clearance. Then, the new line would be laid. So, no deadline has been fixed for completing the portion.

Sources said the Tenkasi-Quilon conversion was part of the Tirunelveli-Tenkasi-Quilon project. Regarding the Tenkasi-Tirunelveli (72 km) section, the sources said it had been planned for completion in the next two to three years. Bridge works had already been taken up.

Limited availability of funds affected the timely completion of projects.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/15/stories/2006121501660600.htm

Public want new stretch connecting South bypass road, Pettai.

TIRUNELVELI: While the arterial Thiruvananthapuram High Road and Swamy Nellaiyappar High Road here are virtually overflowing with vehicular traffic, the Corporation has forwarded proposals to the Government for two new bypass roads to be laid in relatively less congested areas.

After the 7 km-long bypass road, connecting Tirunelveli - Madurai and Tirunelveli - Nagercoil National Highways via Vannarpettai, was thrown open to traffic a few years ago, the intensity of traffic, especially lorries and buses, going to the towns south and north of Tirunelveli via `Halwa City' was reduced considerably. However, the west-bound buses and other vehicles proceeding to places like Tenkasi and towns beyond Courtallam have to go through the Chellapandian traffic island on this already saturated bypass road, heavily clogged up and narrow roads of Tirunelveli Town, causing severe hardships to every road user. The unwarranted delay in crossing these areas naturally led to appeal from the public for a new road connecting south bypass road and Pettai. To cross a distance of just 10 km between Pettai and the new bus-stand at Vaeinthankulam during rush hour, it takes a minimum of 30 to 40 minutes.

"Instead of finding ways and resources for laying this road, the Corporation has decided to push two other relatively less important road projects - Thatchanallur Railway Gate to S.N. High Road via Sivasakthi Theatre and Pettai Spinning Mill to Sankarankovil Highway via MDT Hindu College and Old Pettai. If the officials and public representatives are really concerned about easing traffic congestion within the city, the south bypass road to Pettai stretch should be taken-up immediately," a police official here said.

However, the Corporation officials justify their selection of projects, saying that lands required for these two projects had already been acquired and hence there would not be any delay in completing it once funds were made available.

"We have to conduct a study afresh for the bypass road - Pettai stretch and lands have to be acquired, which would consume some months or even years. After completing these two projects first, we'll divert our attention towards this stretch," said a Corporation official.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/16/stories/2006121609080300.htm

The state government has announced that it may convert 1,000 acres in the Nanguneri SEZ into a renewable energy equipment manufacturing and testing SEZ. The initial investment is expected to be over Rs 1,000 crore.

According to state electricity minister Arcot N Veerasamy, the Union government has approved a Rs 600-crore SEZ to manufacture renewable energy equipment in the state in which European and American companies are expected to participate in a very big way. The initial investment is estimated to be Rs 900 crore, which may soar to Rs 3,000 crore in a few years.

The Malavalli Power Plant and European investors have floated a special purpose vehicle - Future Energy Zone India Ltd - to promote an SEZ which will house industrial research & development units, laboratories, testing units, educational and vocational training centres. “Later, industrial parks, convention centres and a logistics and transportation zone will be considered,” said K Krishnan, chairman, Malavalli Power Plant.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=148558

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board signed a power purchase agreement with the Neyveli Lignite Corporation-Tamil Nadu Power Limited (NTPL), a special purpose vehicle for implementing a 1000-MW coal-based project in Tuticorin. Hans Raj Verma, Chairman of the TNEB, and S. Jayaraman, Chief of the NLC and NTPL, signed the agreement in Chennai in the presence of Mr Veerasamy.

The project, to be completed by 2011-12, has obtained the mega power status from the Union Ministry. Except Andhra Pradesh, other States and Puducherry would be the beneficiaries.

The Union Government's environmental clearance is awaited.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/18/stories/2006121807860800.htm

Bush signs US-India nuclear bill
NUCLEAR POWER IN INDIA

India has 14 reactors in commercial operation and nine under construction
Nuclear power supplies about 3% of India's electricity
By 2050, nuclear power is expected to provide 25% of the country's electricity
India has limited coal and uranium reserves
Its huge thorium reserves - about 25% of the world's total - are expected to fuel its nuclear power programme long-term Source: Uranium Information Center


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6189467.stm

The project planned by TATA for extracting Thorium from the beach soils in southern Tamil Nadu is for this purpose. It will make the TN the power house of India. TN already leads in the power production.
Can someone find datas regarding Thorium reserves identified in Tuticorin beaches and coastal southern TN?

Bush signs US-India nuclear bill
NUCLEAR POWER IN INDIA

India has 14 reactors in commercial operation and nine under construction
Nuclear power supplies about 3% of India's electricity
By 2050, nuclear power is expected to provide 25% of the country's electricity
India has limited coal and uranium reserves
Its huge thorium reserves - about 25% of the world's total - are expected to fuel its nuclear power programme long-term Source: Uranium Information Center


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6189467.stm

The project planned by TATA for extracting Thorium from the beach soils in southern Tamil Nadu is for this purpose. It will make the TN the power house of India. TN already leads in the power production.
Can someone find datas regarding Thorium reserves identified in Tuticorin beaches and coastal southern TN?

The TATA project is Manufacturing Titanium Di Oxide and the raw material is Ilmenite / Rutile which can be extracted from Beach sand. Thorium mining and extraction is done by Indian Rare Earths Ltd.

The TATA project is Manufacturing Titanium Di Oxide and the raw material is Ilmenite / Rutile which can be extracted from Beach sand. Thorium mining and extraction is done by Indian Rare Earths Ltd.

Oops, I heard it from a local person there, may be he was wrong. But do you know where we have Thorium mines in India?

Oops, I heard it from a local person there, may be he was wrong. But do you know where we have Thorium mines in India?

Mainly from Kerala Coast and some places like Manavalakurichi beach in Kanyakumari District.

There were some recent announcements from Indian Atomic Sceintists reg Thorium mining. India is the only country in the world, where Power is produced in such a large scale from Thorium. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor and the proposed commercial scale reactor at Kalpakkam run on Thorium feedstock. Lack of Uranium reserves and strict sanctions from IAEA (& USA) forced India to go for Thorium route. This is purely indigenious technology and we will not be covered under any treaties.

TIRUNELVELI: The Minister for Highways, Vellakovil M.P. Saminathan, on Thursday, laid foundation stones for the construction of four over-bridges across Tamirabarani at four places, which would be completed at the cost of Rs. 9.80 crore.

Since the low-level bridge on the Triunelveli-Pottalpudur stretch near Cheranmahadevi got totally submerged whenever the river was in spate, it was decided to raise the level of this bridge with seven spans at a cost of Rs. 7.50 crore, to be funded by the NABARD.

The proposed high-level bridge would benefit the villagers of Kooniyoor, Veeravanallur, Kallidaikurichi, Mukkoodal, Pappakudi, Idaikaal, Ambasamudram and Pottalpudur. Two causeways — both near Mukkoodal — would be converted into over-bridges with three spans at a cost of Rs. 1.50 crore, to be funded by Combined Road Infrastructure Development Programme. The new over-bridges would benefit villagers from Pettai, Suththamalli, Kallur, Sanganthiradu, Ariyanayagipuram, Mukkoodal, Pappakudi, Kabalipaarai, Idaikaal, Karunkulam, Thuppaakudi, Pappankulam and Pottalpudur.

The last bridge, to be constructed on an outlay of Rs. 80 lakh, would replace a 70-year old bridge near Kasimajorpuram, which would benefit people from Tenkasi, Courtallam, Shencottai and the commuters going to Kerala.

Rs. 3,267 crore released

Laying foundation stone for these bridges, Mr. Saminathan said that the Tamil Nadu Government had released Rs. 3,267 crore to improve the existing roads and also to lay new stretches across the State.

Of the Rs. 303crore allocated for the maintenance of roads, works to the tune of Rs. 200 crore would be carried out through Department of Highways and the remaining works, worth Rs. 103 crore, completed through Department of Rural Development.

"All sand stretches, connecting the hamlets with nearby main roads, will be converted into black-topped roads at a cost of Rs. 430 crore to ensure all-weather roads in every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu in the next five years. Contractors, who were awarded the works, have been asked to complete the unfinished projects at the earliest."

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/22/stories/2006122209130200.htm

Rs.19 cr. for modernising Nagercoil railway station

Velu inaugurates renovated concourse and platform

Nagercoil: The Southern Railway had allotted Rs.19 crore for modernising Nagercoil railway station, said the Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu. Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, the Minister said that there were 17 unmanned railway gates in Thiruvananthapuram division, which included Kanyakumari district. For converting them into manned gates, Rs.2.05 crore had been allotted. The Ministry had given approval for construction of a railway over-bridge at Putheri near Nagercoil and Parasala in Kerala. Though, there is no scope for establishing a railway station at Parvathipuram near Nagercoil, officials had been instructed to make provision for halting all trains there for the benefit of students and office-goers; Rs.75 lakh had been allotted for the same.
Once the broad gauge conversion works were completed between Madurai and Dindigul, the speed of trains running between Kanyakumari and Chennai would be increased. Steps had been taken to operate trains on electric traction between Thiruvananthapuram and Nagercoil. The Members of Parliament had been demanding the electrification of railway lines between Chengalpattu and Tuticorin, and Maniyachi and Nagercoil. Funds had been allotted for the same.
New line
The Minister added that the Ministry would consider laying a railway line between Kottayam and Erumeli for the benefit of Ayyappa devotees. He ruled out merging Kanyakumari district with Madurai division. Later, the Minister inaugurated the renovated concourse and platform and laid the foundation stone for a new booking office at Nagercoil.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/22/stories/2006122216460300.htm

Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is planning to build two more reactors at Kudankulam near Kanyakumari where the country’s first lightwater reactor power plant is coming up.

The project director for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNP), S C Purohit said, “The site can accommodate six reactors but for now, we have approval for two more reactors (in addition to the original two being built).” Public hearings for environmental clearances for the new reactors are slated to begin in January 2007.

The first of the two under-construction 1000 MW reactor is expected to be ready by December 2007, with the plant expected to start producing electricity by March 2008, Purohit said.

“We will now begin erecting critical equipment like the reactor pressure vessel and the turbine blades,” Purohit said. Around 50 per cent of the power produced will be supplied to Tamil Nadu.

Most of the critical reactor components such as the pressure vessel, reactor coolant pipelines, reactor coolant pumps casings for Unit 1, have all been delivered to the site. The second phase of the project will be ready a year later, Purohit added.

The Rs 13,000 crore project is a 50 per cent joint venture with Russia’s Atomstroyexport Russian Representation. Atomstroy has supplied the design and equipment for the project. It will also supply the enriched uranium fuel for the plant.

Purohit, however, did not comment on whether the Russians will also supply the design and the equipment for the two proposed reactors.

Lightwater technology, unlike the heavywater technology which uses natural uranium, uses enriched uranium as fuel.

Enriched uranium has 4 per cent fissile material compared to the 0.7 per cent in natural uranium and such is considered a more efficient fuel. Russia has also sold two 1,000 mw VVER (lightwater) reactors to China. These are coming up at Tianwan.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=269227&leftnm=3&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

Trial run on Manamadurai-Rameshwaram new broad gauge line successful

RAMANATHAPURAM: The Southern Railway, on Tuesday, successfully conducted a trial run on the newly laid broad gauge line from Manamadurai to Mandapam. The 94-km stretch is part of the ongoing gauge conversion project under execution between Manamadurai and Rameswaram.

The garlanded locomotive, which started its maiden journey at Manamaduri at 9 a.m., reached Mandapam by 7 p.m. The engine was operated at a speed of 20 km an hour. Southern Railway officials led by Chief Engineer Rajendra Prasad and Deputy Chief Engineer Mohamed Saliya, who were aboard, tested the rail linkage. The engine was stopped at several places to study the strength of the rail linkage. The engine was run very slowly whenever it crossed bridges. Mr. Prasad gave instructions to officials at some points on detecting some minor faults.

After completing the trial run, Mr. Prasad said the trial run was satisfactory. The linkage part of the gauge conversion between Manamadurai and Mandapam was over.

There are 141 minor bridges and seven major bridges in this stretch, works for which have been completed and found to be satisfactory. Mr. Prasad said some more test runs would be conducted. The speed of the test runs would be increased gradually. Later, the Commissioner of Railway Safety would test the linkage.

Pending works

However, works such as level crossings, construction of buildings and others works have not been completed.

He said that though the deadline to complete the project was March 3, works would be completed much ahead of the schedule. Officials had been asked to expedite the work, Mr. Prasad added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/27/stories/2006122705560300.htm

Mainly from Kerala Coast and some places like Manavalakurichi beach in Kanyakumari District.

There were some recent announcements from Indian Atomic Sceintists reg Thorium mining. India is the only country in the world, where Power is produced in such a large scale from Thorium. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor and the proposed commercial scale reactor at Kalpakkam run on Thorium feedstock. Lack of Uranium reserves and strict sanctions from IAEA (& USA) forced India to go for Thorium route. This is purely indigenious technology and we will not be covered under any treaties.

You are quite right, Kannan. Thorium can be extracted from rutile which is found in ilemenite sands found along beaches in Southern Kerala, mainly around Kollam and Allapuzha, and in Southern Tamilnadu. :)

Ilemenite is also the raw material used for production of titanium dioxide, a key ingredient in pigments as well as titanium metal which is vital for high tech applications like aerospace.

Currently, titanium dioxide is produced at the Travancore Titanium Products Ltd. (TTP) at Trivandrum, and the Kerala Minerals & Metals Ltd (KMML) plant of Indian Rare Earths Ltd, at Chowara near Kollam. :)

Thorium fuel for reactors could be key to India's nuclear future as it will reduce our dependence on uranium and is considered a less controversial option.

India is the only country in the world, where Power is produced in such a large scale from Thorium. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor and the proposed commercial scale reactor at Kalpakkam run on Thorium feedstock. Lack of Uranium reserves and strict sanctions from IAEA (& USA) forced India to go for Thorium route. This is purely indigenious technology and we will not be covered under any treaties.

Do we produce any power from thorium? I think it is still not commercialized. I really don't know if we have any nuclear reactors producing power exclusively from Thorium. Test reactor is about 40 MW. And one at Kalpakkam is about 500 MW and I think is yet to be constructed.

Issues with Thorium are the same as issues with Uranium 238. One, it is highly radio-active (after breeding). Two, you still have issues with technology in reprocessing (but I think this technology is available with France where they reprocess spent fuel from Uranium reactors). And finally, you still have the nuclear (weapons) proliferation issue.

Infact, I am not sure we will ever use Thorium in a big way. If we have technology to use Thorium, then we can always use spent fuel from our nuclear power plants (they use fissile U235 and leave behind most of original U238) and depleted uranium (U238). Why mine thorium, when you have depleted uranium and spent fuel lying in your backyard and for which you pay for storing them?

Do we produce any power from thorium? I think it is still not commercialized. I really don't know if we have any nuclear reactors producing power exclusively from Thorium. Test reactor is about 40 MW. And one at Kalpakkam is about 500 MW and I think is yet to be constructed.

Issues with Thorium are the same as issues with Uranium 238. One, it is highly radio-active (after breeding). Two, you still have issues with technology in reprocessing (but I think this technology is available with France where they reprocess spent fuel from Uranium reactors). And finally, you still have the nuclear (weapons) proliferation issue.

Infact, I am not sure we will ever use Thorium in a big way. If we have technology to use Thorium, then we can always use spent fuel from our nuclear power plants (they use fissile U235 and leave behind most of original U238) and depleted uranium (U238). Why mine thorium, when you have depleted uranium and spent fuel lying in your backyard and for which you pay for storing them?

It will be too lengthy to dwelve into NPT and related issues. India has to account for spent fuel, if the feed stock was received from abroad or used in a reactor built with the help of Nuclear countries.

India managed to produce extra masala for the Nuclear explosions, which were carried out with great secrecy. IGCAR is out of the purview of NPT. Though the Thorium based technology was developed at a great cost, we will not be governed by the NPT rules. As we have huge deposits of Thorium, we can be independent.

USA is trying to lock us and prevent us from going for further research and thats why the atomic scientists are upset with the current dvelopments with USA. Only in SPACE and ATOMIC fields, India developed its own technology, because of the sanctions, but at a very high cost.

Since Nuclear Power is relatively cheap and clean (but very risky in case of accidents) and India needs a large qty of power asap, Indian Govt is going along with USA. Lets wait and see whetehr we are as smart as China (Running with the hare and hunting it too).

USA is trying to lock us and prevent us from going for further research and thats why the atomic scientists are upset with the current dvelopments with USA. Only in SPACE and ATOMIC fields, India developed its own technology, because of the sanctions, but at a very high cost.


Well these are mainly masala news and we really dont have anything credible to back it up. None really know what happens behind closed doors of the Indo-US nuclear.

Master tourism plan for Tuticorin

To provide better infrastructure at four places

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Proposal will be sent to Government"
Veerapandiya Kattabomman Fort to be renovated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuticorin : The district administration plans to augment infrastructure at four places of heritage importance in the district at an estimated cost of Rs.152.09 lakh to tap unexplored tourism potential. The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, said that the administration was now in the process of preparing a `master tourism plan' for the project and it would be sent to the Government for approval before January 15.
According to the plan, the district administration would renovate the Veerapandiya Kattabomman Fort situated at Panchalankurichi, situated about 20 kilometres from Tuticorin, on an estimated outlay of Rs.28.89 lakh.The fort was built in 1974, in memory of Kattabomman, who raised his voice against the British regime during the 17th century. "We are seeking government grant to meet the expenditure for renovation," Mr. Palaniyandi said.
The infrastructure at Vilathikulam town, where a historic Meenakshi temple is located, was planned to be enhanced at a cost of Rs.16.70 lakh. "The works included improvement of facilities at the Vilathikulam bus stand and construction of more number of public toilets in the town," the Collector said.
Mr. Palaniyandi said the master plan had suggested establishment of more black top roads, community halls and sumps, at Ettayapuram, where the memorial of the poet Subramania Bharatiyar is situated, on an outlay of Rs.62.50 lakh. Similarly, a park was planned at the ancient town of Kulasekarapattinam at a cost of Rs.44 lakh to provide entertainment to tourists. The Collector said the costs for the projects at Ettayapuram, Vuilathikulam and Kulasekarapattinam were to be shared equally by the Tourism Department and the respective local bodies.
Mr. Palaniyandi said the implementation of these projects would attract more tourists from across the country, which, in turn, would augment the flow of income to the state exchequer.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010302710600.htm

Centre urged to increase draught at Tuticorin port

To facilitate the handling of bigger vessels

TUTICORIN: The Tuticorin port handling agents' association, the Tuticorin custom house agents' association and the Tuticorin ship agents' association has urged the Centre to increase the draught available at the berths in Tuticorin port to facilitate the handling of bigger vessels. In a joint memorandum submitted to the Union Ministry of Shipping recently, the associations demanded that the draught be increased from the present 10.7 metre to 12.8 metre at the earliest. Any further delay would leave the port lagging behind other `players' in the sector.
The Centre must expedite the completion of outer harbour development works to attract more number of deep draught vessels and mother vessels to the port. It should be ensured that the draught was not less than 14 to 16 metres. It would avoid dredging at a later stage with extra mobilisation of funds. The development of the hinterland of the port and the airport at Vagaikulam was essential for the integrated development of the port and the town.
The associations highlighted the importance of completing the four-lane works on the Tuticorin-Tirunelveli and Tuticorin-Madurai national highways sector on a war footing. "It would enhance the speed of outward and inward cargo movement at the port," they said.
Similarly, the road connecting Tuticorin with Kochi via Shencottah, Punalur and Kollam should be developed to improve the connectivity between the two major ports situated at Tuticorin and Kochi. All these developments would have a direct bearing on the economic growth of the port here.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010304400900.htm

CCCL Infrastructure has applied for a 121.5 hectares food processing SEZ in Tuticorin. The above proposal is to be taken up during BOA meeting in Jan 19th.

http://www.sezindia.nic.in

Luxury liner launches cruise along the ancient spice route

Indian Ocean Cruises, the Indian arm of London-based Foresight Group, along with its Indian representative STIC Travel Group, Saturday launched its cruise off the Goa port for a 14-night round trip.

The cruise, Ocean Odyssey, will travel from Goa touching major trading ports like Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin and the islands of Suheli, Thinnakkara and Cheriyam in Lakshadweep and Colombo tracing the ancient spice route.

'The launch is an initiative to provide the Indian and international travellers with a unique experience of cruising along the ancient routes of the Malabar Coast and experiencing the beauty of the pristine atolls of Lakshadweep Islands,' STIC Travel Group chairman Subhash Goyal said in a statement.

The luxury liner will also be offered in the 3-night, 5-night, 6-night, 8-night and 14-night cruise segments for the same route.

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20070113/13646.htm

Cruise shipping in India has already began to attract many domestic and foreign tourists. This trend should be well utilised by Tuticorin to promote tourism in the region. Already a few cruise ships have docked here in the past, and there could be lot more in the future.

A vivid plan has to be drawn to include trips to tourist places like Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram and even Madurai depending on how long the ship would dock here. Even Tuticorin could also be included in the proposed helicopter service from Madurai. In this way tourists could be flown to Madurai in not more than 30 mins.

Im not sure if the above idea could be implemented?. But these could be the ways to attract more cruise ships. Tourism could be the way out for the yet un explored south TN.

Cruise shipping in India has already began to attract many domestic and foreign tourists. This trend should be well utilised by Tuticorin to promote tourism in the region. Already a few cruise ships have docked here in the past, and there could be lot more in the future.


yes, there cud be more in the future. India's first int'l cruise hub is likely to come up in Pondy. According to Asipac ,an urban infrastructure development consultant's estimates, the Pondicherry terminal could target almost 500,000 cruisers by 2011. Tuticorin can become a port of call for the short haul domestic cruises to Lakswadeep islands and Goa and longer cruises to Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Singapore, Dubai and some Mediterranean destination.

Following in the footsteps of Indian corporates, state-run major port trusts are set to take a plunge in the shipbuilding euphoria.

Aimed at becoming a leading shipbuiliding and shiprepair nation by 2025, various major port trusts have chalked out over Rs 10,000 crore shipbuilding projects for the next three years.

This is in addition to Rs 10,000 crore investment plans on shipbuilding activities of private players including Adanis, L&T and the Ruia Group. According to industry analysts, shipbuilding is becoming lucrative, as the shipyards across the world are overbooked till 2009.

"Globally, shipbuilding activities are moving towards India from Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan. The cheaper labour in the country coupled with government subsidies and relaxation in FDI rules are the main reasons for India becoming the hottest destination for shipbuilding," they added.
SHIPBUILDING BANDWAGON
(Rs in cr)

Ennore Port 2,000
Mumbai Port 2,000
Tuticorin Port 1,500 Kandla Port 2,500
Kolkata Port (NA)
Mangalore Port (NA)


"Government is planning to set up two international size shipyards costing Rs 2,000 crore each on east and west coast. Ennore Port will be the nodal agency for the east coast shipyard while the Mumbai Port will be for the west coast," a senior government official said.

These yards have a capacity to build and repair ships up to Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC) of over 300,000 Dead Weight Tonne (DWT) size.

Ennore Port has already invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from private players for setting up the yard while Mumbai Port will shortly follow suite.

"The location for shipyard on the west coast could be either on Pipavav or Mundra in Gujarat, considering the channel depth. The international yard on the east coast could be on Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh or in Tamil Nadu," a higly placed source said.

The Tuticorin Port has firmed up plans to build a shipyard on a build-operate-transfer or lease basis at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore, which will build six panamax size vessels in a year.

"Chennai-based Goodearth Maritime has prepared a pre-feasibility report by engaging international consultant Kora Maritime Consultant Company of Korea. The board of Tuticorin will consider this proposal and call for EoIs shortly," said a Tuticorin Port official.

Kandla Port Trust (KPT) has invited EoI for setting up a shipbuilding yard at Tuna with a total cost of Rs 2,500 crore in various phases.

Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is also exploring options of tying up with state-run shipbuilders such as Garden Reach & Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Hooghly Dock & Port Engineers (HDPE) for upgrading its dry docking facilities into a full-fledged shiprepair yard.

New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) is the latest one to join the shipbuilding bandwagon. "NMPT is also considering setting up a shipbuilding yard. The concept is still at preliminary stage," said a source.

Besides the existing players -- ABG Shipyard and Bharati Shipyard -- the private players set to take a plunge in shipbuilding projects are Adani Group, Pawan Kumar Ruia Group and Larsen&Toubro, envisaging a total investment of more than Rs 10,000 crore.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=269909&leftnm=3&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

Riverbed Technology Inc. announced that the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd.(TMB), India, has deployed Riverbed's Steelhead wide-area data services (WDS) appliances in its Chennai data center and in its Bangalore disaster recovery center. TMB is a private-sector bank headquartered in Thoothukudi, with seven regional offices and 173 branches across India. During peak business hours, TMB generates a 100 MB log file every five minutes, which it replicates from Chennai to Bangalore. Prior to installing Riverbed's Steelhead appliances, replication of this file using Oracle's Data Guard application took more than 10 minutes. Following installation of the Steelhead appliances, the replication window dropped from over 10 minutes to two minutes.

The Global Security.org, an International Military and Security Website has placed Tuticorin in its website as a Place of Weapons of Mass Destruction and as India's Special Weapon Facility.

This is due to the Heavy Water Plant, located in Tuticorin City. As this plant manufactures Heavy Water and other materials for Nuclear Plants, Tuticorin has been under the watch of the International Security Agencies and also faces a threat from Terrorist Attacks.

Tuna appears to be the marine product for the year, given the growing global interest. And if plans do not go haywire, India should see at least 3,000 tonne shipped out at an average price of $5 a kg.

Already higher Indian tuna grades (sashmi) are fetching as much as $17 and medium ones $7-8. Over the last one year Indian tuna has made it to major markets, especially Japan, at an astounding pace.

As part of the promotion of tuna fishing, the thrust areas would be Kochi, Tuticorin, Kollam, Chennai, Mangalore, Veraval, Vizag and Mumbai where there would be dedicated tuna-handling facilities.

Aquaculture, quality control and value-addition were the other areas which could help the sector in a big way in the coming years. The authority had several schemes, for this, in place, he added.

Seafood Exporters Association of India national president AJ Tharakan also felt that tuna, the third largest globally traded fish item after shrimp and cephalopods, was going to make waves for the country.

Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu said that the Tamil Nadu Government had given its no-objection certificate to develop Colachel in Kanyakumari district as a major port and his ministry has called for 'letters of intent' for consultancy services for the project.

The foundation would be laid for the project by December, he added.


http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200701161550.htm

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200701161550.htm

That is a master stroke!!!:banana:

New Delhi, Jan 13 - Indian Ocean Cruises, the Indian arm of London-based Foresight Group, along with its Indian representative STIC Travel Group, Saturday launched its cruise off the Goa port for a 14-night round trip.

The cruise, Ocean Odyssey, will travel from Goa touching major trading ports like Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin and the islands of Suheli, Thinnakkara and Cheriyam in Lakshadweep and Colombo tracing the ancient spice route.

'The launch is an initiative to provide the Indian and international travellers with a unique experience of cruising along the ancient routes of the Malabar Coast and experiencing the beauty of the pristine atolls of Lakshadweep Islands,' STIC Travel Group chairman Subhash Goyal said in a statement.

The luxury liner will also be offered in the 3-night, 5-night, 6-night, 8-night and 14-night cruise segments for the same route.


http://www.nerve.in/news:25350030393

Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu said that the Tamil Nadu Government had given its no-objection certificate to develop Colachel in Kanyakumari district as a major port and his ministry has called for 'letters of intent' for consultancy services for the project.

The foundation would be laid for the project by December, he added.http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200701161550.htm

When they will announce the tender for this project? I think they'll try to do it before the tender announcement for Vizhinjam port.

Kerala has been formally told by the central government that its proposed port in Vizhinjam cannot come up because of the involvement of Chinese companies. And now a port coming up in Tamil Nadu is causing the jitters to Kerala, which feels this will dim whatever attraction Vizhinjam held. The Tamil Nadu port will be built at Colachel, just 40km from Vizhinjam.

"The moment the tender for Colachel is announced, there will be no takers for Vizhinjam because of various favourable factors that Tamil Nadu has," said Elias John, the convenor of the Vizhinjam Mother Port Action Council.

But Vijayakumar insisted that Colachel would in no way affect Vizhinjam. "In two weeks, the revised project report would be ready and in eight months the tender procedures would be completed (for Vizhinjam)," the state ports minister said.

According to John, however, eight months could even sound the death-knell for Vizhinjam. His council has started a campaign to speed up the process.

"In Pondicherry they completed the tender formalities for a port in less than two months. We have launched a campaign to pressure the Achuthanandan government to lay the foundation stone of the port on the first anniversary of their government on May 18," said John.http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=127112&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22

Tuticorin port development plans

T.R Baalu announces that a 12 MW windmill station would be commisioned at a cost of 50 crore Rs. to meet the energy needs of the Tuticorin port.

The depth of the port would be increased from its present 10.7 m to 12.8 m. The project cost, 450 crore Rs. has already been allocated.

Source : Dinamalar

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/ArticleImageEx.aspx?article=17_01_2007_004_009&type=1&mode=1

Mega electrification proposal between Villupuram-Tuticorin

Coimbatore, Jan 17. (PTI): The Southern Railways has sent various proposals for electrification, including a mega one between Villupuram and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, a top railway official said on Tuesday. With the railways introducing more than 10 trains, as announced in the last budget, the Southern Railways has sent a mega proposal of Rs 2,500 crore for electrification of Villupuram-Tuticorin to the Railway Board, Thomas Varghese, General Manager, Southern Railway, told reporters here.


http://www.hindu.com/holnus/004200701170312.htm

TIRUNELVELI: With recent talks between officials of the district administration and the executing agencies of the special economic zone at Nanguneri concluding on an encouraging note, Jurong International, a Singapore-based international multi-disciplinary organisation, has submitted its preliminary conceptual master plan for the multi-crore project.

"The Singapore firm, which has completed 800 projects in 110 cities in 30 countries, has got an impressive track record in design and construction, consultancy and facilities management services," a top Government official said.

As per the State Government's plan, the Nanguneri SEZ will have light manufacturing, design and assembly facilities, modern infrastructure facilities of international standards and amenities to attract well-trained work force working across the globe.

The industries to be established will include those manufacturing electronic and telecommunication components, electronic and consumer durable goods, light and precision engineering, information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals etc.

Ready-built factories


According to the conceptual master plan, the industrial sector will include ready-built factories (RBFs), custom-built factories (CBFs), units of multi-national corporations, science, business and hi-tech or information technology parks.

In the utility sector, there will be water and sewage treatment plants, power plants or sub-stations, telecommunication centres etc. Roads conforming to international standards will be laid within the SEZ. Trees, shrubs and flowers will find a place in the landscaping.

Apart from landed housing, medium-rise and high-rise apartments will be constructed for employees and officials.

Amenities


The amenities to be provided in the SEZ will include a convention centre, meeting and conference facilities, hotels, trade offices, banking and postal services, training facilities to upgrade workers' skills, management development centre, food and retail outlets, world-class medical centre, information centre and library, an international school, kindergartens and crèches.

Apart from offices for IT or telecommunications-enabled services, the commercial sector will have dining, retail and entertainment facilities. Recreational services will have clubs, community centres, tennis courts, swimming pools and a golf course. The hillocks on this sprawling land will be developed further to make the entire premises more attractive.

Land utilisation pattern


The land acquired for the SEZ will be developed in the following pattern: industrial purpose - 28.30 per cent; residential - 23.20 per cent; commercial - 2.70 per cent; custom check-point - 0.90 per cent; institutional - 3.40 per cent; sports and recreation - 9.30 per cent; reserve site - 2.40 per cent; green/open space -11.50 per cent; pond - 3.40 per cent; utilities - 3.50 per cent and roads - 11.40 per cent.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/18/stories/2007011809200400.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/18/stories/2007011809200400.htm

Have they started making Televisions in Nanguneri?

They had been always claiming that it will be the first in India to manufacture Television picture tubes.

Have they started making Televisions in Nanguneri?

They had been always claiming that it will be the first in India to manufacture Television picture tubes.

Nanguneri SEZ was a dream project for the people of south TN, but it has remained only a dream for more than 6 yrs.

There has been lots of projects and promises proposed in the past but none has fructified. They once promised for a windmill equipment manufacturing and renewable enery related SEZ. Then came then TV manufacturing project and earlier there was also promise for developing pharma companies.

Nanguneri has always been the symbol of neglection of south TN. I hope they take up this issue seriously before this region becomes another Telangana.

The developments in the recent past like the Sethu Samudhram project, development activities at Tuticorin port, and steps taken towards making Colachel a major port has given renewed hopes for the region. By the end of this decade we could see a prosperous south TN.

Outer harbour and shipbuilding yard to be developed at an outlay of Rs. 5,750 crores

Tuticorin : The Tuticorin Port Trust planned to develop the outer harbour at a cost of Rs.4,350 crore and establish a shipbuilding yard on the port premises on an outlay of Rs.1,400 crore to augment port activities, said N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust.

The chairman said that the deepening of harbour basin and channel, to be carried out as part of the development projects, would enable the port to handle vessels up to 12.8 metre draught from the present 10.7 m draught.

"As part of the inner harbour development project, Berth 9 would be constructed, besides carrying out dredging in the area."

On the shipbuilding yard project, he said a Korea company conducted a feasibility study.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/22/stories/2007012204970300.htm

I think that Korean Company has finally chosen Cuddalore for its Ship building yard..The govt proposed ship building yard might come up in Tuti.

I think that Korean Company has finally chosen Cuddalore for its Ship building yard..The govt proposed ship building yard might come up in Tuti.

yeap thats what I heard too. Even though the SBY will go Cuddalore, Tuticorin will be benefited for many other reasons. TPT has a bigger role in east costal ports.

yeap thats what I heard too. Even though the SBY will go Cuddalore, Tuticorin will be benefited for many other reasons. TPT has a bigger role in east costal ports.

The Korean company has chosen cuddalore for shipbuilding yard but as anniyan said the race for government promoted SBY is still on. Tuticorin port has sent a 1,400 crore proposal to the centre for SBY and waiting for approval. If the project gets approved then it would be implemented in the next 3 to 4 yrs.

be interesting to see the details of the additional reactors....maybe in a few days

Indo-Russia N-deal on the cards
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-01-22T222958Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-284639-1.xml

India and Russia are expected to strike a deal that will allow Moscow to build four additional nuclear power plants at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

Russia signs pact for building four more nuclear reactors

Russia today signed an agreement with India for construction four more nuclear reactors in Kudankulam project in Tamil Nadu.

Putin said "we consider as extremely important completion of the construction project in Kudankulam."

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200701251656.htm

Russia signs pact for building four more nuclear reactors
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/001200701251656.htm

How far is Kudankulam from Tuticorin?

...and found it myself

http://i3.tinypic.com/2empiea.jpg

Well it sounds like its going to become a stragic location with Sethu samuthiram project, an airport at Kanyakumari (?) and the major sea port at Colachel (?). This will help to bring International attention and resources to Kanyakumari.

How far is Kudankulam from Tuticorin?

...and found it myself

http://i3.tinypic.com/2empiea.jpg

Well it sounds like its going to become a stragic location with Sethu samuthiram project, an airport at Kanyakumari (?) and the major sea port at Colachel (?). This will help to bring International attention and resources to Kanyakumari.

Well if everything goes well the sethu samudhram and Colachel port will be ready say in 3 years time.

But i dont think AAI would think for an airport at Kanyakumari because Trivandrum is just 80kms and Tuticorin is 130 kms from here. The development of Tuticorin airport would certainly be a boon to this region.

Cruise shipping in India has already began to attract many domestic and foreign tourists. This trend should be well utilised by Tuticorin to promote tourism in the region. Already a few cruise ships have docked here in the past, and there could be lot more in the future.

A vivid plan has to be drawn to include trips to tourist places like Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram and even Madurai depending on how long the ship would dock here. Even Tuticorin could also be included in the proposed helicopter service from Madurai. In this way tourists could be flown to Madurai in not more than 30 mins.

Im not sure if the above idea could be implemented?. But these could be the ways to attract more cruise ships. Tourism could be the way out for the yet un explored south TN.

Tuticorin has also been included in the list of places to be covered by the helicopter service from Madurai. The helicopter from Madurai to Thiruchendur will operate via Tuticorin. The service will start from the tamil new year day. This could be a boon to the cruise ship tourists in particular and to tuticorin people in general.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=91989&code=19209

Tuticorin: Hemant Kumar, Divisional Manager, Southern Railway (Madurai division), has said that the Tuticorin railway station would be upgraded to a `model station', enhancing the infrastructure facilities by leaps and bounds.

Interacting with a group of industrialists, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tuticorin, here on Saturday evening, he said that new facilities like foot over-bridge connecting the first and second platforms, a VIP lounge and a waiting hall, among others, would be established at an `estimated outlay' of Rs.1 crore to help the station attain the status.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/29/stories/2007012911750300.htm

Tuticorin: N. K. Raghupathy, chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT), has said that delay in according environmental clearance to the infrastructural developments during the last two years, to meet the increasing volume of cargo traffic, has a bit slowed down the progress of the port.

Delivering special address at a function organised by the TPT on its premises on Friday, he said "though myself envisaged to handle 200 lakh tonnes of cargo and five lakh Twentifoot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of containers during the current fiscal, it's not possible to reach that mile stone owing to inadequate infrastructure in the port."

"We are expecting to handle 180 lakh tonnes of cargo and 3.6 lakh TEUs of containers during the current financial year," he added.

Mr. Raghupathy said that the TPT managed to register growth continuously for the last five fiscals and record cargo traffic to the tune of 171 lakh tonnes handled during 2005-06 fiscal. The net surplus during the last five years has increased from around Rs.40 crore in 2001-02 to about Rs.100 crore in 2006-07.

According to him, the Centre should quickly clear the entire development projects envisaged for the augmentation of port facilities here during the XI Five Year Plan, to help the port to remain competitive in the changing global trade scenario. The Chairman said the Union Minister for Shipping, T.R. Baalu, has announced investment of around Rs.7,000 crore for the development of port during the 11th plan period.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/29/stories/2007012904680200.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/29/stories/2007012911750300.htm

Good news, waiting to see the changes.

Multiple layers of safety are being built into the two Russian reactors under construction at Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, and the reactors can withstand natural disasters such as tsunami, earthquakes and cyclones, according to S.K. Agrawal, Director (Projects), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). The NPCIL is building the two reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MWe, on the Koodankulam coast.

A public hearing is to be held at the township at Chettikulam near Koodankulam on January 31 on the construction of four more Russians reactors (three to six) of 1,000 MWe each at Koodankulam for which a memorandum of intent was signed on January 25 by India and Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit.

When the tsunami devastated the nearby Kanyakumari coast, killing scores of people in December 2004, no water entered either the nuclear power project site or the township situated some km away because of their grade-level, Mr. Agrawal said. (Raised ground level is called grade-level).

Cyclones and earthquakes had been factored into the design of the reactor buildings, that can withstand air-crashes and shockwaves from explosions.

The fuel — enriched uranium — is encased in tubes, which are housed in the reactor pressure vessel made of a 22 cm-thick stainless steel wall. The vessel, which weighs 330 tonnes, is filled with water, which acts as a shield.

The vessel itself is kept inside a concrete vault whose wall is one metre thick. The vault is surrounded by a double containment dome.

The dome has a 1.2 metre-thick wall, its inside covered by a steel lining of six mm thickness. The weld joints in the lining are tested for leak-tightness. Then comes the secondary containment of 60 cm thickness.

Mr. Agrawal said: "This is the kind of multi-layered safety we are building into the reactors. Even in a hypothetical situation, if there is an uncontrolled rise of temperature which can melt the fuel, there is a core-catcher which is provided below the reactor pressure vessel to hold the molten fuel so that no radiation goes out into the atmosphere."

In an emergency, the reactor stopped automatically without any human intervention.

The NPCIL had given "a categorical assurance" that no water from the Pechipparai reservoir in Kanyakumari district would be used for the power plant, he said.

Desalination plant

A desalination plant, which would serve the needs of the reactors and the township, was working.

No irradiated water would be let into the sea from the reactor.

"We draw the sea water from the same place [where the coolant water is let into sea], desalinate it and use it as drinking water in the township. Will we compel any family to drink irradiated water?" Mr. Agrawal asked.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/30/stories/2007013005151300.htm

CM lays foundation stone for Combined Drinking Water Scheme at an outlay of Rs.616 Crores

RAMANATHAPURAM: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu Water Drainage Board and Local Administration officials to complete the Ramanathapuram Combined Drinking Water Scheme within two years.

He was speaking at a function organised at Paramakudi near here on Tuesday after laying the foundation stone for the Rs.616-crore project.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that though officials aimed to complete the mega scheme within three years, they should complete the project in two years. If they succeeded, he would extend a reward to those involved in the work.

Considering the sufferings of the people of the district, his Government announced the mega scheme in its first budget, which was submitted in the Assembly within two months of assuming office. Though the scheme would not meet all the expectations of the people, it would certainly take care of the drinking water needs of the people to a great extent, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

The scheme would also cater to the water requirements of the wayside districts such as Pudukottai and Sivaganga. A pipe to the length of 840 km would be laid from Tiruchi via Thirumayam, Thiruppattur, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram to Rameswaram. All areas in the Ramanathapuram district would be covered.

Each resident in rural hamlets and town panchayats would be supplied 40 and 70 litres a day respectively. Each person living in the municipal limits would get 90 litres a day.

A total of 20 lakh people would be benefited under the scheme, the Chief Minister said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/31/stories/2007013107890400.htm

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin District Passengers' Welfare Association (TDPWA) has urged the Ministry of Railways to introduce more trains to Tuticorin, as major industrial houses like Sterlite, SPIC and Tuticorin Alkali and Chemicals, heavy water plant and port, were located in the town.

M. Piramanayagam, secretary of TDPWA, in a memorandum submitted to the Divisional Manager of Southern Railway (Madurai division), said that it is really pathetic that only two express trains, one to Chennai Egmore and another to Mysore, were operated from this industrial town, keeping the station idle for major part of the day.

He pointed out that considering the convenience of people to attend the cases coming up before the High Court Bench in Madurai, a passenger train should be operated between Tuticorin and Madurai in the morning.

The association also demanded that an overnight express train connecting Tuticorin with Coimbatore should be introduced to augment trading activities.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/31/stories/2007013107970300.htm

RAMANATHAPURAM: Massive lagoons, white sand, calm sea, gentle waves, pure air, beautiful islands and dazzling underwater coral gardens are some of the untapped natural gifts off the Ramanathapuram coast.

Now, plans are afoot to tap the potential and transform the area into a top beach tourist destination in the country, next only to Goa.

A group of non-resident Indians, a Tiruchi-based hotelier and a Kerala-based hotelier have purchased 1000 acres of sandy areas and taken steps to get Government approval for building beach resorts.

The district is blessed with 270-km-long coast. There are 21 islands along the coast, from Rameswaram to Tuticorin.

In and around these islands lies one of the richest coral reef formations in the world. On the other side of the shore, from Rameswaram to Thondi, the sea is not only calm but also has an excellent beach.

The private players want to utilise these natural resources to create facilities similar to those in the Maldives. The idea is to woo foreign tourists to stay and explore for at least a week.

Ideal destination

"I have no doubt that Ramanathapuram will be in the world tourism map very soon. It possesses a perfect natural combination for the ideal holiday destination," says V. Vasudevan, managing director, Sangam Group of Hotels, the first to purchase the beach area.

"The general route for tourists from England, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and France is Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Madurai, which is purely temple-related heritage tourism. They expect much more. The sea in Chennai and other parts is aggressive and not suitable for beach tourism. If beach tourism is developed along the Ramanathapuram coast, we can expect more European tourists to Tamil Nadu," he says.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/01/stories/2007020113710300.htm

Very True,
I really liked the beach and sea in Rameswaram. It was peaceful quiet and nice to swim, infact parts of it around dhanushkodi seems to have torquouise blue color, I wish TTDC does something about it and promote beautiful beaches around.
can anyone put pics around, proximity to Srilanka/Kerala can add tourist potential.

But Tourists could spoil the natural beauty and commercialisation could turn out to be a bane too (like Goa)

the breakdown of a dredger in operation at the Sethusamudram ship canal project has affected work at the Adams Bridge, Mr N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman and Managing Director of Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd, said.

"We are making alternative arrangements. It will take 15-20 days for work to resume in the area", Mr Raghupathy explained.

The spud (driller) of cutter-suction dredger Aquarius, while drilling in the Adams Bridge, broke and got buried deep into the soil. thangam, a floating tug crane from Chennai, was hired to retrieve the spud. However, while trying to retrieve the spud, thangam’s locking key in the gearbox broke and the crane could not work, according to sources.

Mr K. Suresh, Chairman of Chennai Port Trust, said a team of engineers had rushed to the spot and Thangam would be tugged to Tuticorin for repairs. An assessment of the damage would be done, and the tug sent back in a few days to Adams Bridge to retrieve the spud.

http://www.eximin.net/past_news/news_template.asp?newsid=26525

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has announced its participation in the IDX joint shipping service, for trade between India and the Indian Subcontinent and the US East Coast, effective from January 2007.

The IDX service is OOCL’s first direct service between India and the US East Coast and comes in response to increased customer demand for quality service from India’s fast-growing market.

The IDX service deploys eight vessels with a capacity of 2,500-2,600 TEUs each, with extensive port coverage on the West Coast of India. It also provides fast transit time for cargo from Karachi relayed over Mundra.

"We are excited about this new service, which will provide a direct link from India to the US East Coast", said Mr Stephen Ng, Senior Vice-President, Trans-Pacific Trade, in an OOCL release.

The IDX’s fixed weekly schedule covers Colombo, Tuticorin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Barcelona, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Barcelona and Colombo on a 56-day rotation.

OOCL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. Head-quartered in Hong Kong, it is one of the world’s leading container transport and logistics service providers with more than 230 offices in 58 countries.



http://www.exim-india.com/link/htmls/shipping.htm#participates%20in%20IDX%20service

Kovilpatti: The multi-national computer giant, IBM, and National Engineering College, have signed an agreement on Thursday to establish a Centre of Excellence for IBM web sphere software at Kovilpatti.

The centre will be established under the umbrella of IBM Academic Initiative, a global exercise launched by the company to groom computer talent.

College authorities said that the centre would create opportunities for students to carry out research in emerging areas of information technology.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020313340100.htm

Finally there is some light at the end of the tunnel for the much awaited Nanguneri special economic zone (SEZ) project. The private promoter for the project, US-based INFAC group, have now roped in Hyderabad based AMR Constructions as their partner in place of their earlier partner the Avani group of Kolkata.

According to informed sources, the Nanguneri High-Tech Park was originally promoted by both the INFAC group and TIDCO through ATMAC Ltd, a special purpose vehicle. While the INFAC group held bulk of the equity, the state government agency held only 1% stake. The project was conceived as an industrial park for high tech industries including engineering, electronics and pharmaceuticals. The foundation stone for the project was laid wayback in 2001 but never took off as the private promoter could not achieve financial closure.

The INFAC group paid about Rs 4 crore to Rs 4.5 crore for acquiring land but could not go ahead with the project because of financial constraints. So they decided to dilute their stake by bringing in a partner who would pick up majority stake in the project. First they brought in Kolkata-based real estate developer, the Avani Group. But again they could not achieve financial closure. So now they have roped in AMR Constructions who would be picking up about 68% stake in the high-tech park.

With this new partnership, the project is slated to take off very soon.The Hyderabad-based company has infact paid about Rs 6 crore which was due to TIDCO towards land acquisition cost. Also they have agreed to buy the balance portion of land to make it a 2,500 acres project as per the new rules for a multi product SEZ.

Sources said, now that the new partner has come in, things would start falling in place. The US based group along with their partner would prepare a revised master plan with the help of Jurong Corporation of Singapore. TIDCO has infact applied with the board of approval (BOA) for the formal notification for the Nanguneri SEZ. After that, it would become a custom bonded area and both the custom and excise departments would have to do their part of work, they added.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=153602

Tuticorin - Thermal Power Station Conveyor Belt for coal supply

http://i15.tinypic.com/2nc293m.jpg

Tuticorin harbor beach

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1439/indiatrip20062007054ud4.jpg

Tuticorin harbor beach - another view

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9024/indiatrip20062007053dp8.jpg

Tuticorin Thermal Power Station taken from the beach side.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8266/indiatrip20062007055fk9.jpg

Tuticorin lighthouse situated at Hare Island

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/534/indiatrip20062007222ws6.jpg

Tuticorin lighthouse old and new. Old lighthouse was built during the British period. Not enough light as these pics were taken during the dusk of day

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4052/indiatrip20062007234bk4.jpg

DSF Grand Plaza

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/7340/untitledln8.jpg


The Tuticorin based, DSF(Diamond Sea Foods) Group that has many Sea Food Processing and Exporting Facilities in Tuticorin had bought the Charles Theater in V.E. Road in Tuticorin and is constructing this shopping mall.

I found the pic in one of their advertisements. Its going to be opened shortly.

Salient fietures :

1. Ground + 5 floors
2. Escalater to 1st floor and lift facilities
3. 3 star hotel
4. Underground parking

Anyone in tuticorin could update on this.

Yes, I saw the construction work going on. Its a big project coming at the heart of the city. I am not sure when they are going to open it.

DSF Grand Plaza

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/7340/untitledln8.jpg


The Tuticorin based, DSF(Diamond Sea Foods) Group that has many Sea Food Processing and Exporting Facilities in Tuticorin had bought the Charles Theater in V.E. Road in Tuticorin and is constructing this shopping mall.

I found the pic in one of their advertisements. Its going to be opened shortly.

Salient fietures :

1. Ground + 5 floors
2. Escalater to 1st floor and lift facilities
3. 3 star hotel
4. Underground parking

Anyone in tuticorin could update on this.

It is gud to notice even small towns like tuticorin in tamil nadu are seein mall culture.

Move to acquire additional land for Nanguneri Special Economic Zone

TIRUNELVELI: At a time when a sense of euphoria has come to stay in the villages near the proposed Special Economic Zone at Nanguneri, thanks to the boom in real estate business owing to the proposal to have a hi-tech park in the SEZ, the residents of Inaam Alangulam are living with fear of eviction.

The village, situated on the Nanguneri - Ervadi stretch, has five streets with 450 houses. Of them, houses on two streets are on the land belonging to Nanguneri Seer Mutt. Other houses are on patta land.

One hundred and fifty acres of cultivable wetland around the village, also belonging to the mutt, has been feeding the villagers through the `kar' and `pisanam' paddy seasons.

The proposed SEZ is to come up on the barren land east of the village. Officials felt that the land acquired (2,100 acres) was insufficient and decided to acquire 450 acres more.

The villagers were confused when a team of Revenue Department officials recently marked the land and two streets for acquisition.

If the farmland around the village and two irrigation tanks - Mela Kulam and Keezha Kulam - was acquired, the people would be forced to leave the village.

"Instead of acquiring the wetland, around 450 acres of barren land south of Soorankudi, Kadamboduvaazhvu and Kalungadi could be acquired," said Aalai V. Subramanian (65), Communist Party of India's Inaam Alangulam farmers' wing secretary.

A group of farmers from the village, led by the CPI's Nanguneri Union farmers' wing secretary, Perumbadaiyaar, recently submitted a petition to the Collector, G. Prakash.

"When alternative land is available, the administration should look into the possibility. Otherwise, we will mobilise the farmers against any land acquisition and organise an agitation," Mr. Perumbadaiyaar said.

Official sources said that the final decision on acquiring the land was yet to be taken by the Government, which alone could clarify whether the land in the village would be acquired or not.

I hope they solve this issue ammicably.

INFAC group having identified a new partner could set things rolling. Im wondering why TIDCO has just a 1% stake in this project.

Tuticorin: A five-member technical team from Pan Pacific Copper, Japan, visited the town recently to study the industrial practices followed here.

They held an interaction with top officials from Sterlite Copper, an industrial house situated at SIPCOT Industrial Estate off Tuticorin-Madurai Highway.

Kishore Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Sterlite Industries (I) Limited, explained to foreign delegates the safety, quality, human resources and environment norms followed by the company to comply with international market specifications.

In return, the Japanese team shared their experience in the manufacturing of refined copper and precious metals since the company was established by Nippon Mining and Metals and Mitsui Mining and Smelting in October 2000.

They explained how the firm tapped the potential for copper in East Asia as the demand rose in tandem with the economic development of the region over the last few years.

The Sterlite officials - A. Thirunavukkarasu, senior vice-president, Ramesh Nair, vice-president and Sushil Gupta, Chief Financial Officer - took part in the discussion.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/05/stories/2007020503550200.htm

French toursit cruise at Tuticorin

www.dinamalar.com
http://i18.tinypic.com/42n7lmt.jpg

^^ A bit more news ...

French luxury liner calls on Tuticorin port

Tuticorin: Giving a fillip to tourism in the region, m.v. Le Levant, a French luxury cruise liner, arrived with 64 tourists (59 Americans, one German, three Britons and an Indian) and 53 crew members onboard, at Tuticorin port on Monday.

Designed for elite group of discerning cruise travellers, the 100-metre long vessel was equipped with 45 cabins over five decks and it has a shallow draught of 3.5 metres, allowing her to move close to the shore and sail through inland waterways.

Red carpet welcome

The Tuticorin Port Trust officials gave a red carpet welcome to the tourists at the berth. The entire visitors then embarked upon a sightseeing trip to historic and ancient places in Madurai in luxury coaches, en route to Chennai.

"The tourists will board the vessel back at Chennai on February 8 and the voyage will continue to Visakhapattinam and Paradip, before culminating the trip at Kolkatta on February 14", L. Deepak Mark, Assistant Manager, GAC Shipping Limited, vessel agents of Le Levant, told The Hindu.

Of the 64 tourists arrived here, 53 had boarded the ship when it touched the Indian coast at Mumbai on January 29, after it had sailed in from Muscat. The vessel, captained by Remy Jenevaz, then called on ports like Mormugoa (Goa), Mangalore (Karnataka) and Vizhinjam (Kerala), before reaching Tuticorin.

Pleasure trips

The tourists were taken for pleasure trips at these towns, which gave them a glimpse of culture and traditions prevailing in the country for decades.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/07/stories/2007020703330200.htm

The Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) plans a captive group power plant to find a permanent solution to the ``unscheduled power trippings and excessive power tariff in Tamil Nadu ''. It will be floating a special purpose vehicle to set up a 500 mw imported coal-based power project in the port town of Tuticorin. It is estimated to cost Rs 2250 crore. The power cost per unit would be around Rs 2.40.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=154006

THENI: The Railways will conduct an updating survey for laying a new broad gauge line connecting Dindigul and Lower Camp near Goodalur through Batlagundu, Theni, Chinnamanur and Cumbum. It would also conduct a survey for converting existing metre gauge line between Madurai and Bodinaickanur and laying new broad gauge line up to Lower Camp through Chinnamanur and Cumbum, R. Velu, Minister of State for Railways, has said.

Talking to reporters after inspecting the Bodi railway station here on Saturday, Mr. Velu said a survey to lay railway line between Dindigul and Sabarimala at a cost of Rs.529 crore was already held in 1997.

As there was a slim possibility of laying track on hilly terrain, the department would conduct an updated survey to lay a new track up to Lower Camp.

Mr. Velu said doubling work between Villupuram and Tuticorin was under review.

Survey for electrification of Tiruchi-Madurai would be taken up shortly, he said adding that the Pamban Bridge would be opened for traffic before March 31.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/11/stories/2007021104010400.htm

Madurai-Rameshwaram gauge conversion works

Work progressing well on the last stretch between Mandapam and Rameshwaram.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6553/railwayworks0910207mandsp7.jpg

THOOTHUKUDI: The Food Corporation of India, Thoothukudi, recently sought diversion of a ship carrying wheat imports for it to the Chennai Port from the Tuticorin Port. The communication had some accusing fingers pointed at the TPT.

In his message to the FCI Executive Director (South), the Assistant General Manager of the corporation recommended diversion of the vessel mv YICK WING from Tuticorin Port to Chennai Port “...due to the active North East Monsoon, non-availability of required covered accommodation at Tuticorin Port, including a transit shed, and the non-cooperation of the port trust authorities to FCI.”

It was also stated that the TPT was adamant on imposing Penal Berth Hire charges on the FCI stevedoring contractor, though the vessel was discharged within the ‘free time’.

The communication was forwarded to the FCI headquarters in New Delhi with some additions.


http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20070211025627&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

Tuticorin: The Fisheries College and Research Institute will establish a production-cum-demonstration unit for `seafood processing and value-addition' on its premises here at a cost of Rs.45.5 lakhs allocated by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, New Delhi, before the end of the current fiscal.

Of the project cost, Rs.5.5 lakh will be utilised for construction of the building and Rs.30 lakh for the establishment of cold storage, a water purification plant, a power washer, an effluent treatment plant, an air blast freezer and food processors. The rest will be earmarked for purchase of glassware, chemicals and packaging material.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/13/stories/2007021306400600.htm

Following the request of some prospective bidders, the Ennore Port Ltd (EPL) has extended the last date to submit expressions of interest (EoIs) to February 28 for setting up the proposed shipyard project on the East Coast, it was reported. The last date fixed earlier was January 31, 2007.

EPL is the nodal agency for making preliminary preparation towards setting up the shipyard.

The process of selecting the potential developer/operator will begin after assessing the response from the firms.

The new maritime development programme envisages setting up of international-size world-class shipyards on the East and West coasts, besides modernising and expanding the existing yards.

On the East coast, Kakinada, Tuticorin and Ennore have been found suitable for the project.

The yard, to be developed on build, operate and transfer (BOT) licence, will have three large docks, two for building and one for repairing ships. The quayside length will be 2.5 km and the draught 12 metres.


http://www.eximin.net/past_news/news_template.asp?newsid=26681

TUTICORIN: The Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, N. Balaraman, on Wednesday inaugurated a biotechnology laboratory, 20 larvae rearing tanks, an examination hall and a training centre for coastal aquaculture, at the Fisheries College and Research Institute (FCRI) here.

Mr. Balaraman also inaugurated a training programme on aquaculture techniques for 60 women members of self-help groups functioning at Tharuivaikulam and Anandamadam Pacheri.

FCRI Dean V.K. Venkataramani said that the tanks were established at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. They would rear larvae of shrimps, marine ornamental fish and fin fish on a large.

The training centre for aquaculture was set up on an outlay of Rs. eight lakh using funds allocated by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and District Rural Development Agency.

"It's to disseminate aquaculture technologies such as crab and lobster fattening, seaweed culture and shrimp brood stock maintenance to potential entrepreneurs and members of various SHGs," Professor and Head of Maritech Research Centre at FCRI, S. Felix, said.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/15/stories/2007021511720300.htm

Link to news.... (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/17/stories/2007021701231300.htm)

Mumbai Feb. 16 The Chennai-based SSN (Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar) Institutions will invest Rs 1,100 crore on building educational campuses in Tuticorin and Noida and a research centre near Chennai.

Ms Kala Vijayakumar, President, SSN Institutions, told Business Line: "We will be spending Rs 750 crore in the first five years, while Rs 250 crore will be invested over the next five."

The campus at Tuticorin costing Rs 500 crore is proposed by academic year 2009. "It will come up on 1,000 acres of land that we plan to acquire.

"The centre would focus on providing under graduate and graduate courses in science, maths, physics, economics and law," said Ms Vijayakumar.
The trust will spend another Rs 600 crore on an educational institute in Noida, UP, and a research institute in Chennai.

The Noida campus proposed to be ready by academic year 2008, would offer master courses in engineering and management.

"We are in the process of acquiring around 250 acres of land to set up the campus at a capital outlay of Rs 300 crore," said Ms Vijayakumar.

Research centre


The proposed research centre in Chennai would specialise in alternative energy, nano technology and national security, said Ms Vijayakumar. SSN Educational and Charitable Trust, which controls the institution, was founded by Mr Shiv Nadar (Founder of the HCL group and Chairman of HCL Technologies).

All the proposed projects would be financed by SSN Trust, added Ms Vijayakumar, without going into financial details.

The trust had applied for Deemed University status in June 2006 and expects to get it by academic year 2007, added Ms Vijayakumar.

^^ 500 crore educational institution. Great news that Shiv Nadar is setting up the campus in Tuticorin district where he was born.

Great news from Shiv nadar!!!!!

Link to news.... (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/17/stories/2007021701231300.htm)

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin Port Trust has handled 3,22,255 TEUs (Twentifoot Equivalent Unit) of containers in the current financial year till February 16, surpassing 3,21,060 TEUs of containers handled during the entire last fiscal, registering 15.63 percent growth.

Official sources said that this was the highest volume of containers handled in the history of the port.

Similarly, the port has handled 156.82 lakh tonnes of cargo between April 1 and February 16 this fiscal, against 151.78 lakh tonnes of cargo handled during the corresponding period during the last financial year, registering a growth of 5.04 lakh tonnes.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/20/stories/2007022010400300.htm

Madurai, Feb. 20

The first shipment of balcooma copper concentrate of 15,000 tonnes for the Tuticorin-based Sterlite Industries (I) Ltd, produced by Kagara Zinc Ltd, a public limited company in Australia, arrived at Tuticorin Port through the vessel MV Stentor on February 12. The company has entered into a long-term agreement for supply of 1,00,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, equalling 80 per cent of its production, to the Sterlite unit.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/21/stories/2007022101730200.htm

TIRUNELVELI: Much before one of the 2X1,000 MW Russian light water nuclear reactors at Koodankulam attain criticality, power started flowing from the premises when 8 X 1.25 MW wind turbines were commissioned recently.

They were installed on an outlay of Rs. 50 crore as part of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited's (NPCIL) diversification programme.

After the NPCIL decided to step into hydroelectric, thermal and wind power generation sectors as part of its diversification programme, it was proposed to set-up windmills within the Koodankulam premises.

As this emerging `Nuclear park' is located along Muppandal wind farm stretch, the second largest in the world having more than 3,000 windmills, the NPCIL decided to install windmills on its premises to produce 50 MW electricity. They were supplied Suzlon Energy Limited, the largest wind turbine manufacturer in Asia.

Since its inception in 1995, Suzlon has maintained its market leadership in India with over 50 per cent share. In 2005, according the BTM Consult ApS - World Market Update 2005, Suzlon was ranked fifth among wind turbine suppliers in the world.

The hermetically sheltered 1.25 MW high-speed asynchronous wind turbines, designed to achieve increased efficiency and co-efficient of power (Cp) with a multi-stage intelligent switching compensation system delivers power factor up to 0.99. The wind turbine has Advanced Hydrodynamic Fluid Coupling, which absorbs peak loads and vibrations. It is capable of dealing with high-voltage and lightning.

As power started flowing from the turbines, they were connected to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's grid. It has also been planned to install 10 more turbines during the expansion phase, for which the NPCIL Board has given its consent, sources said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022211750300.htm

Tuticorin: Glen Dickson, airport-in-charge here, has said that plans were afoot to introduce night landing facilities here as part of augmenting the operational infrastructure and sustaining the commercial viability of the Tuticorin airport.

New gadgets


Interacting with industrialists at a programme organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday, Mr. Dickson said that gadgets such as Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) and runway lighting would be established shortly to help aircraft land safely during nights.

Runway extension


"We have plans to expand the runway from the present 1,350 metres to 1,800 metres once the required land is acquired. This would facilitate landing of bigger aircraft," he said.

At present, smaller aircraft such as ATR-72 were operating from the airport.

Industrialists from different sectors participated in the interaction.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/01/stories/2007030107260200.htm

They should speed up both the processes namely runway expansion to 6000 ft and setting up night landing facility.

If i remember properly, Air Deccan was planning to introduce 2nd service to Chennai once the night landing facility is made available.

Yes, I guess they assured for second flight to Chennai from Tuticorin once night landing facility is in place. Also, AAI should amass lands now itself, so the expansion at any stage will be easy for them.

They should speed up both the processes namely runway expansion to 6000 ft and setting up night landing facility.

If i remember properly, Air Deccan was planning to introduce 2nd service to Chennai once the night landing facility is made available.

Any updates on the 4 laning of the link road connecting Tuticorin to NH7 near Tirunelveli. This road is being developed under port connectivity project of the NHAI.

Is Air Deccan flying ATR 72 on this route? I was thinking that they are flying ATR 42. Nice to see that they are planning to have another flight.

Four laning in this stretch is very slow. When I saw last time four laning was not done to a full stretch. It was like patch work were some were four and some 2 lanes. Even on the four lane stretch, they haven't laid tar.

Any updates on the 4 laning of the link road connecting Tuticorin to NH7 near Tirunelveli. This road is being developed under port connectivity project of the NHAI.

I think its still ATR 42

Is Air Deccan flying ATR 72 on this route? I was thinking that they are flying ATR 42. Nice to see that they are planning to have another flight.

Thanks for the clarification Jyas. I remember seeing the ATR 42 flight in the TV News. Hopefully Air Deccan should fly in the evening time instead of just waiting for the night landing facility which might take more time.

Pamban Bridge gauge conversion work may now take till April 15 (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/06/stories/2007030607390500.htm)


Tough working conditions may delay the broad gauge conversion of the Pamban Bridge by one more month.

The conversion of the 2.3-km-long bridge, across the Palk Strait between Rameswaram and the mainland, started in June 2006.

Southern Railway had initially planned to complete the work by March 31 and to start traffic on April 1.

Though rails have been re-laid to broad gauge specifications, officials estimate that 10-15 per cent of the work is yet to be completed.

Moreover, the final portion of the work is highly technical, with important safety implications.

225 workers drafted

Experienced employees of the Engineering Workshop at Arakonam and field staff members of the South Central and Northern Railway have been drafted to speed up the work. "We have mobilised 225 workers specialised in bridge work. We have a realistic chance of completing the work by April 15. We will have to review the work again to fix the date for opening the bridge for traffic," said Thomas Varghese, General Manager, Southern Railway, who inspected the work on Monday.

The riveting work was on in different parts of the bridge. So far, 18,000 of the 30,000 rivets have been driven in. The Railway Board was extending all help, Mr. Varghese said.

Test run

A.K. Sinha, Chief Bridge Engineer, Southern Railway, said all safety standards would be met.

After a test run on April 10, the Commissioner for Railway Safety would be called for an inspection.

Mr. Varghese said the progress of the gauge conversion on the Manamadurai-Rameswaram section was satisfactory. The Karaikudi-Manama durai section would be closed on April 1 for gauge conversion.

MADURAI: State Bank of India (SBI) and the Madurai Division of Southern Railway signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here on Wednesday to install Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at eight railway stations for the convenience of the public.

Briefing presspersons, N. Sadasivam, Deputy General Manager, SBI, said the ATMs would be installed at Madurai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Kovilpatti, Kodaikanal Road and Ambathurai railway stations within a month. Efforts were on to set up ATMs at Karaikudi and Manapparai.

The bank also plans to set up Internet ticketing kiosks as an additional service to passengers at Madurai, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Tuticorin stations.

Divisional Railway Manager Hemant Kumar said more than 45,000 passengers were using the services of the Madurai Division every day. Madurai Junction alone catered to more than 11,000 commuters each day. He appealed to the bank to consider installing `point of sales swiping machines' in Tuticorin railway station to ensure hassle-free freight transaction.

State Bank of India Assistant General Managers, E. Lakshmanan, (Operations), B. Rajagopalan (ATM Projects), Local Head Office, and S. Venkataraman (Madurai), took part. M. Suyambulingam, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Alexander Gnanaolivu, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, participated.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/08/stories/2007030815600100.htm

TIRUNELVELI: The work on the construction of an over-bridge at Kulavanigarpuram railway gate is expected to commence within a year.

"If the State Government, which has already agreed in principle for the construction of the rail over-bridge (ROB) to reduce traffic congestion, expected to included in the proposal in the State Budget for 2007 - 08, work on this much-awaited project would commence within a year, as other mandatory formalities would certainly consume a minimum of six to seven months," said the Tenkasi MLA, V. Karuppasamy Panidan, told reporters here on Tuesday.

While the State Government would bear 50 per cent of the project cost, the rest would be borne by the Union Government.

He said that the construction of a ROB at Paavoorchathram railway gate on the Tirunelveli - Tenkasi Highway, was also under consideration and the Railway Ministry would give its nod for the proposal, if it was convinced with the volume of traffic on this stretch.

Mr. Pandian said that efforts were on to get permission from the State Government for a new Government veterinary college near Palayamkottai, as the Department of Education had already got 220 acres of land near Chettikulam on Seevalaperi Road, which was actually acquired for the establishment of Manonmaniam Sundarnar University.

"If the Government Siddha Medical College administration felt that their premises at Murugankurichi is jam-packed, they may also move to that site," he said.

The Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, is expected to tour the district in the third or fourth week of May to lay foundation stone for several development projects, including a college at Surandai, a bridge across Chitttar near Tenkasi, a ROB on Tenkasi - Madurai Road, an auditorium at Sri Parasakthi College, Courtallam, and a combined drinking water scheme, Mr. Pandian said.

The Tenkasi MLA has planned to organise a special camp to issue National Identity Card to the physically challenged on March 10 in the community hall opposite Tenkasi new bus-stand.

"Apart from providing lunch for over 2,500 disabled, we've also made arrangements to drop them in their places in the evening or night if there is no bus-service to their village," Mr. Pandian noted.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/08/stories/2007030803340200.htm

^^
Jyas,
Do you know where this ROB is going to be in? Is it in Tenkasi or in Tirunelveli? That report is a bit confusing unless you know the places.

This ROB is going to come up in Palayamkottai. Its on the Tirunelveli-Nagercoil (NH7) route near Palayamkottai central jail. Traffic is congested for miles when a train passes by.

^^
Jyas,
Do you know where this ROB is going to be in? Is it in Tenkasi or in Tirunelveli? That report is a bit confusing unless you know the places.

Appu Hotels, which owns Le Royal Meridien (part of the US-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide), Chennai, is all set to spread its wings down south and is in the process of setting up hotels one each in Coimbatore, Puducherry and Tuticorin. The company is setting up Rs. 250 crores five-star hotel in Coimbatore and Rs. 100 crores apartment hotel in Puducherry. However, it is still scouting for land in Tuticorin for its third hotel, for which investment figures have not yet been finalized. “The Coimbatore hotel will have around 250 rooms, while the Puducherry apartment hotel and the Tuticorin hotel will have 150 rooms each. Nalina Saravanan, Director- Operations, Le Royal Meridien, Chennai said, “We are also planning to increase the total number of rooms by 450 in the three hotels by the end of 2009, with an investment of Rs. 350 crores.” The Coimbatore and Puducherry properties are expected to be operational by mid-2009. The company is planning to employ about 500 people in Coimbatore, 250-300 in Puducherry and 200 people in Tuticorin.

http://www.jaaydaad.com/index.php?option=com_news&id=1141

A request has been received from Government of Tamil Nadu for development of Colachel Port as a Major Port. Preparation of a Techno-Economic Feasibility and Detailed Project Reports as well as Environmental Impact Assessment Studies for this project have been undertaken.

This information was given by the Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri T.R. Baalu in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=25513

Thanks Jyas. Also, nice to note the Le Meridien's plans for Tuticorin.

Hope the establishment of Colachel port helps in boosting the economy in that region similar to what Tuticorin is experiencing now.

Hope they find the land for construction as soon as possible. So that others can follow their footsteps into Tuticorin.

Thanks Jyas. Also, nice to note the Le Meridien's plans for Tuticorin.

Hope the establishment of Colachel port helps in boosting the economy in that region similar to what Tuticorin is experiencing now.

Highways crawl in Baalu’s backyard

For instance, the Tuticorin project on NH 7 A (Tuticorin- Tirunelveli section) which envisages four-laning of 47.2 km of national highway. Only 22% of the work that started in February 2004 has been completed to date. And this Rs 230-crore project is to provide road connectivity to major ports. The date for completion now is December 2007.

The official reason for the delay for this port connectivity project is that landowners were not adequately compensated by the earlier state government. Added to this, they said that poor performance of the contractors also led to delay in the project.

More : http://www.indianexpress.com/story/25531.html

It has taken NHAI 3 years to complete only 22% :bash:. Will they complete it by the new deadline (Dec 07)????.

Tuticorin-based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) has opened its 180 branch at Bodinayakanur in Theni District. The new branch is fully computerised and networked under core banking solutions and offers anywhere banking facility. The bank had, earlier in the week, opened a branch at Perundurai and inaugurated an ATM at Namakkal. The bank will be opening its 181st branch at Paramakudi during the weekend, said a TMB press release.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/14/stories/2007031401801100.htm

The port town is what drives industry in Tuticorin.

But there is more to Tuticorin than just the port, and therein lies the grouse of its industries. Bad roads, poor connection by rail and air, and lack of good hotels or entertainment centres.

For all that, companies on a global scale have achieved the lowest costs, drawing from a large workforce, good power supply, abundant land — real estate prices are fast increasing — and yes, a good seaport. Many industries across sectors such as non-ferrous metals, fertilisers, chemicals, small and medium industries including traditional industries like salt making, seafood exports, garment exports made it their home.

Yet, it is a small dusty town. It wants to grow into a big, modern city.

Copper town

One of the big-ticket players is Sterlite Industries Ltd of the Vedanta group, a company that is involved in over 4 per cent of the world's copper production. It produces about a million tonnes of copper cathodes and copper rods a year, and 40 per cent of that is from its unit in Tuticorin.

Over 30 per cent of Tuticorin's port facility is devoted to handling Sterlite's materials, 5 per cent of Tuticorin's population is `engaged with Sterlite,' according to company officials.

Mr R. Kishore Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Sterlite Industries, believes that the State Government should have promoted Tuticorin as a manufacturing hub a long time ago.

But doesn't its location affect the town's prospects as an investment destination?

Skills pool

Look at the facilities here, he says. There is the port, more than 2,000 MW of power supply, large tracts of land, water and a good workforce. The human resource is a primary contributor to making Sterlite a benchmark for industries in Japan, US and China. Sterlite is the lowest-cost copper smelter, according to Mr Kumar.

Sterlite employs 800 workers and 600 are from local areas and Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Tirunelveli. It also has 1,200 contract workers entirely from Tuticorin and its neighbourhood.

But things are changing fast. India's labour cost is `modestly cheap' and fast increasing. The Government has to look at creating facilities that will keep it competitive.

Poor links

For Tuticorin, its road connection is a strong point. It is linked to Tirunelveli and Madurai and to the rest of the country from there.

"But look at its airport," he says. For the first time since April it has started functioning with one flight a day to Chennai. No night landing facilities. Even if you arrive in your own aircraft, you'll have to leave by four in the evening because the airport closes at 5.

And there are no international standard hotels in Tuticorin.

Rail link is another problem — just one train a day to Chennai and another to Bangalore.

Alternative to Chennai?

Mr Joe Villavarayar, President, All India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a leading freight forwarder, says Tuticorin can be developed as an industrial hub, an alternative to Chennai.

Tuticorin has as much to offer — its port can be developed to handle car exports and there is a lot less pressure for space. The industry body has approached the State Government to promote an automotive industry and components park.

Efforts are on through the Outer Harbour Project to expand the Tuticorin port with 8-10 berths, of which four would be dedicated to container handling. A port-based SEZ in partnership with TIDCO is also in the pipeline, he said.

A dedicated industrial corridor could be set up along the NH 46 that links Tuticorin to Madurai. The coast road also needs to be developed.

Low employee cost

Mr Villavarayar said academic institutions in Tirunelveli provide skilled workforce.

He himself operates a BPO unit and a number of BPO units are in operation. Employee cost is a fraction of that in Chennai with starting salaries around Rs 3,000.

But Tuticorin needs quality schools and modern facilities. Some modern hotels by hotel chains like Meridien and GRT are in the offing, he said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/16/stories/2007031600842100.htm

The hinterland abutting Tuticorin owes its economic advantage to the Tuticorin port, which has made enormous contribution during the last 33 years since it commenced its commercial operation.

Due to its strategic location in the southern peninsula and assured round-the-clock operations, the port has been the nerve centre of economic activity in south Tamil Nadu.

Emergence of industries such as Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation's fertiliser plant, Tuticorin Alkali and Chemicals, Tuticorin Thermal Power Station, Sterlite Copper Ltd, Dharangadara Chemical Works, and installations of Indian Oil Corporation, Caltex, and Indian Potash Ltd would not have been possible without the port, says Mr N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust.

By attracting cargo from its hinterland comprising south Kerala, south Tamil Nadu, Karur- Tirupur- Salem- Coimbatore area, south Karnataka and central Tamil Nadu, the gateway port has generated huge employment potential in other service sectors especially transport, container freight stations and warehousing.

The emergence of a vibrant small-scale sector around Tuticorin, competitive timber trade from Chennai and Kochi, and export of granite from quarries around Madurai are due to the port to a very large extent. Employment generation in the State and Central Government offices in and around Tuticorin is a direct consequence of the port's emergence as a major infrastructural facility in the country.

A dedicated team of officers and disciplined work force, friendly and customer-oriented government and quasi-government organisations and a network of competent, resourceful and committed shipping industry in Tuticorin add to the advantage the port offers to Tuticorin, and toentire south Tamil Nadu, he adds.

In an interview with Business Line, Mr Raghupathy further tells about the port's important role, and the road ahead for it. Excerpts from the interview:

Given the current scenario, do you foresee Tuticorin's continued dependence on the port?

The socio-economic development of the port's hinterland will continue to be dominated by the port activities in the foreseeable future. Tuticorin's development has centred around the port and existing industries and also those targeted to come up in the port's hinterland will thrive due to continued efficient operations, expansion and development of the port.

The port also has the potential to contribute to the area becoming a thermal and nuclear power hub. The increase in coastal shipping in the aftermath of commissioning of Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project in about two years from now will add to the competitive edge of the industries in the port's primary hinterland.

How do you assess the port's performance last fiscal?
The port had two very good years in 2004-05 and 2005-06 when its traffic increased from 136.5 lakh tonnes to 171.4 lakh tonnes, though this placed enormous strain on its young infrastructure. We lost the two years in fighting for environmental clearance. This growth was achieved despite limited industrial growth in the port's primary hinterland in the recent past.

Nevertheless, during 2006-07, the port will be achieving a traffic of about 178 lakh tonnes, which will be yet another all time record. The lack of additional capacity, however, ensured that we could not capitalise fully on wheat and fertiliser imports during the year. The port will achieve container traffic of about 3.75-lakh TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units), a growth of about 17 per cent over last year.

Due to effective cost control, our surpluses have always been high. This year, the net surplus will jump to over Rs 100 crore — for the first time in the port's history. We had the second lowest operating ratio (operating expenditure to operating income) in the country in 2005-06 and we are likely to maintain a similar trend this year.

Tuticorin port has been very proud of its improvement in productivity or efficiency parameters since 2002. The only dampening factor in our performance during the fiscal year 2006-07 will be our inability to maintain this trend due to change in cargo mix and infrastructure constraints. The overall performance is by and large satisfactory. The loss of two years in building infrastructure can be made up only during the end of 2008-09.

What other cargos can be developed in Tuticorin through the help of the port trust?

Tuticorin has enormous potential to become the thermal power hub of the region with the port providing supporting infrastructure for handling of the main raw material (coal). Container handling is another area where there is a huge possibility for expansion, given the port's past record in efficient handling of containers and its ability to attract mainline vessels.

Though the vast open area in the vicinity of the port at negligible price offers scope for industrial development - heavy, medium and small-scale industries alike - water for industrial use is an issue. Desalination is an alternative, which needs to be explored. If Government sponsored initiatives for industrial development in the vicinity of the port are forthcoming, such issues can be easily overcome. Development of ship building industry with its ability to generate employment is another activity, which needs encouragement in Tuticorin.

The port's initiative in offering land and other infrastructure for NLC-TNEB power plant is likely to bear fruit within the next few months, if a prudent and pragmatic approach is adopted by the authorities in granting permission for reclamation of land by the power plant in the port. The 2x500 MW thermal power plant appears to be in the final phases of approval. Port land has been offered to another 1,000 MW thermal power plant by the TNEB at concessional rates.

With no need for creation of any additional port infrastructure for handling coal for the new TNEB power plant, it is feasible that the groundwork on the plant will commence in about two years from now.

The port's proposal to develop its Outer Harbour-Phase I through public private partnership will lead to a harbour with 14.8 m draft by 2011-12. If this project materialises by the targeted time, Tuticorin will truly become a regional transhipment hub for container traffic with a quay length of at least 1.5 km.

How was container growth last year?

Container growth rate continues to be impressive with a growth of almost 17 per cent in 2006-07.

But for limited infrastructure available for container handling, this growth rate could have even tripled during the year.

Though the average TEUs handled per hour per quay crane in Tuticorin Container Terminal continues to remain the highest in the country, with only three quay cranes — not all of them can be deployed on most vessels at the same time — the vessel rate is low.

This is not surprising given the effective quay length of only 340 metres in the existing terminal.

It is notable that the terminal has been able to hold its own with an impressive growth in spite of terminals in its vicinity operated by a multinational company.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/17/stories/2007031700882100.htm

Nagercoil: The Government has decided to give a facelift to Kanyakumari.

According to sources, the Government has allotted a sum of Rs. 20 crores for the beautification of Kanyakumari. In the first phase, a sum of Rs.2.58 crore has been allotted to develop basic amenities.

A sum of Rs.52.07 lakh has been allotted to set up a footpath, handrails and floor tiles from the gateway to Kanyakumari, from Vivekananda Kendra to Gandhi Mandapam.

The Government has allotted a sum of Rs.75 lakh to provide landscaping in front of Gandhi mandapam, Kamarajar mandapam and railway station.

Signboards and tourist maps would be installed in various parts of the district.

The Thiruvaluvar statute would be given a facelift. Renovation of the statue was going on and would be completed at the earliest.

Before April

The Tourism Minister, N. Suresh Rajan, who held a meeting with officials directed them to complete the works on or before the end of April.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/17/stories/2007031716340100.htm

More attention and funds need to be given to Tuticorin port. They have shown their efficiency very well.

TIRUNELVELI: The Minister for Tourism, N. Suresh Rajan, distributed free LPG connection with stove to the poor, land to landless farmers and welfare measures at a function at Sivagiri on Sunday. While 1,418.91 acres were given to 864 farmers, 819 below poverty line families received gas stoves.

Presiding over the function, the Speaker, R. Avudaiyappan, listed out the achievements of the State Government in the past 10 months.

Mr. Suresh Rajan informed that the work on the hi-tech park at Nanguneri, capable of providing direct and indirect employment to "over 2 lakh youths", would commence shortly. The Minister for Environment and Pollution Control, T.P.M. Maideen Khan, MLAs M. Appavu and V. Karuppasamy Pandian, the Collector, G. Prakash, and others spoke.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/19/stories/2007031903820200.htm

Tuticorin March 19 To most, dried flowers would mean shrivelled, withering plant material destined to the dustbin, but not in Tuticorin. Here dried flowers mean glossy, shining, perfumed arrangements of plants and agriculture waste meant to be a showpiece at home.

The coming year is expected to be a good one for dried flowers exporters based in Tuticorin.

Over the years they have moved from bulk and commodity exports to direct exports.

According to Mr Amit Lodha, Director, Ramesh Flowers Pvt Ltd, which is in its 25th year of business, the company expects to close the year with a turnover of Rs 60 crore, and is confident of at least a 10 per cent growth in the coming year. The trend is expected to hold for sometime.

According to Mr Lodha, Ramesh Flowers caters to leading retailers such as Ikea and Wal-Mart. Designers are now coming in to develop new product ranges, he said.

Earlier, exporters had to deal with third-party importers. The dried plant materials were exported as `loose botanicals' and the arrangements would be made in China, Thailand or Sri Lanka. But the companies have shifted to direct exports over the years, Mr Lodha said.

Mr Russell Motha, President, Hogewoning, another leading exporter of dried flowers, says the company is coming into its own after a decade in the business.

With the marketing tie up with leading retailers in Europe and the US, the company is on growth path.

About investments in the business, he says it is not about money but the wealth of a decade-long experience.

Earlier the industry was subjected to seasonal cycles - all buying from the West is based around the Christmas season. That would mean a July-August shipping peak.

But Hogewoning, a Dutch joint venture, has built a customer base around the world and caters to various markets. This would be the first year for the company without the seasonal pressures.

It has sufficient marketing arrangements with leading retailers who build up inventories throughout the year. Also, the company depends on its partner for just 10 per cent of its marketing, Mr Motha said.


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032001161100.htm

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=158390


Vedanta group flagship Sterlite Industries, which recently completed its capacity expansion at the copper smelter in Tuticorin from 3 lakh tonne to 4 lakh tonne by debottlenecking, is looking at further enhancing its capacity by another 2 lakh tonne.
“We are currently doing a feasibility study to understand the viability of expanding the capacity at Tuticorin,” said Agarwal.
The smelting and refining costs at Tuticorin are one of the lowest worldwide. The expansion is expected to further help in reducing the costs of production.

Plan to tap floodwater from Tamirabarani

Public Works Department Minister S. Durai Murugan on Monday inspected cement lining of the Kannadiyan channel and explored the possibility of taking the surplus water of the Tamirabarani to the "rain-shadow" regions of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts through a 68-km-long channel, from Vellankuzhi near Cheranmahadevi to M.L. Thaeri.

The Rs. 198-crore project will use the huge quantum of the Tamirabarani's floodwater, which drains into the Gulf of Mannar every year, to irrigate crops on 19,710 hectares in 22 villages in Tirunelveli and 14 villages in Tuticorin district.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032005070300.htm

Tuticorin: The `deliberations' in the political circles whether to shift the Tuticorin railway station to Milavittan or not, took an ugly turn on Tuesday with the bandh called by DMK and its allies to press their demand for shifting, turned violent.

While DMK and its allies wanted the station to be shifted to Milavittan, situated about 7 km from here, to ease the traffic congestion in the town during the closure of three railway gates, their rivals AIADMK are opposing the move.

T. S. Subbiah, president, Federation for People's Right, accused that both the faction were marching ahead with a `political vision,' rather than doing any analytical study on the topic.

"Why the issue gained political significance now, after the Railways had spent crores of rupees on modernisation of the station?"

Railways stance


Speaking to The Hindu , Hemant Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (Madurai division), ruled out the possibility of shifting the railway station to Milavittan.

"We had already invested huge amount to convert the Tuticorin station into a `model station' by carrying out infrastructure development works on a huge outlay during the last few years," he said.

Besides, projects worth Rs one crore are in the pipeline to further enhance the facilities for the comfort of the passengers, including the establishment of a pit lane.

Budget hotel


Mr. Kumar said that a budget hotel would be established by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation near Tuticorin station soon.

Flyovers


To ease the traffic congestion owing to closure of three railway gates in the town, he said the Railways had decided to build flyovers at Railway gate no: 1 and No: 2, on a cost-sharing basis with State Government agencies.

"The construction of a flyover at Railway gate No: 3 is already under way," he said.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/21/stories/2007032110610400.htm

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DNL20070322235524&Title=Latest+News+Page&lTitle=L%FBP%A3+%F9Nn%A7Ls&Topic=0

I hope the establishment of Anna University at Tirunelveli is a stepping stone of future industrialization of this area.

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Highways Authority of India and the Tuticorin Port Road Company Limited, a special purpose vehicle here on Monday, to carry out four-laning of the NH-7A connecting Tuticorin port with Tirunelveli.

As per the agreement, the TPT will contribute 11 per cent or Rs.25 crore, whichever is lesser, of the total cost of Rs.231.2 crore envisaged for the project.

The MoU was signed by S. Natarajan, Chief Accounts Officer, on behalf of TPT, Ashok Wasson, Chief General Manager, for NHAI, and Sharma Manoj, General Manager, NHAI, for Tuticorin Port Road Company Limited.

N.K. Raghupathy, chairman, TPT, handed over a cheque for Rs.5 crore, as first instalment of the port's share towards the project.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/27/stories/2007032709750300.htm

New Delhi March 27 Russia could commence nuclear fuel supplies for the Koodankulam atomic power project over the next three months.

The Russian Government has told the Indian side that it has already co-ordinated the issue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is ready for the first supply for the facility in Tamil Nadu, which is being built with Russian participation.

"The Russian side has already co-ordinated the supply with IAEA and clearances have been obtained for the first supply for Koodankulam by the second quarter of 2007," a Government official said. Russia has committed to refuel Koodankulam throughout its service.

The project's first unit is likely to be commissioned in the second half of 2008, the second one in 2009.

The Russian Government has provided India with a long-term credit, which covers almost half of the total cost of $2.6 billion entailed in setting up the project.

Besides the two 1,000 MW units under construction at Koodankulam, Russia is contemplating the construction of four new units at the same site. In all, Russia could be building up to 10 nuclear units across various sites in India subject to the progress made by the country in its forthcoming negotiations with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

There is also the possibility of India getting access to nuclear fuel supplies from the proposed Angarsk International Uranium Enrichment Centre being set up by Russia for supply of uranium to countries with nuclear energy programmes under IAEA safeguards. The International Uranium Enrichment Centre, which Russia is setting up in collaboration with countries such as Kazakhstan under IAEA supervision at the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant in Eastern Siberia, could start full-fledged operations as early as by the middle of this year.

The Centre is expected to produce only low-enriched uranium, which cannot be diverted for building nuclear weapons.


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/28/stories/2007032802301000.htm

[12 February 2007]
Tuticorin project may be delayed

PM News Bureau
December 2009 deadline envisaged for the completion of the 1,000 mw Tuticorin project may be missed. The project is yet to receive investment and environment clearances. There is delay in issuing Letter of Award which was scheduled for January 2007.
The project envisages setting up the 1,000 mw coal-based project at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore. It will be jointly implemented by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/2932007/mdm_railway[1]%203%20-%20CLR.jpg

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=114209&code=18955

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=114209&code=18955

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=114209&code=18955

Packaging machines used at Pamban Bridge as part of the Gauge conversion of the bridge

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/Web/Madurai/Article/2007/03/29/001/29_03_2007_001_007.jpg

Courtesy Dinamalar.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Reliance Industries Ltd., plans to build two gas pipelines in southern India, the government said on Friday, that could help the energy explorer supply gas from its deep-sea fields to retail consumers.

The petrochemicals to oil refiner aims to produce 80 million cubic metres of gas a day (mmscmd) by mid-2008 from its two fields in the prolific Krishna Godavari basin.

Oil Ministry said in an advertisement on Friday that Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure Ltd., a group firm, had submitted a proposal to lay a 670 km pipeline from Chennai to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
It also wants to build another 660 km pipeline from Chennai to Mangalore in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, via Bangalore, the ministry said.

The advertisements in local newspapers did not disclose the cost of the two projects, and a Reliance spokesman could not give details immediately.

Reliance is already constructing a 1,400 km pipeline to transport natural gas from the deep-sea fields off India's east coast to the western regions of the country.

Earlier this month, P.M.S. Prasad, head of Reliance's oil and gas business, said the company planned to build city gas distribution networks in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal.

The Oil Ministry said the two new projects were to be developed on a common carrier basis, making it mandatory for Reliance to offer 33 percent of each pipeline's total capacity to other firms.

"The interested party would have to enter into a take or pay contract or any other mutually agreeable contract with the owner for usage of the proposed pipeline," the ministry said.

India produces 95 mmscmd of gas and the government expects this to rise to more than 190 mmscmd by 2009 after a series of gas finds off the east coast, including by Reliance, come on stream.

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2007-03-30T144038Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-292694-1.xml

It also wants to build another 660 km pipeline from Chennai to Mangalore in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, via Bangalore, the ministry said.
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2007-03-30T144038Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-292694-1.xml
The Chennai-Mangalore pipe line also runs approx 300kms in TN. They can have a tapping point at Vellore for supply to Salem city.

The only city put into deal is coimbatore in the reliance gas pipe line project!

They may extend a branch line from Tiruchi to coimbatore via Karur, Erode, Tirupur. No chance that they will miss out on major urban centres