Overview
The objective of thread is to promote Salem and create awareness about life, Business, Education, Politics, Transportation, Investments, Real estate, infrastructure, projects etc. in and around salem region. It covers Salem, Mettur, Attur, Sankagri, Namakkal, Tiruchengodu, Rasipuram, Hosur, Dharmapuri, Erode, Krishnagiri and Hosur.

Population figures
Salem stands in fifth place in the state of Tamil Nadu in terms of the population. In reality the net population of the city is more than that of Tiruchchirappalli, which is said to be the fourth largest city. The population figures shown in the census for Salem are given excluding many important suburbs like Kondalampatti, Kannankurichi, Malla Moopanpatti etc. which have been included into Salem City Municipal Corporation limits many years ago. The total urban population of Salem district is about 13,90,000 whereas that of Trichy is only 11,39,000. And also, the total area covered by Salem city Municipal Corporation is 94 square km, and many important suburbs like Ayodhyapattinam, Dasanaikenpatti, Mohan Nagar, Uthamacholapuram, Chinna Kollapatti are not included into city limits. Wherein Trichy corporation limits extend very much outside urban limits. Salem is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu in terms of population density. The population of the city and suburbs alone is over 1,00,000.

History
The name 'Salem' appears to have been derived from Sela or Shalya by which the term refers to the country around the hills, as in the inscriptions. Local tradition claims Salem as the birth place of Tamil poetess Avvaiyar.

Salem was taken from Hyder by Colonel Wood in the beginning of 1768. But it was recaptured by Hyder towards the end of the year 1772. Under Lord Clive in 1799, it was again occupied by a detachment of the residents stationed at Sankari drag and remained a military station till 1861 when the troops were altogether withdrawn.

Economy
Salem is known as the Mango city in Tamilnadu, India. Its mangoes are sent to various parts of the state and even outside the state. It also has a steel plant run by the SAIL and the brand Salem Stainless Steel is very widely known. Salem is also occasionally known as Steel City. It's also famous for Sago, Bauxite, Lorry Body building, Hand loom Weaving. Salem is one of the largest producers of traditional silver anklets, which is popular among women of India.

It has magnesite deposits, second largest in India. The companies like Dalmia and TANMAG have mines here. Salem also boasts of a large sago industry. The Leigh Bazaar market is one of the largest regional markets for agro products.

Salem had a very active film production (not so active now according to Anna K), with former Modern Theatres Studios being the hub of Tamil film production. Now defunct Modern Theatres had produced some of the most successful Tamil films, in which many veteran actors have acted, including former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran (known as MGR).

Shevapet is the prime commercial market place of the city, with densely built buildings.

Besides, Salem Steel Plant, SAGOSERVE, Dalmia Magnesite Corporation, Burn Standard, PowerGrid, TANMAG which are located in the city and suburbs, Mettur (50 km from Salem city) has SISCOL, MALCO, Chemplast, Thermal power plant, Hydel power plant and huge number of chemical industries.

Salem Steel Plant, SAGOSERVE, TANMAG, Burn Standards, Dalmia Magnesites, Tata Refractories are some of the notable industrial units of the city. POWERGRID has a station on the Steel Plant Road.

There is an exclusive Electrical and Electronics Industrial Estate in the Suramangalam area of Salem city. Also, Coimbatore-Salem Industrial Corridor is considered to be one of the highest investment attraction center in next 5yr plan.

Export Commodities:

Textiles, yarn, granites, readymade garments, mangoes, coir products and Salem stainless steel

Import Commodities:

Pulses, grams, edible oil

People and culture
Most people of Salem are of Kongu Race. A lot of Kannadigas, Malayalis and Gujaratis also live in Salem. Tamil is the widely spoken language in Salem. Apart from Tamil, people with Telegu, Kannada and Sourashtra languages as their mother tongue are also in large number especially with in the town limits of Salem. People here are of workaholic nature, we can see busy roads right from early morning to late night.

Food here is one of the tasteful aspects of this city. Lot of hotels are famous for their own special items. Especially, the night time fast foods of Salem are quite famous.

Cinema theatres are the main source of recreation in Salem. Once Salem used to have the most theaters in Tamil Nadu. Even now we can see a lot of theaters in and around the city. The newly built multiplex (equipped with latest technology) is the latest addition to cinema lovers of the city. Salem also has a golf course on the way to Salem steel plant. Anna park, and two amusement parks in Salem suburbs attract the kids. Yercaud is the recreation place for most of the people in Salem, especially youngsters. Yercaud is just a one hour drive away from Salem city center. Lot of working people in Salem come here during weekends to enjoy the cooler climate of Yercaud.

Education
Once Salem region is considered as a backward region for education, now has two universities, 5 medical colleges, over 75 Engineering colleges, hundreds of Art and Science Colleges and thousands of Schools.

The Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Hospital at Salem will be upgraded to a multi-speciality hospital with an equivalent status of AIIMS.
A total number of 16 hospitals across the country have been identified to be upgraded in this scheme. The Salem Govt Hospital is one among them.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006june23/general_ind3.asp

South India's leading transport Solutions Group, KPN Travels, head-quartered in the city goes online.
http://www.kpntravels.in

PS: Salem is the only city in which KPN operates city bus services.

The composite district of Salem (The present Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts) has a great amount of existing industrial potential.

Some of the notable industries in the region are:

Salem District:
* Salem Steel Plant
* TANMAG
* Burn & CO
* Tata Refractories
* Dalmia Magnesite
* POWERGRID
* SAGOSERVE
* SISCOL
* MALCO
* SANMAR CHEMPLAST (erstwhile Mettur Chemicals)
* Thermal Power Plant
* Hydro Power Plant
* Beardsell Ltd
* Microferm Chemicals Ltd
* Ponni Sugars & Chemicals
* Hundreds of Silver Ancillary units
* Sambandam Spinning Mills
* And hundreds of other spinning mills

Namakkal District:
* India Cements Ltd
* Tan India Ltd, Cements Division
* Seshasayee Papers & Board Ltd
* Salem Co-operative Sugars Ltd
* Thousands of Poultries
* Hundreds of lorry/bus body building units in Namakkal & Tiruchengode

Dharmapuri/Krishnagiri Districts:
* Ashok Leyland
* TVS
* Titan
* India Nippon
* SIPCOT
* Hindustan Lever Limited
* Hindustan Power Plus Limited
* EXIDE HOSUR – DOSSIER
* HARITA GROUP
* Gabriel India Ltd
* BIMETAL Bearings Limited
* M/s Carborundum Universal Ltd., Ceramics Division
* TETRA TRUCKS INDIA LTD
* SPC – SAMALPATTI POWER COMPANY
* And thousands of small scale industries

South India's leading transport Solutions Group, KPN Travels, head-quartered in the city goes online.
http://www.kpntravels.in

PS: Salem is the only city in which KPN operates city bus services.


KPN travels offers good service . I have used it few times.

I think the title needs to be edited. When did Salem become a IT city?

Do we really need threads based on regions? I'd like to know other forumers opinion reg this.

I think the title needs to be edited. When did Salem become a IT city?

Do we really need threads based on regions? I'd like to know other forumers opinion reg this.

I agree, for now its only Industrial city.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006june17/general_tn3.asp

Salem is very nearer to Bangalore when compared to other II tier cities of TN.

Airport:

Salem-Bangalore NH 7 four laning process is going on, after finishing the project one can reach Bangalore in 3hrs from Salem.. and u can reach Madiwala or electronics city very quick.. so airport is not a needed one for this city to become as a IT city...

3 places are proposed for IT parks by different groups.

Central gvt sanctioned 540 crore for IT part on NH-7 b/w Salem and Bangalore. It is just 12 KM from Salem city..

Some Salem business people have formed a group and invested to bring up IT park in NH-47 Salem-CBE. This place is 14KM from Salem City.

Another one proposed by state government in Salem Steel Plant road.

Lets wait and see which II-tier city of TN gets full fledged IT park.

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I think the title needs to be edited. When did Salem become a IT city?

Do we really need threads based on regions? I'd like to know other forumers opinion reg this.


Anniyan, your concern is worth noting.

BTW some forumers will be wanting special threads for their regions. As far as there is enough contribution in the form of pics, news etc, it is o.k. Otherwise there is no pointing in having such innumerable threads.

Vijayan Thanks for good compilation..

Let me include more..

1.Salem stands in III position in sericulture next to Kanchipuram and Kumbakonam. State government have invested a lot in this.

2.Nandhi Dall mills

3.Usha refined oils

4.Narasu's coffee

5.Thousands of Sago factories

http://community.webshots.com/photo/551588083/2297782500078262804udqmkQ#


http://community.webshots.com/photo/550505826/2024975870078262804fnZcLW

For Salem City Maps

Move for Salem Railway Division hailed
R. Ilangovan

Industrialists hope it will make the region an industrial hub





Salem: It was an occasion to celebrate for industrialists, exporters, traders, political parties and the general public of Salem and its adjoining districts, as their five-decade-old dream for a new railway division with headquarters at Salem has now become a reality.

Industrialists and traders feel that this new division comprising Salem, Erode, Namakkal and Coimbatore and backward districts of Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Cuddalore, is expected to transform the region into an industrial and trade hub.

Hassles sorted out


Those from trade and industry firmly believe that the hassles they were undergoing all these years concerning freight movement through Railways would be sorted out once the new division started functioning. "It will be rather easier for us to approach the officials here instead of going to another State (Palghat - Kerala) to get our grievances redressed," says the General Secretary of the Salem City Chamber of Commerce and Member of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee Jayaseelan.

For them, wagon shortage has been a major problem stunting the growth in the region that exports finished industry products, textiles, minerals, sago and starch products, flowers, steel products, sugar, pepper, coffee, turmeric and mangoes in large quantities - mostly by road. "We move them on road and incur heavy overhead expenditure and enhanced risk," he says.

The traders say that their demand for "piecemeal wagons" will receive cold response from officials concerned who usually insist on taking the "rack system of 72 wagons" at a stretch - not a practical solution.

Eliminate delay


The president of the Salem District Small Scale and Tiny Industries Association K. Mariappan points out that the new division will be a boost to the textile industries of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Salem, and eliminate the inordinate delay traders often undergo while claiming refunds and waivers of demurrage charges.

The people here have also been nursing a feeling of neglect from Palghat division for long. Their demands for new trains and better passenger amenities at stations in Tamil Nadu had received lukewarm responses in the past. "The presence of Tamil Nadu ministers in Railways has ushered in developments now," claims a Railway official.

Freight movement


Yuvaraj, a leader in textile exports, hopes that a division would mean the elimination of fund shortage for various vital projects, pending for years.

He wants port connectivity from Chennai to Tuticorin to encourage the container freight movement at an affordable cost.

Salem MP K.V. Thankgabalu (Congress), talking to The Hindu from New Delhi over phone, called it a historic announcement.

The Minister of State for Railways R. Velu (PMK) and the Minister of State for Social Justice Subbulakshmi Jegadeesan (DMK) conveyed it to former DMK minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam who thanked them on "behalf of the citizens of Salem".

Unlike the Ministers of Kerala, the peoples' representatives in the present Tamil Nadu Government show keen interest in Railway developments, including ROBs and RUBs. Here is another report from: http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/15/stories/2006061502210300.htm :

Expedite railway division works: Minister

Staff Reporter

Minister discusses progress of Salem - Karur railway line project






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

Landowners go to court demanding more compensation
`Convene a meeting to sort out problems'
Dissatisfaction over slow progress; explanation sought
Need to pay special attention to projects stressed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Salem: The State Agriculture Minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugam, discussed with the railway and revenue officials on Tuesday (13-06-06), the progress of the Salem - Karur railway line project and preliminary works taken up to establish a railway division in Salem.



Land acquisition


According to a release, the officials were engaged in acquiring lands for the Salem - Karur railway line project.

When the officials told the minister that a few landowners went to court demanding more compensation for the land acquired, Mr. Arumugam advised the officials to convene a meeting with the landowners and sort out the problems.

While discussing the preliminary works initiated for the establishment of a railway division in Salem, Mr Arumugam expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of the works, and demanded an explanation from the officials. The officials informed the Minister that the office for creating a railway division in Salem was in Chennai, and that there were delays in commencing the works.


Letters


The officials also said the railway administration already had five acres for setting up the railway division here. It might require more land.

The Minister promised that steps would be taken to acquire more land, if the railway administration sent letters to the district administration.


Benefit


The Minister said the project and the railway division would benefit a large number of people in the State.

Railway and revenue officials should pay special attention to these two projects.

The Deputy Chief Engineer, Railways, Devasigamani, and senior official from the railways and the revenue department were present.

Useful sites to know about Salem

http://www.salem.tn.nic.in/pphoto.htm

http://www.airportsindia.org.in/aai/domestic_airport/operational/salem.htm

http://www.sagoserve.com/

Salem District which is one of the biggest districts of Tamilnadu. This district is as such a land locked with no coast line but it has locational advantage of nearness to Karnataka State. So the goods produced, there finds is passages to all places.

Agriculture:

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Economy of the District More than 70% of the Populations of this District depends on Agriculture at this District.

Paddy, Cholam, Kambu, Ragi, Pulses, Ground nut, Sugarcane, Cotton, Coconut and Tapioca etc. are the major agricultural crops at this District. Main fruits like Mango, Pine apple, Banana, Grapes, Oranges etc and the vegetables like Brinjal, Tomato, Lady’s finger Beans, etc are also grown well in this District. It is a well fact that Salem District is famous for its MANGO FRUITS. Nearly 5 lakhs Agricultural labourers are engaged in the cultivation activities.

SSI Units :

Salem District has a greater concentrations of large scale industries compared to other District in Tamilnadu with the exception of Madras, Chengleput, Coimbatore and Madurai (Districts). There are at present nearly 100 Large / Medium scale industries units in this district covering a wide range of products lines grouped in to Chemical, Mineral, Paper, Steel, Spinning industries etc there are about 16200 Small scale industrial units registered in this office.

The following industries are predominently flourishing in Salem District such as Tapico Starch and Sago, Readymade garments, Textiles etc.

Starch and Sago Industries :

The Starch and Sago are manufacturing in most of the taluks and nearly 700 units are functioning in Salem District. Nearly one lakh number of workers are directly employed in Sago factories.

Mines and Minerals :

The District is well endured with a variety of mineral resources such as Magnesite, Dunite, Calcite, Bauxite etc. more number of Mineral crushing industries are functioning in and around Salem.

Garments :

In Salem District there are 100 units having export registration. Out of which 50 number of readymade garments manufacturing units doing Export business. Among the readymade garments units, 15 number of units are direct exporters remaining units are exporting their fabrics garments by way of sub contracts to the other exporters. All the 15 direct exporters units are modernished / technologically upgraded, remaining 35 units have to be modernished. Nearly 1.2 lakhs number of workers which includes direct as well as indirect are employed. The annual production turn over is around Rs.600 crores.

Coir Industries :

It is an important industry in the District providing employment to about 7500 persons. Such units are concentrated in a few villages around Salem, our Panamarathupatty and Kollapatty. 20% of the works are members of the Industrial Cooperatives Society and the rest carry on the work independently

Salem is a Geologist’s paradise, surrounded by hills and the landscape dotted with hillocks. Salem has a vibrant culture dating back to the ancient Kongu Nadu. As a district, Salem has its significance in various aspects.

What is Salem noted for: There are many things in Salem that are noteworthy by virtue of its location and social set-up.

a) The Stanley Reservoir: An architectural marvel and important land mark in the Mettur Division of Salem, it is the heart that pumps the life giving water to the farmers of the Cauvery basin who suffer the vagaries of Indian monsoons.

The sixteen Gates is an Engineering master-piece and regulates the flow of water released from the Mettur Dam to the lower reaches covering the paddy fields in the eight districts of Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam.

b) The Salem Steel Plant: This was an ambitious project started with a view to utilise the locally available iron-ore from Kanchamalai to produce steel. Now it is a public sector company engaged in rolling out cast steel blacks into sheets of required dimensions by cold and hot extrusion methods.

c) Mineral Deposits: The district is rich in mineral deposits like Magnesite, Bauxite, Granite, Limestone, Quartz and Iron ore. Allied industries like Magnesite mining, cement manufacture, refractory bricks manufacture, Aluminium smelting etc thrive well.

d) Agriculture produces: Many agricultural products from Salem have a wide spread market throughout the country.

Mango fruits from Salem are enjoyed and much sought after, specially the variety Malgoa-which is the pride of Salem besides a number of other newly introduced hybrid varieties.

Tapioca locally known as Maravalli (or) Kuchi Kilangu is extensively cultivated by the farmers of Salem. Salem holds a monopoly in Tapioca production. The tubers are used primarily to produce starch. A variety of food items like chips, fryums, papads, Noodles and vermicelli are also produced from tapioca. Tapioca and castor Research centre functioning in Salem is engaged in Research and Development activities to produce high yielding and disease resistant varieties

Sago-serve is run by the Government, to provide a competitive market where farmers gain a broader profit margin without to hassle of the middle-men dealings.

Coffee The slopes of Yercaud hills are covered with vast plantations of coffee, shaded by silver Oak trees, Narasus coffee – a popular brand has its origin in Salem.

e) Sandal wood: Santalum album species of Sandal wood grows in the forests of Salem. They fetch high prices as their heart woods yield high oil content about 6% (average). The Mysore Sandal soap company is a noted buyer of Sandal woods from Salem.

f) Animal Husbandry: The Sheep Research station located at Mecheri in Mettur, developed and introduced the popular Mecheri Breed. The breed is popular among the farmers and is reared mainly for meat purposes.

g) Dairy: Salem Diary has an impressive milk production and the district stands first in milk production. A variety of milk products have been introduced by the Diary recently and are effectively marketed.

h) Cottage Industries:

Production of un-bleached sugar-vellam or Nattu Sarkarai – is a major cottage industry among the sugarcane cultivators of Salem.

Rope making is another major cottage industry. Ropes are made by people out of the fibres of coconut, Aloe vera, Cotton, Jute. Salem has a sizeable weaver population and weaving is an important house hold industry here. Both silk and cotton fabrics woven in Salem find popular market throughout the State.

The Ammapet weaver’s co-operative society has a turnover of 2.40 crores and its main products are cotton sarees, bed sheets, towels, silk sarees and dhotis.

Silver works: Making of Silver ornaments and artifacts by hand work is an important cottage industry in Salem. Silver anklets made in Salem are popular throughout the country.

i) Cinema Theatres: Salem was once a popular Tinsel town where the earlier Tamil movies were created in the Modern Theatres.

The people of Salem are great movie viewers and the popularity of cinema is evident from the fact that there are nearly a hundred and odd Theatres in the district-perhaps the largest in any district.

j) Temples: Many temples with intricate sculptures and imposing towers are found in the district of Salem, built by indigenous rulers centuries before the British era. Some of the popular temples are the Taramangalam Shivan Temple in Omalur and the Sukavaneswarar temple, Kottai Mariamman temple, Parsanna Venkatesha Perumal temple in Salem.

k) Forts: Forts had existed in Salem town and Omalur said to have been visited by Tipu Sultan. Uncared for, not even the ruins of these monuments remain to be seen today. However at Sankagiri an impressive fort is seen on a hillock, with its elaborate and massive ramparts running all the way up the hill. This fort is said to have been the holding of “Theeran Chinnamalai” – an indigenous warrior who fought against British oppression.

l) Tourism: Yercaud is a popular summer resort in Salem, quite inexpensive yet exquisitely picturesque. The cool and mild climate prevailing here makes it an ideal summer retreat.

The Shervarayan temple deep inside a narrow cavern with a rivulet rippling behind the idols is one of th main spots of tourist attraction. The flowering of ‘Kurunji’ once in twelve years also attracts tourists. Coffee, spices like cardomom, pepper, fruits like "Kamala" Orange, butter fruit, Jack fruit are grown in Yercaud and find good market.

Yercaud houses many colonial buildings and churches. The prestigious residential school ‘The Montfort School” is at Yercaud.

ABOUT SALEM

The name 'Salem' appears to have been derived from Sela or Shalya by which the term refers to the country around the hills, as in the inscriptions. Local tradition claims Salem as the birth place of Tamil poetess Avvaiyar. The town is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, the Nagarmalai in the north, the Jeragamalai in the south, the Kanjanamalai on the west and Godumalai on the east. The Thirumanimuthar in the main division divides it.
Salem is the fifth largest city in Tamil Nadu. Gorgeous silks and gossamer cottons from the handlooms of Salem are well known to the ladies, The High Court dhotties are to assuage the men folk. Recently our weavers have entered the Textiles Export Market in a highway and the Government of India has selected Salem City to be notified as a Textile Export Zone.


Salem is synonymous with mangoes. Can any one ever forget the ecstasy of the Malgova or the Kudhaud, not to speak of other nectar like varieties. Salem is the National Centre for sago and starch products. It is a great market town for agricultural produce of the linter lands with the famous “LEIGH BAZAAR” established in 1840 and the great Dalal Street of Salem, “THE SHEVAPET” the commercial heart of the city dealing in anything and every thing from Gold, Silver, Food grains, Oils, Yarn and Textiles to Minerals etc. Even though the dream of a full fledged Steel Plant is yet to be realized, the existing Steel Rolling Mills have spread the name of “SALEM STEEL” brand name of SAIL’S International quality stainless steel sheets far and wide.

Apart from its history, it has important locations such as Mettur dam, Yercaud, hills, Sankari fort, Tharamangalam Kailasanathar temple & several beautiful & historic sites & above all it is located centrally & is easily accessible from Bangalore, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai & Chennai. Though agriculture is the main base, Salem is also an important textile center & has rich magnesite, bauxite & mineral reserves & 90% of sago supplies to the country through Salem. It also has rich industrial base with the Salem steel plant, SISCOL, MALCO, CHEMPLAST, & with regard to power generation also, the Thermal & Hydel power plant at Mettur contribute towards power supply to the state.

Salem City has excellent recreations...

Marry brown,

ARRS Multiplex with ARRS Food Mall

Shervaroys International food mall.

Next to Chennai, Salem is the only city to have multiplex in TN.

Hi friends

Shervaroys group from Yercaud have opened a mega food mall at 5 roads, Meyanoor Road, Salem!

The food mall have:

1.Coffee Day
2.Bangalore Gangotri Snacks and Sweets
3.Candy Court
4.Shervaroys Bakery
5.Shervaroys Ice Cream
6.Shervaroys Juice spot
7.Rams
8.Akshya-Pure Veg Restaurant
9.Madras Curry House-NV
10.Mughal Mahal-Tandoori and North Indian food
11.Club China-Chineese and Thai foods
12.Sizzlers-Multinational food items
13.Pizza Corner
14.Broaster-America's chain restaurant

Then Multiplex...

1.5 theatres Screen 1 to 5
2.Marrybrown
3.Boomerang(now closed to keep the outlets in Fairlands)4.Madurai Meekanshi Bhavan
5.Kings Corner
6.Dharbar
7.Play stations

Cooperative sugar mill for Elumathur in a year: Minister

Staff Reporter

Presents crop loan waiver certificates

ERODE: The long-pending demand of farmers in Modakurichi for a cooperative sugar mill has earned the attention of the Government. In a year, a sugar mill will be started at Elumathur, said the Handlooms and Textiles Minister, N.K.K.P. Raja, here on Friday.

While presenting crop loan waiver certificates to farmers who borrowed from the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Bank at Elumathur, the Minister said because of the waiver, 1,06,194 farmers were benefited in Erode district.

He said the cooperative banks had started granting new crop loans.

Crop loan waiver


Mr. Raja said last year Rs. 105 crore had been granted to the farmers as crop loan and this year the banks would advance Rs. 85 crore.

For the development of Weavers Cooperative Banks, last year the banks had advanced Rs. 95 crore and this year a sum of Rs. 110 crore would be advanced.

The Minister wanted the farmers and the weavers to make use of the loan.

The Minister promised the farmers of Modakurichi area that before June 23, 2007, the cooperative sugar mill would be started at Elumathur.

He said in Erode district 10,000 tonnes of rice had been distributed to family cardholders and quality rice was supplied in all ration shops.

The Modakurichi MLA, R.M. Palanisamy, the Joint Registrar of Cooperatives, B. Joghee and others spoke.

The Minister Raja also distributed loan waiver certificates to the farmers at Pariyur Vellala Palayam, Polavakalipalayam and Gobichettipalayam.

Thanks Arun for your valuable contribution. This helps people to understand the Salem's geographical advantages and make use of it.

Thanks again,
Palsen

IT spreads its wings
Most of the big Indian IT firms and many of the smaller ones have operations in several Indian cities. Vee Technologies, a BPO firm with its headquarters in Bangalore, employs 300 people there for its “high-cost work”, but about 500 in the town of Salem, about three hours away, where costs are lower and staff far easier to retain. Lakshmi Narayanan of Cognizant, an American IT firm with its main Indian base in Chennai, says IT job-hunters are starting to move there and to Hyderabad to look for work, as they do to Bangalore. Chennai alone has an estimated 100,000 software professionals, and is expected to add another 50,000 this year.

http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3886743&fsrc=RSS

IT parks in Salem soon
Monday March 13 2006 00:00 IST
SALEM: Salem will soon be one among the second-tier cities to have software/IT parks.

According to sources, in a recent development, twenty bigwigs from the city, including a former Minister, had pooled in Rs 10 lakh each to start an IT Park in Salem. But all were being done silently in view of the coming Assembly elections and partly due to the fear of escalating real estate prices once the matter got exposed, the sources said.

Having received the nod from Union Minister for Telecommunications Dayanidhi Maran, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) - Salem Software Development Trust - had been formed. A sum of Rs 2.5 crore had been deposited in a nationalised bank under the SPV head of account.

Rajalakshmi, Director, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Chennai, who visited Salem a few days ago, held discussions with core promoters and explained the STPI schemes and facilities.

The major step would be to acquire land with easy access to the airport and highway. The land would be handed over to the STPI which would develop the park.

According to Rajalakshmi, Salem had a tangible potential. With over 50 higher educational institutions in the region, the city was much sought-after by IT firms.

According to estimates, around 30,000 persons from the region were already working in IT and IT-related jobs in India and abroad. With an airport facility and a 3.5 hour-drive to Bangalore, Salem had all the advantages to woo potential IT Companies to set up their units there, the STPI chief said. The BPO bubble had already formed in Salem with about 10 firms having set foot here. STPI sources said that the organisation was eager to promote tier-two cities.

The STPI will provide its“ Softnet” high density data services to exporters through its International satellite gateways. It provides world-wide connectivity, by operating through many of the international telecom administration networks and with around 60 carriers from its earth stations for various destinations.

A leased digital point-to-point service, with data rate options from 64kbps to 2MBPS and a TCP/IP based multivendor network, had also been provided.

The STP project envisaged at Salem is under STP/EHTP, a 100 percent export oriented project. Also, a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), is to come up. It is said that the promoters are busy hunting for land and also writing to leading IT and ITES firms to step into Salem. Though advance had been paid for a 10 acre land near Seeragapadi, members preferred a land near the Kalapuram Airport, sources said.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060312105205&Topic=0&Title=Southern%20News%20-%20Tamil%20Nadu&Page=T

I think the title needs to be edited. When did Salem become a IT city?

Do we really need threads based on regions? I'd like to know other forumers opinion reg this.

I think it all depends on patronage. Having too many threads without much info just to make a city 'represented' is not worthy indeed. But if there is enough interest and the forumers are keen to discuss in depth issues in the city it is worth considering it in the long run.

After all when India didn't have a section in SSC there were only one or two threads for whole of India. The Admins asked hte Indian forumers to show that they had atleast about 20 active forumers and when it was proved were glad to create a separate section for India. Once the SSC India was set up, more forumers signed up as there is a place to post thier specific interest in India.

Same way in the long run if there are enough forumers with regional interest in thier city, there is no point in curtailing them but rather it is better to encourage it. For example I am more interested in architecture and urban planning rather than IT or economy. If all info are being posted in the same thread it is confusing and witihn two days the post or pic that is posted is lost in history pages aand I don't find the interest to follow up or follow a particular story. Who knows in the long run there could be even a posibility for regional sub-forums within SSC India.

Would be interesting to see how others think.

IMHO Salem does not need a seperate thread, as yet. It can be merged into the existing TN thread. We already have threads for Madurai Trichy and Coimbatore as well. When Salem becomes as prominent as say Coimbatore then maybe we can have a seperate thread.

In this thread 5 major cities/towns are discussed.

Salem- Mining(includes Steels/Bauxite/Magnesite etc)/Sago/Proposed IT parks/Textile

Mettur-Power plants/MALCO/SISCOL/Chemical industries

Hosur-Town known for Titan/TVS/Ashok Leyland

Nammakal-Eggs/Poultry/Lorry body building

Erode-Mega Textile centre...

So seperate thread is justified... This is the fast developing region in TN next to Chennai and Coimbatore.

These cities/towns are not meant for tourism.. these cities/town dont have long history.. this region was developed by Bristish and now growing fastly.

In terms of infrastructure in this region Salem City is developing faster when compared to CBE or Madurai...

1.It has very good road bye-pass 4 laned one.

2.Traffic signals have camera to monitor the flow of traffic. Chennai and Salem alone have such system in TN.

3.City roads are in good condition and does not get damaged for rains!!!!

In terms of entertainment

1.As i mentioned earlier Salem is the 2nd city to get Multiplex theaters... Salem and Chennai has such type of theaters in TN..

2.Food malls.. Shervaroys food mall, ARRS food mall..

3.Cafe coffee day, Bomerang, Bangalore Gangotri, Broaster, Marry brown, Pizza corner, Sizzlers etc, have outlets in Salem..

Even CBE lags behind Salem in these type of entertainment and food malls.

All the traffic signals in the entire stretch of Omalur Road in Salem city are integrated and monitored by vigilence cameras.
This is the only road in the state outside Chennai to have this facility.

When, places like Madurai, where very minimal industrial activities going on, can deserve a seperate thread, Salem, being one of the most industrial region for a very long period, certainly deserves a seperate thread.

ABN Amro opens branch in Salem.

http://sify.com/finance/smartmoney/news/fullstory.php?id=14160821

"We have got four new licences from RBI for opening branches. We will open branches in four new cities -- Kolhapur, Salem, Udaipur and Ahmedabad," he said, adding ABN will be in 21 major cities and have 28 branches by 2006 end.

Dear Friends

Another news about IT parks in Hosur... It is in front page of Hindu..

But i couldn find link in the Hindu website..

Highlights are:

1.Salubrious climate and proximity to electronics city has made Hosur an ideal IT destination.

2.District adminstration is preparing a Hosur vision document.

Prime Textiles realty unit plans expansion


The property development division of the Tirupur-based Prime Textiles Ltd, which is promoting a Rs 90-crore luxury residential-cum-commercial complex in Tirupur, plans to expand to other key commercial towns in Tamil Nadu.

The company will also be looking at other tier-II cities such as Erode, Salem and Coimbatore, and Kochi in Kerala for developing its realty business, as these centres have untapped potential especially for quality residential complexes and townships, said Mr P.D. Patodia, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Rs 120-crore Prime Textiles.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/05/stories/2006060501830200.htm

I dont think we need a separate thread for salem, most of the news are "plans" or the same news that has already been posted in the TN economy and infrastructure thread earlier in the forum.

Again if we are having a healthy discussion on urban issues, we can talk about it here, but just to keep the thread alive if we post stuff on KPN bus service, its going to make this thread as unpopular as Madurai and tirichy region thread.

Stuff about KPN is important here for Salem...

Salem being the HQ for KPN, they have shown great intreast in developing the city links.

Salem is the only city to have city service provided by KPN.

You are correct, we need discussion on urban issues.. but many here dont know how Salem City will be.. so first let me try to get some pictures of Salem City roads, shopping malls, food malls, multiplex, buildings, flats, bye-pass roads, bus stands, railway stations, colleges etc, etc.,

so first let me try to get some pictures of Salem City roads, shopping malls, food malls, multiplex, buildings, flats, bye-pass roads, bus stands, railway stations, colleges etc, etc.,

:):):)

It would be absolutely great if u could do that Arul.

Without getting into the debate of whether a separate thread is required for Salem, it is still the third most important industrial region in TN, especially if it includes Hosur. There seemed to lot of commercial development in Salem last I saw (not highrise unfortunately).

I had posted a couple of Google earth Salem images. incl. the bus stand in City Folder. Let us hope, even if not now, Salem can justify the thread in the near future.

Cheers
Slakhs

Salem Medical college hospital shall be upgraded on par with AIIMS, New Delhi.

Non-inclusion of K. A. P. Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital by Union Ministry of Health for upgrade on a par with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, has caused resentment among the local people.

Several political parties and organisations have urged the Centre to examine the possibility of upgrading the hospital here in the wake of its recent decision to do so in the case of Government Medical College at Salem.

The local hospital was selected for upgrade on a par with the AIIMS at an outlay of Rs. 100 crore during the previous regime. It brought cheers to the people of central districts but the project was hanging fire since the United Progressive Alliance government came to power, as Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss favoured the medical college at Salem for upgrade, ignoring the earlier proposal.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/26/stories/2006062614740100.htm

http://img307.imageshack.us/my.php?image=163137614qt.jpg

http://img307.imageshack.us/my.php?image=163137614qt.jpg

I couldn show the picture at this page.. how to proceed to show picture in this poat itself?

Thanks for those pictures of Salem City, Salem Central Bus Terminus and Yercaud.

Salem Central BS is the third largest in TN state. 100-105 buses can be parked in the bay at a time. But as whole more than 250 buses can be parked. Salem Central BS is the busiest BS of the state. Even in Chennai after 23:00 hrs rush will be reduced.. but Salem BS being the major transhippoint to Bangalore, Trichy, Madurai, CBE, Kerala, Cuddalore, Erode etc., it works continuously through out 24 hours.

No. of buses(say service/only mofussil i.e route buses and not city buses) handled per day is more than 1000 and passengers handled per day is more than 40,000...

Salem has no. of service to IT City Bangalore. Bus frequency is 15min through out the day. There are 8 non-stop service between Salem and Bangalore. These buses are operated by TNSTC-Salem I and Salem II divisions. Apart from this KPN operates more than 25 services which includes via buses from Trichy, Madurai, CBE and Kerala...Then no. of SETC, KSRTC, KESRTC, Sharma, Conti, No.1 etc., buses goes via Salem City.

So Salem City is very lucky to have such a bus connection to IT City Bangalore.

Arul, here is your picture.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1387/salem2ec.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After hosting the image in imageshack, you have to copy the link from 'Hotlinks for forum' and paste it here.

BTW, if you have enough pictures of salem, start a thread in showcase gallery or city folder.

And we expect more from you than the details about bus services.

Thanks Mr. Sudheesh

Ya i will do my best.

Friends

Above picture is one of the arterial road of Salem City.. Which connects the Down Town Fort and Central BS/Bangalore road.

Salem City is surrounded by mountains on all the sides. Yercaud hills/Nagarmalai/Kanjamalai are very famous...

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2848/yercaud31on.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6060/salem6iq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Arul,

Never been to Salem, but looks cool from the pictures with the mountains in the backdrop. Very few cities have the privelege like that.

With the 3 proposed SEZ in Hosur, hopefully more industries come to this area, and people would accept this thread's relevance. :)

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6060/salem6iq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sexy Pic Arul!!! :cheers:

Sharing ur expertise on 'relevance' eh, vs007?;)

Sharing ur expertise on 'relevance' eh, vs007?;)

Oh ya baby! :)
Plus also doing the correct thing. :okay:

PS: Glad you caught the reference to these words.

Arun..................wonderful images. :)

Oh ya baby! :)
Plus also doing the correct thing. :okay:


baby?;) Watch it bro... :scouserd:


PS: Glad you caught the reference to these words.

never tough to understand simple statements, isnt it?;)

NEW DELHI: The Board of Directors of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) on Wednesday approved a proposal for expansion of Salem Steel Plant (SSP) in Tamil Nadu at an indicative cost of Rs. 1,553 crore.

The plan envisages installation of steel-making facilities, including a continuous slab caster, and expansion of the plant's cold rolling capacity. The capacity addition, to be completed within 36 months, will enable SSP to take advantage of the growing global stainless steel market.

At present, it does not have steel-making facilities and is entirely dependent on external sources for supply of stainless steel slabs. This has been one of the main factors affecting its sustained profitability.

The new steel-making facility, with the capacity to produce 1,80,000 tonnes of stainless steel slabs per annum, will create input security for SSP and position it to become cost-competitive. It will include a 50-tonne electric arc furnace, 60-tonne AOD converter with ladle furnace and single-strand slab caster.

Also, the expansion of SSP's cold rolling mill is expected to help improve the plant's market share in the value-added growth segment of the stainless steel market. SSP's cold rolling capacity will go up from 65,000 tonnes to 146,000 tonnes per annum with the addition of an annealing and pickling line among other facilities as part of the expansion plan.

Extra grinding machine


SSP's expansion plan also has the provision for installation of an additional grinding machine in its hot rolling mill that produces 1,80,000 tonnes of coils/sheets per annum presently.

SAIL's Corporate Plan 2012 envisages dedicated supply of 190,000 tonnes of stainless steel slabs to SSP from Alloy Steels Plant in Durgapur per annum. SSP's hot rolling mill will, therefore, be able to process 3,70,000 tonnes of slabs annually.

In the meantime, SAIL has issued a letter of intent to Jaiprakash Associates Ltd with a view to forming a joint venture for producing 2 million tonnes (MT) of cement per annum. The proposed joint venture, in which SAIL will have 26 per cent equity, is being formed as a part of the company's sustained eco-friendly efforts to explore an alternative mode of slag disposal at its Bhilai Steel Plant.

The joint venture will enable the plant to gainfully utilise the slag generated in the plant's blast furnace. Bhilai currently generates around 1.5 MT of slag per annum, which is disposed through medium-term contracts to cement manufacturers. Under Bhilai's ongoing expansion plan, the annual generation of BF slag is likely to increase to the level of around 2.1 MT, according to a SAIL announcement.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/29/stories/2006062910620400.htm

Reposting the Google earth images of Salem

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8010/salembusstand5dk.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9480/salem14nv.jpg

Just a couple more photos

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6948/salem11lg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/4423/salem23jv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/322/salemhighway0fe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks.. those picture i got through mail from Mr.Vijayan of this forum.

Ya Salem city is lucky to have such mountains... These mountains are the parts of eastern ghats. As all know these eastern ghats are dis-continuous mountains un-like Western ghats.

Shervaroys Hills/ Kolli Hills/ Yelagiri hills are the parts of eastern ghats.

FYI, Bangalore people depended on this Yercaud Hill Station for their recretion during summer. On summers we can see KA registered cars lining up in the Salem-Yercaud ghat road. This hill station was explored by british. Yercaud has very good 3* hotels.. with good buildings/infrastructure. Shervaroys/ Sterling resorts/ Golden Palace are one among them.

Many Salem City people use go to Yercaud for every week! Just 18KM upwards from the foot hills. City is well developed upto foot hills. Many constructions are happening near the foot hills.. Even theme parks are planned. Then there is a proposal to built to road from NH 7 to this foot hills.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/6485/untitled19mg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9607/16pq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Blueprint focuses on creation of infrastructure facilities

Salem Steel Plant Rs. 1,553 crore
National Highways Rs. 935 crore
Railway expansion Rs. 379 crore
Government Hospital Rs. 120 crore

With the State and Central Governments pumping in funds for a slew of projects, Salem is fast emerging as the "development hub" in the Western Zone after Coimbatore.

Link.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/03/stories/2006070310620100.htm

Note:
The above 3000 crore doesnt include the investment for setting up Salem Division and the proposed IT Park.

Thanks Gopi, I am adding the full version for the benefit of the readers.


Projects worth Rs. 3,000 crore for Salem's `Vision Progress'

R. Ilangovan

Blueprint focuses on creation of infrastructure facilities


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

Salem Steel Plant Rs. 1,553 crore
National Highways Rs. 935 crore
Railway expansion Rs. 379 crore
Government Hospital Rs. 120 crore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SALEM: Salem is on the threshold of witnessing a windfall of development projects with a staggering investment of about Rs. 3,000 crore.

This blueprint for Salem's `Vision Progress' focuses primarily on the creation of infrastructure facilities to ensure a wholesome development of the region with future in mind.

Hence, it is no surprise that in the total financial allocation, after the Salem Steel Plant, which has garnered a lions' share of Rs. 1,553 crore for its expansion, comes the road and rail sectors with a financial outlay of about Rs. 1,300 crore.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up an ambitious expansion project of four-laning its highways between Bangalore and Salem, which is emerging as the "IT Fast Lane" of South, for which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid foundation stone this year at Salem.

This and the stretch between Salem and Coimbatore, a part of its North-South Corridor project, cost Rs. 935 crore.

Fillip to industries


The other announcement that gladdens the citizens' hearts is the formation of a separate railway division with its headquarters in Salem. The project is expected to provide a fillip to the trade and industries in this region.

The ongoing railway projects include broadgauging the Salem-Vridachalam Railway line (Rs. 150 crore)which promises to shore up the sagging sago and starch industries.

The lone dismal chord is the Salem-Karur new railway line project (Rs. 229 crore), progressing at a snail's pace owing to land acquisition problems.

Major allocations


On the health front, the Union Minister of Health, Anbumani Ramadoss, has showed no hesitance to announce Rs. 120 crore for upgrading Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital on the lines of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

On the distaff side of these major allocations are a few tiny but significant schemes that are sure to play a clinching role in the Salem region's schemes for expansion.

Handloom textile cluster


The Union Textile Ministry has decided to form a handloom textile cluster at Salem. The Salem Airport, which remains idle, will shortly become active after a private airliner has expressed its wish to operate link services. When the Centre sanctions mega projects, can the State be far behind? It has also chipped in with significant contributions. The Chief Minister, Karunanidhi, also has announced the setting up of an Information Technology Park for which a consortium of citizens has been formed with the support of Agricultural Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam.

With the State and Central Governments pumping in funds for a slew of projects, Salem is fast emerging as the "development hub" in the Western Zone after Coimbatore.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/03/stories/2006070310620100.htm

Friends its gonna be a mega investment for Salem.

The above 3000 crores are approved one by Parliament. NHAI and Indian Railways project are going on.

NH 47 and NH 7 four laning b/w Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, initial works started. It is very true that NH-7 b/w Bangalore and Salem is going to emerge as a IT National Highway of India once IT parks emerge at Hosur and Salem NH-7!!!

Still some Salem projects need fund allocation, they are:

1.Handloon taxtile cluster
2.IT park by state government
3.IT park by Central government
4.Salem Railway Division

The above 4 projects are proposed one and got approval but waiting for fund.

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/732/thoppurghat2fi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Perundurai SIPCOT sees more industrial activity

PERUNDURAI: State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) industrial estate here has seen an increase in industrial activity in the recent past.

In the last few months 21 units commenced production in the park taking the total number of units functioning to 57. The last fiscal only 36 functioned.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/06/stories/2006070602100300.htm

An article in Dinamani (A Tamil Daily) says.... http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DND20060706022849&Title=Districts+Page&lTitle=U%F4YhPeLs&Topic=0&dName=%FANXm&Dist=-10

Number of plans to develop Salem as one of the leading city are on the cards.
The state Govt is keen on implementing various projects here in coordination with the central Govt.
The state agriculture minister Mr. Virapandy Arumugam and the leading industrialists of the city are keen in developing the city's industrial face.

Software Park: 45 acres of land have been acquired to promote a software park at Jagir Ammapalayam on Bangalore Highway.

Salem Steel Plant to get facelifted as an integrated steel plant.

Again the same locational advantage (proximity to Bangalore) is discussed in the article.

It also has the news about Salem Rly Division, and railway related projects in Salem.

In addition, State Govt is planning for Rs 600 crore worth projects for the development of Salem.

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/732/thoppurghat2fi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

bootyful :tongue4:

Mini but important projects:

New Police control room for 40 lakhs and New Railway station for Salem Town station for 60 lakhs are being constructed.

SALEM: The Madras Aluminum Company Ltd. (MALCO) won the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) prestigious `Commendation award for strong commitment.' The award being given under the category of `Sustainability Award-2006' covers the areas of economical, social and environmental performances. MALCO had already bagged awards for excellence in water management, leadership and excellence in safety and health and environmental management, says a company release.

Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/04/25/stories/2006042503771900.htm

I managed to locate another photo, of the Salem bus stand

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2187/salembusstand7mj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Development works in State being monitored

Special Correspondent

Of the 27,000 crore, Salem will get 3,500 crore Of the Rs. 27,000 crore, Salem will get Rs. 3,500 crore





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

Bottlenecks in Salem-Karur broad gauge railway line to be removed
Government hospital to be upgraded
`Mupperum vizha' at Bose Maidan today
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




ALL SET: Security arrangements on at the Bose Maidan in Salem on Friday. Union Minister P. Chidambaram among others will attend the Kamarajar Birth Anniversary function here on Saturday. - Photo: P. Goutham


SALEM: The Implementation Committee comprising Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu belonging to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is closely monitoring various development works that are being carried out in Tamil Nadu.

K. V. Thankgabalu, MP, told reporters here on Friday that Rs. 27,000 crore had been pumped into Tamil Nadu to carry out various projects in the State, which was witnessing developmental activities in all fields. "The Salem's share alone in it is Rs. 3,500 crores," he said.

Mr. Thankgabalu said that the committee would meet periodically to discuss about the progress of these projects with the Union Ministers and officials and coordinate with them.

Salem Division would come into operational as early as possible. The Government hospital would be upgraded at a cost of Rs. 120 crore. The government had also accepted the establishment of a Textile Park in principle while the works for establishing an IT Park were on. The airport would be made functional shortly, he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/15/stories/2006071507910300.htm

Nice picture Mr.Palsen

But it was a old one, now AVR Swarana Mahal of Salem City have undertaken the renowation and maintenance work at Central BS.

Land for Massive IT Park in Salem finalized. It could generate more than 50,000 Hi-tech jobs in Salem. Land finalized for the Salem Railway Division.

Minister Mr. Veerapand S. Arumugam visited the 45 acres marked for the IT park in Salem. He asked the authorities to acquire additional 50 acres adjacent to this. In addition to that, he also visited the land about 100 acres acquired for the Salem Railway division.

Tamil version of News link from Maalaimalar:
http://www.maalaimalar.com/asp/news/dis_news_article.asp?artid=139383

Proposal sent to Government to set up IT park, railway division

Special Correspondent

Site identified near Chettichavadi for Solid Waste Management programme

INSPECTION: The Agriculture Minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugam (extreme right), inspecting the site selected for setting up a new compost yard for the Salem Corporation's solid waste programme near Chettichavadi in Salem.


SALEM: The Salem district administration has submitted detailed proposals to the Tamil Nadu Government for establishing an Information Technology (IT) park and the Salem Railway Division, as sites for these two projects have been finalised, said the Salem Collector, N. Manthivanan.

42 acres


Addressing the media here on Monday, the Collector said the IT park would come up on a sprawling 42 acres, abetting the Salem-Bangalore National Highways. "A buffer zone has also been identified nearby for the IT Park's expansion," he said. Similarly, a single chunk of 100 acres was identified at Mallamoopanpatti for the offices and infrastructure to set up the Salem Railway Division. He also said the State Agricultural Minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugam, along with senior officials inspected a site near Chettichavadi to undertake the Salem Corporation's Solid Waste Management programme.

Far from city


The Minister and a team of officials visited the site near Chettichavadi, and finalised it. The site was far from the city and away from human habitations. It also had adequate space to take in garbage for another 100 years.

"The Office of the Commissioner of Municipal Administration is ready with funds and technological know-how to carry out the SWM programme. We have now identified the site. Soon, we will send the proposal," the Collector added. The Underground Drainage scheme would also be implemented. He promised the Salem citizens that soon the city's sanitary conditions would be improved significantly. "A proper mechanism to deal with such civic issues will be placed," he said and pointed out that it could be visibly felt shortly.

Loan waiver


The district had waived agricultural loans to the tune of Rs. 354.41 crore, benefiting 1.44 lakh farmers. The target for fresh loans for this year was Rs. 66 crore. Under NABARD, additional buildings, laboratories and toilets would be constructed at Rs. 15.05 crore. Thirty-three special panchayats had been upgraded to town panchayats.

A sum of Rs. 2.06 crore had been allotted for `mechanising farming' under the Agricultural Engineering section.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/18/stories/2006071802120300.htm

3 crores project for beautifying 5 roads Jn of Salem City.

Central BS and Collector office are also choosed for beautification.

Corporation is encouraging the city beautification and several facilities... This will be helpfull for increase in population..

Salem will register sudden increase in population, once the follwoing 3 get into operational:

1. SSP expansion
2. Railway Division
3. IT parks

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/21/stories/2006072104190300.htm

An initiative to beautify Salem

Special Correspondent

Various schemes to be implemented with public involvement


SALEM: For the first time in five years, a concerted and coordinated effort among various departments was forged to carry out various schemes that would aim to eliminate encroachments, ensure hassle-free flow of traffic and beautify the city with the involvements of its citizens.

Led by the City Police Commissioner K. Gopalakrishnan and coordinated by Corporation Commissioner A. M. Selvam, a team of officials from Highways, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, City Police and Corporation inspected the Five Roads junction in the city on Thursday and reviewed the pattern of the traffic flow at this point for an hour.

They also studied the hindrance to the traffic flow at the Five Roads junction. They discussed with the leading citizens, who expressed their willingness to participate in the exercise of "beautifying the city", about its needs and modifications.

Police Commissioner issued a stern warning to those shopkeepers near the Five Roads junction who had irresponsibly erected many temporary hoardings and folded tinsheet billboards on pavements thus forcing the pedestrians to walk on the road. He also told them not to park the vehicles near the traffic junction.

It was decided to widen the road junction here with new pavements for pedestrians. Barricades also would be erected to prevent them from crossing the road haphazardly. The signal would be reoriented to suit the today's traffic requirements. The electricity officials were asked to remove the posts that hampered the widening of the road.

A sum of Rs 3 crore would be spent on the Five Roads development scheme. "The other traffic signals also would be improved in near future," said a senior official.

TN budget 2006-07.

Not much concentration, since Central government to invest 3000 crore here!

1. Salem City river cum sewage(?) Thirumanimuthauru to be cleaned and beautified under the cost of 36 crore.
2. Govt arts and science col at Mettur
3. Cold storage at Krishnagiri.

SAD! NO MENTION ABOUT IT PARKS AT SALEM AND HOSUR.

I am glad that VAT has been introduced atlast to prevent flight of manufacturing industries. Too bad they did not approve the Hogenakal water scheme and an IT park in Hosur, which would definitely attract more IT industries owing its proximity to BLore.

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/7448/e5bbjz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

KPN travels offers good service . I have used it few times.

KPN offers terrible service. I took their bus from Bangalore to Salem. They stopped the bus for an hour near Hosur to load Coriander leaves or something, which arrived late from the farm. I called the manager using the phone number on the ticket, from my cell phone, and they were quite unapolegetic. Unprofessional bastards. They are not getting my money again.

link to news... (http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=99267&subLeft=1&leftnm=1)

...As regards its Salem-based SISCL, he said: “Currently, we are producing 3 lakh tonnes of TMT bars and wire rods at SISCL. We are investing about Rs 500 crore in the capacity expansion, after which the unit would be able to produce 10 lakh tonnes." The expansion works would be complete by March 2007....

India : Cluster scheme to resurrect handloom industry
July 26, 2006

Central Government's decision to establish a handloom cluster in Salem has come as a big boost to the weaving community, which will be able to build their capacity and sustain themselves in the world market.

Under the scheme, Government will help weavers in procurement, production, marketing and other activities along with providing help in infrastructure development.

Salem used to boast of more than 100,000 of handlooms, which have now been reduced to 20,000 with many switching to power looms. Even though weaving of pure silk sarees, dhotis, shirting is still going on, fifty percent of them are still outside the co-operative societies.

Efforts are under way to incorporate them to provide the benefit of this scheme.

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=20453

India : Beware of con silk saris
July 26, 2006


Kancheepuram silks saris, the millennium-old traditional sector is getting a devastating blow from unauthentic ones.

Majority of the silk saris sold at the Silk Capital Kancheepuram is said to be fake, look-alikes out-sourced from Salem, Nangavalli (Salem district).

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=20508

Good news that SISCOL expands the plant with 500 crore ruppees.

Salem is going to be a steel hub of south India.

Already SAIL approved 1500 crore expansion for SSP(Salem Steel Plant)
now the private sector SISCOL also jumped for the expansion.

Regarding Silk Sarees, it is very true that Salem outsource silk sarees for Kanchipuram.

Many suburbs and villages of Salem weave silk sarees. Jalakandapuram, Vanavasi, Nangavalli, Tharamangalam, Saviriyur are leading the way.

No. of silk sarees produced in Salem is much higher.

Attur-Salem gauge conversion work to be completed by January

Staff Reporter

Officials instructed to speed up the work

SALEM: Managing Director of the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) D.C. Mitra said the gauge conversion work between Attur and Salem were likely to be completed by January next year.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/31/stories/2006073112040300.htm

Integrated Collectorate complex for Salem soon

SALEM: New facilities and development works at a cost of Rs. 1 crore were added to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital here.

Pending for five years


Inaugurating the new facilities on Saturday, the Agriculture Minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugam, said that the Government would undertake development activities and never offer meek excuses for any delay in the execution of these projects.

The Minister said that the new integrated Collectorate complex for the Salem district would also be shortly taken up.

The proposal for the same was pending before the earlier Government for five years. He pointed out that the previous regime had failed to utilise the Central Government funds of Rs. 9 crores, which were sanctioned for the development of the Government Hospital.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/06/stories/2006080604490300.htm

Spadework for superspecialty hospital in Salem begins

SALEM: The Union Ministry of Health, together with the Tamil Nadu Government, has initiated the preliminary steps for establishing the Rs.120-crore superspecialty hospital, akin to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, at Salem.

According to Agricultural Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam, the Ministry, as directed by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, would send medical experts to Chennai on Monday to discuss the issue with the State Government. The design and construction of the hospital would be finalised shortly.

Inaugurating a cobalt therapy unit at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital here on Saturday, Mr. Arumugam said the State Government would provide the land for the hospital, which he said was the need of the people of this backward region.

Allaying apprehensions among some people that Salem was chosen for the project instead of Tiruchi, Mr. Arumugam said Salem had received what it immensely needed. "Likewise Tiruchi, as the Chief Minister pointed out, would get what it needs," he said. Political motives should not be attributed to this issue, as it had been allotted to Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association president G. Prakasam said the first instalment of funds should be sanctioned immediately. "Further delay would cause concern among the Salem citizens."

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/06/stories/2006080605100600.htm

The Police Commisionarate is going to be shifted near the Armed Forces Campus at Annadhanappatti.Presently its functioning at the Hanging Garden Campus on the Bretts Road on rental basis.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/06/stories/2006080614570100.htm

IT majors on talent hunt in Tier-II cities

S. Ramesh






EDGING FORWARD: A group of short-listed students at the Anna University placement programme in Salem. — Photo: P. Goutham



SALEM: After the metros, it is now the Tier-II cities. Information Technology (IT) majors have started targeting campuses of various engineering colleges in Salem and Namakkal districts to source raw talents that are available in plenty here.

Till three years ago, campus placements here have been few and far between for the simple reason that the products lacked soft skills such as communication. These students, though academically strong, remained weak in these skills. It has been a costly slip between the cup and the lip for many.

Academic pursuits


Realising the need for equipping their products with soft skills along with their academic pursuits, engineering colleges here have started providing importance to the areas of lacunae. To stay put in the competitive arena these colleges have realised that placement ratio alone would attract the students to their campuses in future.

Hence language labs have been set up. Coaching on how to prepare for interviews has been organised.

Experts have been brought to address. And separate HRD and placement cells have also been established. This exercise has started yielding positive results. The number of students getting offers now in this region is going up steadily.

In the past two years a majority of them has got placements in IT firms. Nearly 70 per cent of them land in IT-related jobs while another 30 opt for automobile and other fields.

In Salem Government College of Engineering, for instance, of the total outgoing students of all branches, about 70 per cent of them have received offers.

Automobile sector


After IT, automobile sector is the second best preference. "With Chennai emerging as a major automobile hub, students are preferring jobs in this sector," says K. Sukumaran, Principal of Mahendra Engineering College, Mallasamudram.

But still there are a few grey areas that need to be addressed. Though the number of companies visiting here is on the rise, the appointment ratio fails to cheer up.

In the recent Anna University placement programme held at Salem Sona College of Technology a mere 250 came out with flying colours in the total of 1800.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 years back, there was no campus interview at all in GCE or Sona. But now itself about 70% of the students going to pass out in 2007 have got offers. This clearly shows the rapid growth in education in the region.

http://www.maalaimalar.com/asp/news/dis_news_article.asp?artid=144595

The news article says that the real estate prizes are growing rapidly in Salem following the announcements of IT Park, Steel Plant expansion and the new Railway division here.

Integrated Collectorate complex for Salem.

Government has proposed an integrated collectorate complex in Salem. The plan is estimated to cost Rs. 13 crores. Salem collectorate is more than 100years old. Hence the need for new collectorate is insisted.

SETC Bus Terminus will be renovated in Salem.
So, I guess, the terminus located near the city bus stand will be reopened and renovated. And the Central BS will be off-loaded from SETC buses.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/10/stories/2006081010670400.htm

2,230 new buses will be introduced this year: Minister

Special Correspondent

State likely to get Rs.1,300 cr. Central package





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

Luxury buses will run on intra-state and inter-state routes
MTC fleet strength will go up from about 2,500 to 5,000
State Express Transport Corporation bus stands in Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem to be renovated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHENNAI: The State Government hopes to get an assistance package of Rs.1,300 crore from the Union Urban Development Ministry soon for improving the transport infrastructure in Chennai, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru told the Assembly on Wednesday.

On receiving the assistance, the fleet strength of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation will go up from about 2,500 to 5,000, Mr. Nehru said, wrapping up the debate on the demands for grants to his department.

He said while Transport Corporations with Villupuram, Kanyakumari and Salem as their headquarters were doing well, those based at Madurai and Coimbatore were incurring losses. They would be provided new vehicles and efforts made to turn them into profit-making organisations. One thousand buses would be inducted for which the Government had provided Rs. 100 crore this year. In addition, the State Transport undertakings would introduce 1,000 new buses by taking loans from the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation. After including 230 more buses, a total of 2,230 new buses would be operated this year.

For the benefit of passengers travelling long distances, luxury buses would run on intra-state and inter-state routes. As in the case of other States, the vehicles would be hired, following an open tender system.

The State Express Transport Corporation's bus stands in Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore and Salem would be renovated and more facilities provided to passengers. The Corporation would hereafter run 1,000 buses, an increase of 100. Ultra deluxe air suspension buses would also ply.

Strike period


The Minister announced that a 17-day long strike undertaken by employees of the transport corporations in 2001 during the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime would be regarded as on duty, on the lines of what was done for the Government employees' agitation.

The Transport Undertakings posted a pre-audit loss of Rs. 397.36 crore during 2005-06, due to increase in establishment and operational cost and the per-km fare being maintained as the lowest. The expected loss for 2006-07 was Rs. 513 crore.

Mini buses

The total number of mini bus permits allotted to all the districts except Chennai was 7,000, with each district getting 250 permits. So far, regional transport authorities had granted 3,985 permits. The unavailed permits would be re-allotted to those districts requiring more than 250 permits.

They would be granted panchayat union-wise. To improve the operation of mini buses on unserved sectors, it had been decided that the buses should be operated for a minimum of 5 km instead of the present one km to four km, while plying on the served sector up to a maximum of four km.

Industrial estate to come up in Dharmapuri district

Staff Reporter

Proposal sent to Government; this will be set up on 2,500 acres





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three locations on Salem Bangalore National Highway and Pennagaram Road identified Panel headed by the Collector formed to work out logistics details Automobile industries, spinning and textiles, manufacturing units and tanneries will be given preference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dharmapuri: The district administration has sent a proposal to the State Government for establishment of an industrial estate in Dharmapuri district. The industrial estate is proposed to be established by the State Industrial Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) in an expanse of 2,500 acres in Dharmapuri. Along with this an industrial estate is also proposed to be established by the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) to cater to major industries said Collector, M. Chandrasekaran here on Thursday. The administration has identified three locations on Salem Bangalore National Highway and Pennagaram Road which are well connected by road and rail network and have uninterrupted power and water supply. Automobile industries, spinning and textiles, manufacturing units, agro-based industries and tanneries would be given preference in the proposed industrial estate. A committee headed by the Collector has been formed to work out the logistics details and to address the operational difficulties. Meetings would be held with industrialists and entrepreneurs in Bangalore, Coimbatore and Tirupur to attract investment in Dharmapuri district, he said.

The Collector has invited applications from entrepreneurs for starting small, medium and large industries in the proposed SIPCOT industrial estate. Entrepreneurs requiring land can apply with complete details of the activity, building and machinery cost to the General Manager, District Industrial Centre, Dharmapuri within 15 days.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081104840300.htm

Hi friends

Another happy news for Salem City...

Ongoing GC b/w Salem and Virudhachalam includes the electrification of Salem Market and Salem Town RS stretch.

There is an idea of running MEMU train b/w Mettur/Erode and Salem.

This is gonna be a big boon for the daily shuttlers to Salem city from Erode and Mettur towns.

Further railways have planned to operate Bangalore trains from Salem Town RS. Salem City is ready to get freash railway infrastructure!

After this GC, Mega flyovers may come near Salem Town RS(Cherry Road, Town RS Road, Bretts Road Jn), Leigh Bazaar, Ponamapet Gate.

The State Government is to establish hi-tech weaving parks at Erode, Madurai and Kumarapalayam and it has approached the Central Government for getting an assistance of Rs. 300 crore under the integrated textile park scheme.

Another mark for Salem Silk Sarees

To protect traditional handloom varieties such as Salem and Arani silks, and Kovai Kora cotton, the Minister said it had been decided to register them under Geographical Indications Act. Already Kancheepuram silk sarees, Bhavani "jamakkalam" and Madurai Sungudi sarees had been registered under the Act. Handloom mark, introduced by the Central Government to enable people to know genuine handloom varieties, would be introduced in the State.


http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/13/stories/2006081316350800.htm

Salem Tidel Park to be annonced

According to Dinamalar, Salem IT park is likely to be annonced on Aug 19, 2006. Minister Stalin is going to visit salem on Aug 26th, when other development schemes to be discussed. This information is provided by Minister Mr. Veerapandi S. Arumugam.

Dear Palsen

Really a good news.

Can you give the link for that news.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8839/2116932106050924923off2.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8839/2116932106050924923off2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Another view from Yercaud:::::

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4702/211693190a8c4725c2bohc8.th.jpg (http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=211693190a8c4725c2bohc8.jpg)

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4702/211693190a8c4725c2bohc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Salem is going to become the second city in the state to have underground cables for power transmission...
At present, Salem is the only city except Chennai in the state to feature:
* A multiplex,
* International Food Malls
* Integrated traffic signals
And now, its going to have underground power transmission.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/17/stories/2006081712210500.htm

Extract:

Salem to have underground cables for power transmission

Special Correspondent

Second city to have such a facility after Chennai





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UGD scheme to be executed at a cost of Rs. 145 crore Mettur water supply scheme to be carried out at Rs. 179 crore Second phase of Tirumanimuthar River project to be undertaken with an outlay of Rs. 31.50 crore New integrated Collectorate complex to come up at a cost of Rs. 13 crore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SALEM: Salem will become the second city after Chennai in the State to have underground cables for power transmission instead of the present overhead ones.

Along with this major work, the Under Ground Drainage (UGD) and the dedicated Cauvery water supply schemes would also be taken up simultaneously to avoid frequent digging of roads for trenches for laying pipes and cables these projects, said the Agricultural Minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugam, while talking to reporters here on Wednesday.

Detailing various projects that had received the nod of the Government, the Minister pointed out that he had already spoken about the project of laying underground cable for electricity distribution with the Minister concerned. "We are hopeful of initiating these projects simultaneously," he said.

The city surrounded by hills and hillocks often experiences power shutdowns and frequent snapping of cables owing to strong winds. The UGD scheme would be executed at a cost of Rs. 145 crore. The dedicated Cauvery's Mettur water supply scheme for Salem city with its future population in mind would be carried out at a cost of Rs. 170 crore while an improved Mettur-Salem-Attur scheme would be extended up to Talavasal and Gengavalli unions and its wayside habitations.

This would be carried out at a cost of Rs. 100 crore.

He promised that equal distribution of water would be ensured to all in Salem city shortly. The second phase of the Tirumanimuthar river project would be undertaken with a financial outlay of Rs. 31.50 crore.

"The foundation stone for these projects will be held on August 25 in which Local Administration Minister M. K. Stalin and others participate," he said and added that houses for conservancy workers would be built at a cost of Rs. 20 crore at Erumapalayam here.

The new integrated collectorate complex at an estimated cost of Rs. 13 crore also would be undertaken from the next financial year. "The Chief Minister has already given his nod to all these projects," the Minister said.

He also said during the second week of September Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi would be participating at a function to lay foundation for the mega projects on Salem Steel Plant, Salem Railway Division and superspecialty hospital.

Salem airport is to be reopened soon.

Six idle airports to be activated

T.S. Shankar

Airports Authority of India plans to upgrade Tirupati and Hubli airports

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuticorin, Vellore, Pondicherry, Salem airports included
Jagson airlines to start regular flights between Chennai and Pondy

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/17/stories/2006081715410100.htm

Rs 50 lakh to maintain monuments

Salem, August 16: A sum of Rs 50 lakh has been sanctioned this year for the maintenance of the Namakkal fort and Narasimhar temple at Namakkal, the Siva temple at Erode and other temples in Madurai, Superintendent of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Society of India, Satyabhama Badrinath, has said.


Nearly 5,000 monuments are under the control of the ASI throughout India, of which 409 are in Tamil Nadu, she said here yesterday.


People should seek the ASI's permission if they wanted to construct any building near these monuments, she said, adding the building should be constructed 300 metres away from the monuments. (Agencies)


http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B976196EF-9886-4F4D-B65F-E5DDEC5209FF%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Chennai

Salem airport is all set to get a new lease of life (http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081905030400.htm)


--NewsAnalysis Air connectivity vital for mega projects coming up in the region
--Air Deccan may use short-haul carriers to connect Salem with Mumbai and Bangalore
--Without cargo it will be difficult for any airline operation to prove viable

Coimbatore\Salem: While the move to reactivate the Salem airport is welcome, private operators will do well to ponder over the "pitfalls" that led to it remaining idle all these years.

With a flurry of mega projects involving Rs. 3,500-crore investments coming up in the region, the need for air connectivity is all the more felt. The Salem airport was the first in the country for which members of the public donated Rs. 49 lakh (including Rs. 30 lakh by Salem Steel Plant). Originally planned for Vayudoot services using small aircraft and conceived with a 1,350-metre runway, it was expanded by another 600 metres to accommodate bigger planes.

The two-decade-old dream of Salem citizens became a reality in April 1993 at a cost of Rs.6 crore on a 130-acre site at Kamalapuram, about 20 km from the city. But it proved an ephemeral joy. Even before the service was started, citizens raised major objections. They considered the Salem-Coimbatore-Chennai fare of Rs.1,350 exorbitant and were unhappy that they were forced to fly an additional 85 km to Coimbatore before taking off to Chennai. The flight leaving Salem at 6.55 a.m. would reach Chennai only at 9.25 a.m. By train one could reach Chennai in five hours at a far lower cost.

With the private airline finding the Chennai-Coimbatore route far more profitable, it suspended operations to Salem after three months. Only chartered flights have been using the airport since then. Now it has been included in the idle airports activation programme.

Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugham told The Hindu that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had taken the issue up with the civil aviation authorities. "We have asked them to study the feasibility of operating Indian flights as Boeing flights with load restrictions can operate from here."

K.V. Thangkabalu MP is confident that the airport would become active for both passengers and cargo traffic "very shortly," as many operators had evinced "keen interest." "It (revival of operations) has almost been finalised."

Air Deccan had obtained a No Objection Certificate in 2003 from the Civil Aviation Ministry to link Salem. It may deploy the short-haul 48-seater ATR 42-320 carriers to connect Mumbai and Bangalore. "The huge North Indian trade community prefers this," says a leading travel agency.

S. Sathyanarayanan, president, Salem-Dharmapuri Chamber of Commerce, who has been requested by Air Deccan to convene a meeting of citizens to obtain their views on issues such as schedule, said at least 100 passengers were expected from Salem (60 per cent towards Bangalore-Mumbai and the rest towards Chennai). At least 300 kg of courier consignments were expected to be airlifted daily. Being the only minor airport with Boeing landing facility, Salem could be of immense help.

The only problem, according to K. Mariappan, former general secretary of the Salem District Small Scale Industries Association, is that without cargo it would be difficult for any airline operation to prove viable. For this night landing facility becomes indispensable, as courier consignments would be ready only by night.

Superb Picture Mr.Vijayan...

Thanks for uploading that picture.

Mr.Palsen/CBEboy

Another good news from your part.

Very nice to hear that Air Deccan taken initiative to operate flights b/w Salem -Bangalore and Mumbai.

It is gone be a hit.

Now IT companies will target over Salem for their needs.

Already Central Government going to invest more than 3000 crores in Salem.

SSP expansion, Salem Railway Division, Salem Government Multispeciality hospital.. all these mega projects going to be launched on SEPTEMBER 2nd week.

UGC grants Rs. 80 lakh to Periyar University

Staff Reporter




SALEM: The University Grants Commission (UGC) sanctioned a sum of Rs. 80 lakhs as second instalment of grant under the 10th Five Year Plan to the Periyar University recently.

According to Vice-Chancellor of the university, T. Balakrishnan, the sum was granted based on the recommendation of an expert committee from the UGC, which visited the university recently to assess its requirements in June this year. The committee, headed by Member, UGC, K. Ramamurthy Naidu, visited the 12 departments of the university and assessed the requirements.

Building for students


The committee members also inspected the construction of buildings for students amenity centre and hostels on the university campus. The university had already received Rs. 1 crore as grant from the UGC for the construction of a building for the Periyar Institute of Management Studies.

According to senior university officials, the university needed funds primarily for the establishment of infrastructure facilities and to carry out research activities.

Arul Murugan,

Thanks for your enthusiasm and participation.

Original Salem is comprises of 4 districts now with huge population. There is a big enthusiasm also as Salem and Bangalore are going to be connected with IT highway and electric trains. It will take about 2 to 3 hrs to reach Bangalore by road.

As you may be aware, all politicians just announce the projects and disappear. We don't forget that the super specialty hospital was announced for Trichy three years back and nothing happened. Not it is shifted to Salem. Let us wait and see them finally go through.

Thanks
Palsen



Mr.Palsen/CBEboy

Another good news from your part.

Very nice to hear that Air Deccan taken initiative to operate flights b/w Salem -Bangalore and Mumbai.

It is gone be a hit.

Now IT companies will target over Salem for their needs.

Already Central Government going to invest more than 3000 crores in Salem.

SSP expansion, Salem Railway Division, Salem Government Multispeciality hospital.. all these mega projects going to be launched on SEPTEMBER 2nd week.

Salem IT Park Announced:

New IT, industrial policies shortly, says Karunanidhi

Staff Reporter

The policy will comprehensively cover all sectors of the IT industry

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

Plans to set up IT parks in Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem and Tirunelveli
Separate policy for IT hardware manufacturing, biotechnology

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/24/stories/2006082406350400.htm

"Salem Site for IT Park ideally situated"

Special Correspondent




SALEM: ELCOT managing director Umashankar on Thursday inspected the proposed site for the Information Technology Park at Salem.

On his arrival at the site at Ammapalayam, near here, he held discussions with Collector N. Mathivanan and other revenue officials on developing the land to suit the IT Park requirements.

"The Salem IT Park is ideally situated on the Salem-Bangalore National Highway," he said and hoped that it would invite prospective developers in the field.

He asked the officials to clear encroachments, if any, and also attach another 23 acres of land abetting the park for its development.

The district administration has already identified 100 acres of land for this purpose.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/01/stories/2006090103810500.htm

Long Awaited Salem Airport Service to start from Nov 1st - Airdecon

Long awaited Salem Airport shall be activated from Nov 1st. Airdecon announced to start air service from Salem-Chennai with 48 seater flight. They expect daily at leaset 25 passangers to run it profitably.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006sep01/district/salem.asp

Staff Reporter


SALEM: Flight service from Salem airport would be feasible, according to a survey by Sona School of Management. The institute carried out the survey to study the potential for the operation of flights from the Salem airport and to understand whether the A/C class travellers in train would be prospective customers of airlines.

A special survey team headed by the institute director D. Dhanabalan, which included David Rajesh and Nachimuthu as members, carried out exhaustive interviews with many travel/air-ticketing agents, cargo/courier booking agents and A/C class train travellers in Salem, Namakkal and Tiruchengode.The survey found out that there were 45 to 50 persons booking air tickets regularly with the travel agents from the Salem region in a day for domestic flights and three to five persons for international flights.

The survey report further said the travel agents promised the airlines their support for the commencement of flight services from Salem. With Salem witnessing increased industrial activities, businessmen were frequently travelling to cities such as Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.

Air Deccan service


Air Deccan officials are expected to be here on September 14 to finalise the flight airport. Salem District Small Scale and Tiny Industries Association president K. Mariappan told The Hindu that a high level official team led by its principal revenue officer John Kuruvilla would interact with travel agents, industrialists, traders and eminent personalities of Salem, Namakkal and Dharmapuri districts to finalise operational schedules and fares.

Air Deccan is planning to operate its services in the Salem-Chennai sector with a 48-seater aircraft from the first week of November.

The exact date of its operation will be finalised during the September 14 discussion. "Most probably it may take off from November 1 itself," Mariappan added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091315480100.htm

link to news.. (http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091301000300.htm)

ATTUR: The State Government would establish a sugar mill in Attur next year, Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam said.

Rural habitations


At a special mass contact programme, he said establishment of a sugar mill was a long-pending demand of the people here. The government would take steps shortly.

Rs. 21 lakh for improving facilities

SALEM: The State Government has allotted Rs. 21 lakh for improving the traffic infrastructure, to undertake road safety measures and to conduct awareness programmes on road safety in the district. Of which, a sum of Rs. 15 lakh would be provided to the Salem City Police, Collector N. Mathivanan said at a meeting on road safety here recently. The Collector said the district administration had taken up serious efforts to minimise the number of road accidents and the road fatalities. A Collectorate press release said a number of measures were proposed during the meeting to ease the traffic congestion in the city. Officials had discussed the establishment traffic islands at Kuranguchavadi, Tirumagal Bypass and Three Roads in the city at a cost of Rs. 1 lakh.
Signals
It was also proposed in the meeting to erect signals in the Steel Plant Road, Chatram, Three Roads and Gandhi Road at a cost of Rs. 12.70 lakh. Passenger shelters would be established in 13 places in the city at a cost of Rs. 5.95 lakh, the release said.
Medians would be constructed in the following road stretches: Tirumanimutharu River Bridge - Tiruvalluvar Statue, Hasthampatti - Five Roads, Three roads - Five Roads, Three Roads - Sooramangalam and Hasthampatti - Government Arts College. Officials discussed the removal of encroachments on the roadsides and important places including Hasthampatti, Five Roads, Old Bus Stand, Arunachala Arasanga Thidal and Car Street.
High mast lamps
The release said high mast lamps would be installed in front of the District Collectorate, Hasthampatti and Seelanaickanpatti each at a cost of Rs. 3 lakh. The district police had planned to erect traffic signs and undertake road safety works in Attur, Vazhapadi, Mettur, Sankagiri and Omalur areas.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/23/23hdline.htm

Salem's Vinayaka Mission's new MBA course
Search for More News
Chennai, Sept 21: Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation, a Salem-based deemed university, will start a two-year twin programme in MBA -- combining graduation and post-graduation course -- in partnership with Centennial College, Toronto, Canada.


The MBA international programme enables students to study their first year in India and the second year in Canada, S Vasudevan, vice-principal of the university, told reporters here today.


If the students opt to study in India itself, it can also be done, he said.


The students will be awarded an MBA degree by the university and graduation certificate by the Centennial College.


The two-year programme combined Indian and Canadian curriculum and offered convenient study options, he said. (Our Correspondent)

INDIA: Delay in proposed hi-tech textile park affects textile industry

SALEM: The weaving units undergoing comprehensive modernisation, inordinate delay in establishing the hi-tech park has literally slowed down the progress of textile industry, industry sources said here on September 21.

Further, sharp differences of opinions among industry people have led to delay in establishing the hi-tech weaving and apparel park in Salem where the weaving units produces export-oriented fabric worth Rs. 3,000 crore every year.

Earlier, Salem Exporters Association (SEA) has identified a site many months ago but nothing worthwhile has taken place towards the realisation of the project.

However, as many textile units in Salem are tiny and small, creation of such common infrastructure facilities and cluster development activities are important for the sustainable progress of the textile industry.

The proposed apparel and weaving park will help the units to get all necessary infrastructure facilities at a single place so as to face the stiff global competition with value addition.

Salem produces more than 40 percent of the yarn dyed woven fabric in the country and is being sent to other places for converting it into apparels, which is then exported to the US and European countries.

http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2001436

Dear Palsen

Thanks for the good news.

Medians are very much needed on

1. Jn- 5 roads- Sarada College Road-Cherry Road
2. 3 roads-T. Bye pass Road-Jn
3. Yercaud Foot Hills-Hasthampati circle

SCTP going to do good work for the development of the city.

HOSUR: TVS Industries is likely to undertake various developmental works at the cost of Rs 1.2 crore in Hosur industrial town, thanks to the steps taken by District Collector Dr Santhosh Babu.

The developmental works would be carried out through the funds allotted by the company’s charitable wing, Sreenivasa Service Trust (SST).

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060926125050&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Hi friends

Now Salem City is getting more attention among TN big readymade/silk shoppers.

NAIDU HALL had opened its 3 storyed building last week.

Now Chennai Silks and Kalyan is also entering Salem City. BASICS have opened another exclusive showroom in the city.

So Salem City is getting more attention in textiles industry and shopping/entertaiment also.

Interesting blog about Salem:

..............Though not a very popular city of the state, Salem is one of the fastest grwing cities of the country. There has been a tremendous development in the city in terms of infrastructure. First and foremost, the roads of the city are uncomparable to any other city of Tamilnadu.

I had never thought this city is this big being a resident of Trichy. Before visiting Salem, I thought Trichy is much bigger than salem. But my visit made me realise the fact that Salem is bigger than Trichy. Spent quite a good time in roaming at Salem with my friend.............................



http://www.travelpost.com/travel/dhana

Source: http://www.outlookmoney.com/scripts/IIH026C1.asp?sectionid=10&categoryid=71&articleid=6158&sideshowid=2002&NoCache=10%2F13%2F2006+7%3A37%3A18+PM

Based on the quality of life to live in.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/18/stories/2006101801980500.htm

AAI awaits report on reviving operations from Salem

Special Correspondent

The Ministry has asked the State to provide security in and around the airport The Ministry has asked the State to provide security in and around the airport





SALEM: The Airport Authority of India (AAI) awaits the report of the Joint Inspection Committee to give its nod for reviving the domestic operations from the Salem airport.

The committee, comprising senior officials of the Regional Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Directorate of Civil Aviation and the AAI, recently inspected the airport and its infrastructure to ascertain the feasibility of reviving the operations.

The team, accompanied by a top official of Air Deccan, which is interested in operating passenger services from Salem, studied the amenities, the tarmac, the night landing facilities and security. It also conducted a detailed study of the runway, which according to an official, needs to be repaired, as the recent rain has left a few potholes on it.

The team is likely to submit its report "shortly" to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which is expected to sanction funds to carry out repair and maintenance work.

Tamil Daily Dinamalar says the repair works at the Salem Airport are underway. Also the passenger amenities are being established in the Airport.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006oct18/general_dist1.asp

The results. The study throws up very interesting outcomes. For instance, relatively smaller towns beat their larger counterparts in quality of life. Mumbai, the highest ranked metro in the city residing index, lags Kochi, Salem, Ghaziabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli and Indore respectively. Superior law and order and in some cases educational infrastructure can explain much of this. In terms of the very large and prominent cities, Mumbai is the highest ranked followed by Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi. Since most of Outlook Money’s readers reside in these five cities, we take a more detailed look at what the study reveals about the quality of life there.






Delhi






Source: http://www.outlookmoney.com/scripts/IIH026C1.asp?sectionid=10&categoryid=71&articleid=6158&sideshowid=2002&NoCache=10%2F13%2F2006+7%3A37%3A18+PM

Based on the quality of life to live in.

Picture courtesy Tamilmurasu (epaper.tamilmurasu.in)

Since we dont get too many pictures of these cities, I have used a picture from Newspaper

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5952/salemviewwr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Paramount Airways to start domestic flight services from Salem.
http://www.dinamalar.com/2006nov04/general_tn9.asp

NH-68 between Salem and ulundurpet to be made 4-lane at a cost of Rs. 941 crores.
http://www.maalaimalar.com/asp/news/dis_news_article.asp?artid=164390

Government clears land for setting up super speciality hospital

Special Correspondent

It will be constructed on the premises of Govt. medical college hospital
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Veerapandi S. Arumugam inspects adjoining lands Alternative arrangements made for other offices and women sub jail

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/07/stories/2006110701570300.htm

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8071/night1kd8.th.jpg (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=night1kd8.jpg)


<a href="http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=night1kd8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8071/night1kd8.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8071/night1kd8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[img=http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8071/night1kd8.jpg] (http://imageshack.us)

Five Roads traffic island junction to get a new look

Staff Reporter

Artificial fountains will be installed







BEAUTY SPOT: The traffic island on Five Roads in Salem. - Photo: P. Goutham


SALEM: The beautification of the traffic island on Five Roads, an important road junction witnessing thousands of vehicles every day, is nearing completion.

The work was taken up by the Salem City Police with the public participation as a part of the efforts to improve the traffic management system and beautify the traffic islands.

Coloured lamps


Artificial fountains and coloured lamps would be installed in the traffic island to give it a pleasant look. Shrub and flowerbeds would also be created.

A high mast lamp was already installed and steps were being taken to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the junction.

Traffic management


The city police would take up efforts to improve the traffic management and ensure safe travel to the people, a senior police official said.

Traffic islands in other parts of the city would also be improved with the participation of the public, he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/19/stories/2006111900090300.htm

http://www.elcot.com/itnews/sep06/net-020906.htm

To Launch Combo offer that Ties up investments in Chennai with those in Salem, Madurai, Trichy



THE TAMIL Nadu government is learning a lesson or two from the private sector in its efforts to attract IT investments to tier-II cities. It is planning to launch ‘combo-offer’, that ties up IT investments in Chennai with those in centres such as Salem, Trichy, Madurai and Tirunelveli. This is expected to provide an incentive to IT majors to look beyond the capital.

As per the plan, IT majors seeking large extents of land for establishing a 10-acre campus in the IT corridor, are likely to be given priority if their blueprint includes setting up an IT facility in about one million sq ft area in any of the developing tier-II cities in the state.

“The IT majors have been saying that they are in favour of a move to shift to tier-II cities. But, given an opportunity, most of them seem to be comfortable expanding their presence in and around Chennai,” sources in the government said. This not only increases the pressure on urban infrastructure in the city, but also forces people to migrate from small towns to Chennai in search of better jobs, they added.

A top IT company official said the scheme certainly sounded attractive, but it would wait for an official announcement. However, sources pointed out that this may not be implemented as a condition, but promoted as an incentive to make them realize value in tier-II cities. “We are working on a broader policy initiative to take this forward,” they said.

When contacted, Dr. C. Chandramouli, the state’s information technology secretary said it was premature to comment, but added that a formal announcement would be made in the next few days.

Accordingly to sources, developing tier-II cities like Salem and Trichy present a good opportunity. “These cities not only provide a regular supply of engineering graduates, but also have good infrastructure facilities. The government has assigned District Collectorates to identify large chunks of land in these cities for developing IT parks,” they added.

The state-owned Elcot is likely to be the nodal agency for the initiative. “Elcot may either buy the land on its own or through a public-private initiative,” they said. “With manpower and infrastructure readily available, the IT majors have to invest in training the people,” the sources said. The sources further said that over 100 acres have been identified near Salem.
“Salem is well connected by rail and road networks. While communication facilities are already there, the government is now pushing for developing the Salem airport,” the sources pointed out. Yercaud and Kolli Hills offer a good ambience for the week-ends too.
It may be recalled that the present DMK Government has been pushing hard its plan to help IT sector expands to Tier II cities in the state like Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Salem. The idea is to create “IT job potential” at the doorsteps of these cities and prevent migration of youth. In its recent policy note, the state government said it decided to set up IT Parks in Madurai, Trichy, Salem, and Tirunelveli apart from Chennai and Coimbatore announced earlier. District collectors have already commenced the process of identifying suitable lands for this purpose, it said.

Exports from the state have grown to Rs.14,115 in 2005 -06 from Rs.10,703 crore in 2004-05 (and Rs.7621 crore in 2003 -04). However, most of it came out of Chennai. Of Rs.10,703 crore exports in 2004-05, less than Rs.60 crore came from the rest of the state. At the end of 2004-05, while Chennai had 845 units, Coimbatore had 46, and all others including Madurai, Trichy and Sivakasi had 24 in all.


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

For all your information, Yercaud is being used by the software professionals of Bagalore as the perfect week-end destination. The number of vehices with KA registration is more than the number of vehicles with TN registration. Also, if you search for blogs with the key-word 'Yercaud', you can get hundreds of blogs written by Bangalore software professionals, and you can hardly find one written by Tamil people.

Most of the Bangalore IT companies have their team-building programs in Yercaud.

Assembly panel to review development works

Staff Reporter

To inspect site identified for IT Park

SALEM: The Estimate Committee of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will review the progress of various development works being taken up in the district on November 22.

According to Collector N. Mathivanan, the committee, led by its Chairman K. Pichandi, will examine the activities of the self-help groups and the works carried out under the Indira Awaas Yojana. The committee members will inspect the development works taken up at the Ayodhyapattinam panchayat union. The committee will also inspect the site identified for the establishment of an Information Technology Park and Sambar Pallam water carrying channel in Aanaimarathupatti.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112200970300.htm

Air-conditiond buses on Salem-Namakkal-Karur route, at normal fares.

The bus features 14.5 tonne A/c, where OMNI buses have 9 tonne. The bus also features ABS. This is really a threat to SR, on SA-KRR new BG line.

Passengers are not charged anything extra.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006nov26/general_dist1.asp

What happened to the Air Deccan's plan to start the first flight service out of Salem?. As per plan it must have started early this month. Any reason for the delay or have they shelved the plan?.

What happened to the Air Deccan's plan to start the first flight service out of Salem?. As per plan it must have started early this month. Any reason for the delay or have they shelved the plan?.

I have contacted Air-Deccan officials and the Salem Airport Authorities. Both are not sure about when the service will be started.

Proximity of Salem to Bangalore and Coimbatore is the major thing causing this delay.

I dont think proximity could be a reason. Salem is more than 165 kms from Coimbatore and 200 kms from Bangalore. While Trichy which is just 125 kms from Madurai and 200 kms from Coimbatore has a flight service to chennai. Also Trichy is closer to Chennai compared to Salem with Chennai.

Even Tuticorin is just 135 kms from Madurai and air deccan is seriously thinking for a second flight to chennai from here.

I think it has to do with feesibility aspect due to lack of patronage.

I dont think proximity could be a reason. Salem is more than 165 kms from Coimbatore and 200 kms from Bangalore. While Trichy which is just 125 kms from Madurai and 200 kms from Coimbatore has a flight service to chennai. Also Trichy is closer to Chennai compared to Salem with Chennai.

Even Tuticorin is just 135 kms from Madurai and air deccan is seriously thinking for a second flight to chennai from here.

I think it has to do with feesibility aspect due to lack of patronage.

Thanks for your views.

If you have Microsoft Encarta, you can measure the distance to Chennai from Salem and Trichy (through air). The distance between Salem and Chennai measures around 260km, whereas the distance b/w Trichy and Chennai measures around 320km.

The straight line path from Salem to Chennai is full of hill-ranges of Shevaroys and kalrayans, so the road route goes east for some distance and goes north after Ulundurpet. Similarly railways goes north upto Jolarpet and goes east after that.

Its not the lack of patronage which is the cause, its the geographical location which is the major reason as many people know.

Proximity of Salem to Bangalore and Coimbatore is the major thing causing this delay.

I was mainly talking abt the proximity aspect which you had said.

Salem is more than 165 kms from Coimbatore and 200 kms from Bangalore. While Trichy which is just 125 kms from Madurai and 200 kms from Coimbatore has a flight service to chennai.

Even Tuticorin is just 135 kms from Madurai and air deccan is seriously thinking for a second flight to chennai from here.


My point was Tuticorin and Trichy though close to Madurai had air connectivity. I was just curious because you said Coimbatore and Bangalore airport where closer to Salem. which prevented Salem airport to pick off.

If you have Microsoft Encarta, you can measure the distance to Chennai from Salem and Trichy (through air). The distance between Salem and Chennai measures around 260km, whereas the distance b/w Trichy and Chennai measures around 320km.

I measured the distance in google earth. The distance from Trichy airport to Chennai airport was 290 kms. Since google earth did not show where the airport in salem was i just measured from salem city center to Chennai city which was 275kms.

I was mainly talking abt the proximity aspect which you had said.




My point was Tuticorin and Trichy though close to Madurai had air connectivity. I was just curious because you said Coimbatore and Bangalore airport where closer to Salem. which prevented Salem airport to pick off.



I measured the distance in google earth. The distance from Trichy airport to Chennai airport was 290 kms. Since google earth did not show where the airport in salem was i just measured from salem city center to Chennai city which was 275kms.

Dear Madurai Veeran,

Salem is surrounded by huge ranges of hills as many people know. So it is impossible for the Airport to be located near the city.
The Airport is located at Kamalapuram, which is around 30km from the city. Even from there flights towards Chennai have to take off towards west and then turn towards east to go to Chennai, as the east of the Airport is the Shevaroyan ranges. One has to travel for an hour to reach the Airport from the city.

Madhurai Veeran and vijan,

Thanks for your views. As you look the infrastructure perspective, Salem is having one of the best infrastructure compared to all major growing cities in India. Thanks to its geographic location. IT is named as 2nd most favored city in the country in terms of quality fo life from the survey published in Outlook magazine. It gave 6th place to Trichy which is not bad. Salem is very well connected with Coimbatore, Chennai and Bangalore with Bus and Train and roads. It is very hard to justify anyone to use flight which takes more time to travel on top of security hassles.

Salem generates more than 3000crores in textile export every year. Salem people’s mentality is saving mentality and not spending as once said by Rangarajan Kumaramangalam the ex central minister. They are coming from very hard working back ground and they don’t spend just for the same of spending money. They prefer value vs luxury which is obviously missing here.

To reach Chennai by train: from Salem Jn to Central : about 5hrs.
To reach by flight: about 1.5hrs airborne+ 20 take off + 20 landing+30minutes to airport + 45 minutes to check in + 30 minutes to check out and bag gages + 1hr to reach the city from Meenambakkam. = 4hrs 55minutes minimum. This is given by one of the industrialist in Salem.


Yet there is a news release from Air Deccan

Air Deccan to fly to Kangra and Salem

http://silkrouteholidays.blogspot.com/2006/11/air-deccan-to-fly-to-kangra-and-salem.html

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/17034.html

Madhurai Veeran and vijan,


To reach Chennai by train: from Salem Jn to Central : about 5hrs.
To reach by flight: about 1.5hrs airborne+ 20 take off + 20 landing+30minutes to airport + 45 minutes to check in + 30 minutes to check out and bag gages + 1hr to reach the city from Meenambakkam. = 4hrs 55minutes minimum. This is given by one of the industrialist in Salem.



Palsen,
You had missed out the nearly 1 hour to be spent on reaching the Salem Airport from the City.

I have been seeing lots of interest in seeing their favored city is growing. Is there a way to compare the tier-II cities in tamilnadu. Like how will you compare Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy and Trunelveli based on Merits.

Any help from anyone to post this here is really appreiciated!

Thanks Vijayan and Madurai Veeran,

Here is the blog from some one from trichy about Salem...I think I posted this one already here...

http://www.travelpost.com/travel/dhana

SWOT Analysis of Garment Industries in Salem (A comparison with Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai)

By: V.Ramesh babu

Dept of Apparel and Fashion Technology, Sona College of Technology, Salem
Email: salemramesh@yahoo.com

Abstract

SWOT Analysis of Garment industry in Salem simply means analyzing the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of garment industry in Salem. From this we can know the areas where the Salem is strong and where the salem has to improve. In this research we have prepared a questionnaire and made a survey with it. This questionnaire was filled by various garment industries in Salem, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. This questionnaire made us to compare the various aspects like size of units, lead-time, productivity and CMT charges. Charts were prepared from the surveys and results were obtained from it.
By this project we can promote the details obtained to entrepreneur in various other places in India so that they can start up garment industry in near future.

Conclusion

• Raw material, which is most important for garment production is available in a large amount here and hence the lead-time is comparatively reduced.
• Moreover the cost of fabric is also very less compared to other places which in turn reduces the cost of production.
• Labour cost of Salem is very less compared to other cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, which reduce the production cost.
• Productivity is very less due to fragmented units and size of machine that is small comparatively.
• Skilled manpower availability is less in Salem that reduces productivity.
• Salem entrepreneurs can do joint venture. Moreover Entrepreneurs from other cities are now coming forward to start garment industries in Salem.
• Apparel Parks, which are in progress, can look into the benefits of garment industries in Salem.
• Salem Lacking behind the Value Added Products.

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/market-research-industry-reports/swot-analysis-of-garment-industries-in-salem/swot-analysis-of-garment-industries-in-salem1.asp

KOLKATA: Salem Steel Plant (SSP) has recorded a 65% increase in production of stainless steelin the first half this year with total sales of 44,125 tonnes of stainless steel products between April-September this year .

Sale of carbon steel products went up to 68,214 tonnes registering a growth of 127%. Production of hot rolling mill reached 1,01,027 ton-nes, while the plant's cold rolling mill grew by over 12% to 35,826 tonnes.

SSP has taken up an expansion project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,553 crores. Post-expansion, steel making facility at the plant is slated to increase to 1,80,000 tonnes of stainless steel slabs per annum. The cold rolling capacity is also scheduled to increase to 1,46,000 tonnes per annum.

The new facilities that will be added include a 50-tonne electric arc furnace, a 60 tonne AOD converter with a ladle furnace and a single strand slab caster. Apart from this an additional annealing and pickling line will be set up along with a grinding machine.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/411623.cms

KOLKATA: Salem Steel Plant (SSP) has recorded a 65% increase in production of stainless steelin the first half this year with total sales of 44,125 tonnes of stainless steel products between April-September this year .

Sale of carbon steel products went up to 68,214 tonnes registering a growth of 127%. Production of hot rolling mill reached 1,01,027 ton-nes, while the plant's cold rolling mill grew by over 12% to 35,826 tonnes.

SSP has taken up an expansion project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,553 crores. Post-expansion, steel making facility at the plant is slated to increase to 1,80,000 tonnes of stainless steel slabs per annum. The cold rolling capacity is also scheduled to increase to 1,46,000 tonnes per annum.

The new facilities that will be added include a 50-tonne electric arc furnace, a 60 tonne AOD converter with a ladle furnace and a single strand slab caster. Apart from this an additional annealing and pickling line will be set up along with a grinding machine.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/411623.cms


Today's News: SAIL has cleared Salem Steel Plant's expansion. We can expect the news in tomorrow's dailies.

PATHANKOTE: Aiming to expand air connectivity on feeder routes, particularly those connecting small cities to a metropolis, low cost carrier Air Deccan will launch flights to seven new destinations soon.
This initiative will help tap the market opportunities in regional routes, its Managing Director G R Gopinath told reporters here. The private carrier is launching a commercial flight to this city from Wednesday.
"We are starting our flight service to Dharamsala, Jamshedpur, Bodhgaya, Kuchbihar, Mysore, Salem and Ludhiana. The facility will be in place within 2-3 month time," he said.
Gopinath said the feeder routes have remained unexploited. About 60 per cent of the country's aviation revenue is from the Delhi-Mumbai route. Now less than two per cent of the country's population are travelling by air, he said.
"You cannot have a Mumbai-Delhi economy. You have to look for the entire country and see that people from all parts get air connectivity. If the feeder routes are activated, they will supplement to the trunk routes," he said.
Air Deccan has presently services to 61 airports. It has dropped its service on three routes due to "technical problems."

NEW DELHI: Auto component manufacturer Avtec, part of the GP-CK Birla Group, today said it will invest about Rs 50 crore in the next six months on capacity expansion.
"The company is in the process of expanding production capacities at Pitampur, Chennai and Hosur with a total investment of about Rs 50 crore," Avtec CEO Sudhir Rao told reporters here.
He said the company would invest Rs 15 crore at Pitampur to expand component manufacturing capacity and transmission products. In Chennai, the company would open a new facility for transmission components and invest Rs 30 crore.
At the Hosur facility, where the company produces automatic transmission parts, Avtec would de-bottleneck its operations at an investment of Rs five crore.
Rao said the expansion activities would be completed in about six months.
Avtec on Wednesday also signed an MoU to expand its business alliance with Allison Transmission, a General Motors Corporation Group company. The agreement will extend the two companies' 25 year old business alliance.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/368496.cms

Old.. but relevant

Tata Refractories gets Integrated Management System (IMS) certification
September 7, 2006

Tata Refractories, Belpahar has been awarded Integrated Management System (IMS) certification by BVQI (Bureau Veritas Quality International). By virtue of this, TRL is now certified to three management systems, which are:

Quality Management System — ISO 9001: 2000
Environment Management System — ISO 14001: 2004
Occupational Health & safety Management System — OHSAS 18001:1999.
TRL is the first Refractories company and one of the very few companies in India to have successfully implemented IMS.

This initiative was taken in July 2005 by the company and had launched a yearlong campaign through training, reviews, formation of steering committees, documentations and internal audits. The final audit was done by BVQI and after a series of stringent assessments, the certification was awarded. This certification covers TRL’s main Works at Belpahar, Jehangir Ghandy Hospital, all out station offices in Jamshedpur, Salem and other Marketing offices.

Implementation of an Integrated Management System provides specific benefits like:

Reducing multiple assessments.
Improving legal, statutory and regulatory compliance.
Enhancing employee-related safety and good housekeeping, with reduction in accident frequency and reduced liabilities.
Fulfilling company’s quality, environmental and health and safety requirements as an integrated part of its business model.
Making it a more socially responsive and environmentally conscious organisation.
Higher perceived quality and increase of competitive edge for better customer satisfaction.
Enhanced employee motivation and optimisation on operational efficiency.

TRL had earlier adopted Quality Management System (QMS) (Current Standard ISO 9001: 2000) during the year 1994-95. In view of the emerging scenario of globalisation and increasing need for compliance to the requirements of the stakeholders and also for continual business improvement based on sustainable development, TRL went for IMS certification to include EMS (ISO 14001) & OHSAS (OHSAS 18001).

Earlier the R&D Laboratory of the company had got the prestigious ISO 17025 certification from NABL, which is another unique achievement of the company.

http://www.tata.com/tata_refractories/releases/20060907.htm

R & D

R & D activities of the organization are done through Inhouse R&D and an independent Research Center set up at Salem under Dalmia Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, a SIRO approved by DISIR GOI.

The areas of R&D focus are PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, In particular special cements, energy efficiency (both power and fuel), optimization of raw material resources, increasing inputs of blending component particularly FlyAsh in PPC and improving quality of all the products made by the company to international level.

Though the R&D activity Dalmia Cement has achieved success in the area of Oil Well Cement- a product claiming essential import substitution and saving lot of foreign exchange is attributed to the R & D efforts of this Center. This product was first time developed in the country. The company also has to its credit development of railway concrete sleepers for the first time in the country. Besides these products Dalmiacement introduced for the first time concept of computerized mine planning, VRM for cement grinding, expert cement for controlling kiln operation.

At Dalmia Cement, quality is the baseline. Special emphasis is placed on Research & Development facilities to augment product quality. Each division has a well-equipped R&D cell, pursuing product and process improvements related to that division. The company has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities including an on-line X-ray analyzer, a modern Stacker Reclaimer, computerized mine planning, environment friendly electrostatic precipitators and a host of other technological features. Constant control by hi-tech systems at every step of the manufacturing process ensures that every bag of cement that rolls out of the factory is of the highest quality.

At Dalmia Cement, we employ tight controls and cutting edge technology at every step to ensure superior quality. It was the first to use a computerized planning package for limestone mining, to ensure consistent raw material composition. Dalmia Cement also remains among few who use Automatic Kiln Control software (based on fuzzy logic), to ensure superior clinker quality. The company recently introduced the latest CVRM technology for cement grinding. The ISO 9002 certification and American Petroleum Institute (API) monogram for the Oil well Cement speak volumes about the superior performance of the Company.

The quality leadership maintained by Dalmia Cement has ensured tremendous customer satisfaction. The leadership, combined with the popularity among customers, has given Dalmia Cement the status of market leaders. Consistent quality, conforming to international standards, a perfect ecological balance and low cost, energy efficient operations have enabled Dalmia Cement to stay at the top.

Source: http://www.dalmiacement.com/home/randd.htm

Honour for Steel Plant

Special Correspondent

Receives National Sustainability Award


SALEM: Salem Steel Plant (SSP) has won the National Sustainability Award of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), under Secondary Steel and Alloy Steel Plants category for 2006 for the third time in succession.
A press release from the SSP said that the Plant's Executive Director PM Balasubramanian received the award from Akhilesh Das, Union Minister of State for Steel, at a function in Jamshedpur on November 14.

The plant received the award for the tenth time in a span of 15 years.

The award was earlier known as the National Quality Award. The Ferrous division of Indian Institute of Metals had been organising this National Quality competition since 1991 to encourage and recognise the quality control aspects amongst the steel sector. SSP had a well-established quality management system and was the first among all SAIL plants to be certified ISO 9001. Salem stainless has been used in prestigious projects such as Parliament Library in New Delhi and the roofing of the Koparkhairane railway station in Navi Mumbai within the country.

It was also used in the Petronas Twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in the Melbourne Tennis Stadium, Australia.
Membership

The Salem Chapter of the IIM also won the Best Chapter Award among medium chapters for its performance and membership enrolment, besides having minimum percentage of defaulters.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/23/stories/2006112300660300.htm

Salem is going to become STAR city...Nationwide tenders to be invited.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epapertamilmurasu/firstpage.aspx?editioncode=23#

Southern Railway receives proposal for new division
Source: IRIS (07 December 2006)

Indian Railways received a proposal to set up a new railway division under Southern Railway Zone, reported agency sources.

According to Shri R.Velu, Minister of State for Railways, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha Thursday said that it has been agreed in principle to set up a new divisional headquarters at Salem on Southern Railway.

Due to the vast geographical spread of Palghat division, it has become an operational / administrative necessity to set up a divisional headquarters at Salem.

New divisions/zones are set up keeping in view factors like size (geographical spread), workload, accessibility, traffic pattern and other operating /administrative requirements etc. consistent with the needs of economy and efficiency without any regional considerations.


http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20061207153517048&dir=2006/12/07&secID=livenews

5th 500MW Thermal electic station at 2000 crores in Mettur-Salem.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/firstpage.aspx?editioncode=23#

Work in Salem-Attur section begins (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/16/stories/2006121600370300.htm)


SALEM: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun the road improvement work in the badly damaged Salem - Attur section of the National Highways 68 on Friday.

The work, taken up at a total cost of Rs. 9.1 crore, is expected to be completed in three months. The battered road is giving a hard time to the travelling public, as it is full of potholes.

Restoration

Road users find it very hard to navigate on the road, as at many places the tarmac has come off fully. Thousands of people use the busy road to travel between Salem and Chennai every day.

Following repeated representations from the people, the NHAI has announced that it will restore the road. "We have asked the contractors to complete the work within the stipulated time," a senior NHAI official said.

The official further said: "The NHAI has proposed to undertake the four-laning work on the road. The preparation of detailed project report for the four-laning is on." Meanwhile, the NHAI had already started maintenance works at a cost of Rs. 3.75 crore in the Attur- Ulunthurpet section.

Salem Based IT major Vee Tech ties up with Swedish co for printing solutions

The Salem-based Vee Technologies, a member of the Valliappa group, has entered into business partnership with PrintDreams of Sweden involved in printing technology product manufacture. The partnership between the two was formally announced during the visit of Mr Alex Breton, Chairman and CEO of PrintDreams, to the Vee Technologies campus in Salem recently.

Vee Technologies through its engineering service arm, VeeCreate, is providing the Swedish company critical engineering services in the form of concept design, production drawings, FEA and Validation in India and Stockholm.

Mr Breton said that PrintDreams' partnership with Vee Technologies has allowed the former to do lot more with its R&D budget. PrintDreams focuses on advanced printing technology for consumer industry and its new patented technology, RMPT, enables the company to make a range of devices that significantly reduce the cost and size of printing solutions.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/02/stories/2006120201850200.htm

Salem Vee enters into a deal with Sweeden. Print with your mobile phone

Salem: Modern mobile phones these days can be used for listening to songs, taking pictures, recording audio and video, storing data and writing documents.

One of the capabilities that the gadget does not have is printing. But soon the mobile phone can also print your documents and photographs.

Many of us might think that it is impossible. But the President and Chief Executive Officer of PrintDreams, Sweden, Alex Breton, says, "It is possible."



http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120800970200.htm

Salem Steel Plant gets `Best Vendor' award

Staff Reporter




SALEM: Tata BP Solar India Limited selected the Salem Steel Plant (SSP) as the Best Vendor for 2005-06.

A release from SSP said that the Certificate of Excellence for the award was presented at the Vendors Meet - 2006. Assistant General Manager (Marketing) and Branch Manager SSP, Bangalore, T.M. Vaidyanathan received it. Tata BP Solar India was using Salem stainless steel for manufacturing solar water heating system. The SSP received a similar award from Otis Elevators also.


Source: http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120802740300.htm

Without any advertisement in the media (as usual), JoyAlukkas has opened their showroom on Omalur Road in Salem. Address can be found in their website http://www.alukkas.com/jewellery/contactus.aspx

Anyways it would be a tough competition for Alukkas to compete with the local players like AVR, ANS, Coimbatore Jewellers etc.

Kalyan Group and Chennai Silks are also coming up in Salem.

Orders issued on Salem railway division's jurisdiction (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/20/stories/2006122012660400.htm)


The Railway Ministry has issued orders specifying the jurisdiction of the railway division to be established at Salem, bringing to an end to the row over whether areas in Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, should form part of the Salem division, or rest with the Palakkad division.

Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu told The Hindu on phone that the Salem division would have 842-km railway line of which 700-odd km, running through Tamil Nadu, would be bifurcated from the Palakkad division, while 135 km would come from the Tiruchirapalli division.

The proposal comes with a supplementary grant of Rs. 10 lakh for commencing the preliminary works. The allocation would be Rs 20 crore.

Earlier jurisdiction


The two railway divisions in Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad earlier had jurisdiction stretching from Kanyakumari to Mangalore in Karnataka and up to Jolarpet near Chennai.

Tamil Nadu, larger in terms of geographical area, had divisions at Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli. The Salem division is coming up to serve a larger area hitherto attached to the Palakkad division.

Citing neglect of railway infrastructure development works in Tamil Nadu areas, there had been a persistent demand for a new division at Salem or Coimbatore.

After the announcement of the Salem division, the issue of jurisdiction remained a hot debate. There were vociferous demands from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, staking claim over areas such as Coimbatore and Erode with high revenue earning potential.

The break-up of lines in the Salem division: Udhagamandalam - Coimbatore North Junction (79 km); Coimbatore North - Erode - Salem - Jolarpet (277 km); Irugur - Podanur - Coimbatore Junction (19 km); Salem - Karur (work in progress, 85 km); Karur - Dindigul (74 km); Salem - Vridhachalam (135 km); Salem - Mettur Dam (37 km); and Erode - Tiruchirapalli (137 km).

Ball set rolling on super speciality hospital at Salem

Central, State teams inspect government hospital premises

# Institution will be on the lines of AIIMS, Delhi
# Land for the project to be provided by January 31
# It will be a 1000-bed five-storied building
http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122103670500.htm
------------

Consultants appointed to do survey on ring road project

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122100690300.htm

Ball set rolling on super speciality hospital at Salem

Special Correspondent

Central, State teams inspect government hospital premises
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Institution will be on the lines of AIIMS, Delhi
Land for the project to be provided by January 31
It will be a 1000-bed five-storied building


http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122103670500.htm

Minister promises Rs. 1 crore for PHC

Special Correspondent

Sets December 31 deadline for officials to look for land

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122102920300.htm

Superspeciality hospitals in the south

R. Ilangovan




SALEM : The Union Health Ministry has undertaken an ambitious project to convert five Government Medical College hospitals in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh into superspeciality facilities at a cost of about Rs. 520 crore.

Similarly, preliminary work at the Salem hospital has been initiated.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/23/stories/2006122306011400.htm

Orders issued on Salem railway division's jurisdiction

V.S. Palaniappan
It will have 842 km line under it
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Division coming up to serve a larger area hitherto attached to Palakkad division
Citing neglect of development works, there was persistent demand for new division

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/20/stories/2006122012660400.htm

Salem's Panamarathupatti lake to get a new look

Staff Reporter

Beautification activities such as landscaping will be taken up





SALEM: The Panamarathupatti lake, a major water spread near the city, will soon get a new look with the Salem Corporation planning to carry out works such landscaping, planting of saplings and construction of rainwater harvesting structures.

These works will be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs. 45 lakh. Of which, the State government has allotted Rs. 44,66,880 under a scheme to improve the rainwater harvesting structures and Rs. 33,120 from the Corporation's general fund.

Beatification activities such as creation of lawn, landscaping and planting saplings will be taken up near the old water treatment plant in the lake at Rs. 20 lakh.

The civic body will spend Rs. 25 lakh for constructing rainwater harvesting structures including drains and carrying out maintenance works in the shutter located in the surplus channel of the lake, which has a water spread area of 2,139 acres.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/26/stories/2006122601850300.htm

Few pictures of Salem might interest the forumers.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=424376

Air Deccan develops cold feet

R. Ilangovan

Advertisement


SALEM: Air Deccan, which was reported to be keen to connect Salem till recently, seems to be reluctant now.

Lack of enthusiasm in the locals to fly has dampened the interests of airlines. Consequently, it does not seem to be a `win-win situation' for both passengers and the flight operators. As a result, there is some reluctance to operate flights from Salem.

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/27/stories/2006122714390100.htm

Mr.Vijayan
Pictures are really good.

Congrats to you.

Can you post some more pictures?

Work commences for additional parking facility for buses

Staff Reporter

Salem Corporation earmarks Rs. 10 lakh


TO EASE CONGESTION: The land for the proposed extension of the New Integrated Bus stand. - Photo: P. Goutham


SALEM: The Corporation has commenced its work on creating an additional parking facility for buses on the vacant space in the eastern side of the New Integrated Bus Stand.

A number of private buses and a few State Transport Corporation vehicles are parked in the bays in the bus stand for quite a long time before the departure. As a result, buses, which arrive at the bus stand and depart within a short period of time, are left without space for parking. The drivers of theses buses park the buses on the approach road. This practice results in causing congestion particularly during the weekends and festive seasons.

To ease the congestion, the civic administration has planned to create an additional parking facility for buses, as a part of the bus stand extension work. "We have completed levelling the ground and the tar topping work will begin shortly," civic officials said. The Corporation has earmarked Rs. 10 lakh for the creation of the facility, officials said. But the bus stand, which is a major transit point to Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai and other important towns, remains in a pathetic condition. The platforms are littered with garbage. The sanitary workers rarely sweep. Foul smell emanates from the heavily clogged drainage channels. The public have been demanding the administration to carry out cleaning operations frequently.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/31/stories/2006123100940300.htm

Temporary shed at Govt. Medical College Hospital

Staff Reporter


INSPECTION: Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam (second from left) at the Government Medical College Hospital in Salem on Saturday. Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini looks on. - Photo: P. Goutham


SALEM: Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam has announced that Rs. 18 lakh will be allotted from his constituency development fund for the construction of a temporary shed at the Government Medical College Hospital.

After inspecting the hospital on Saturday, he said that the shed would be used to accommodate in-patients, who would be shifted from a few hospital buildings, which would be demolished for the establishment a Rs. 120 crore super speciality hospital.

He instructed the Salem Corporation officials to start the construction of the shed immediately. The office of the Joint Director of Health, functioning in a building on the hospital premises, would be shifted and it would be used for housing in-patients.

The Minister discussed with the hospital authorities about the progress of the works.

Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini, Corporation Commissioner A.M. Selvam, Hospital dean (in-charge) Sathyamurthy, senior doctors, hospital authorities and officials were present. The State Government had identified lands for the super speciality hospital. A few other offices would be shifted later. Mr. Arumugam and Health Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran had already assured the team from the Centre, which visited the hospital recently that the lands identified for the establishment of super speciality hospital would be handed over within January 31.


Source: http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/31/stories/2006123100930300.htm

Dear Vijayan

We have plenty of places in the west side of the CBT. Why corporation planned for extn of CBT in east side?

Any news from local tamil new papers like Kalaikathir, Dinamalar etc.?

Dear Vijayan

We have plenty of places in the west side of the CBT. Why corporation planned for extn of CBT in east side?

Any news from local tamil new papers like Kalaikathir, Dinamalar etc.?

What I read from local newspapers few months back is the extension is to provide parking facility for OMNI buses, as now they are parked on the busy Omalur road, resulting in traffic chaos in the wee hours.

The west side of the CBT is not of even shape and is a drain path for rain water.

Foundation Stone for Salem Railway Division to be laid on April 14 (http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/11/stories/2007011115580500.htm)


The foundation stone laying ceremony for the administrative buildings of Salem Railway division has been tentatively fixed on April 14, Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, told reporters here on Wednesday.

The Minister said that the buildings would come up on a railway land near the Salem Junction. He asked State Government to provide more land. Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam, said that if the railways make a demand, the State government would make necessary arrangements to handover land.

Salem to get a modern Collectorate complex

Staff Reporter

Estimated cost is Rs. 25 crore; to have all facilities

SALEM: A new integrated Collectorate complex will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 crore in the city, Collector N. Mathivanan has said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/13/stories/2007011302750300.htm

Salem zoo to be upgraded on par with Vandaloor Zoo - Dinamalar

http://www.dinamalar.com/2007jan14/district/salem.asp

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/17/stories/2007011720210100.htm

Salem's development hit by delays

S. Ramesh

SALEM: Inordinate delay in executing key projects for the Salem Corporation is hampering the infrastructure development in the city. Many of the mega and minor projects, which have been approved by the council, still remain on paper. Residents' welfare associations complain that no concerted effort has been made either to prepare the project reports and estimates or to send them to the Government for approval for these projects.

These projects, for which the civic administration is yet to make preliminary studies, include integrated traffic management system, establishment of new health centres, energy conservation, a modern container depot and a truck terminal.

Lack of infrastructure facilities has forced the civil authorities to conceive a string of projects for the city, which has a population of over nine lakh. The civic administration duly obtained the council's nod for these projects a year ago. But nothing has materialised so far, they say.

For instance, the civic administration is yet to study the present traffic system and prepare a project report for Integrated Traffic Management in the city. The need for more health centres is also strongly felt, as the existing ones cannot meet the growing requirements. The other important project, which appears to be moving at a snail's pace, is the e-governance initiative. The Corporation is yet to appoint technical personnel to create a network for extending `e-service' to the residents via Internet, which it promised long ago. Corporation sources point out that even plans like appointing a computer operator are yet to be processed.

Barring a few projects such as the phase two of Tirumanimutharu River project and an underground drainage project, which have been put on a fast track thanks to Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam taking a keen interest in them, the Corporation has put other projects on hold.

Commissioner A.M. Selvam says the government has appointed consultants for a few projects, including construction of a slaughterhouse and gasifier crematorium, solid waste management, Panamarathupatti lake improvement, and bus stand improvement. These projects await funds from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

Dear Vijayan

What happen to Salem-Coimbatore NH 47 four lanning and Salem-Madurai NH 7 four lanning?

Can you put inputs about that project?

If Salem-CBE NH 47 is 4 lanned, there would be a faster transportation from Salem to Coimbatore and Erode

What happen to Salem-Coimbatore NH 47 four lanning and Salem-Madurai NH 7 four lanning?

Can you put inputs about that project?

If Salem-CBE NH 47 is 4 lanned, there would be a faster transportation from Salem to Coimbatore and Erode

As per the NHAI website, of the 185 odd kms between Salem and Kerala border via Coimbatore(NH 47) 100 kms have been awarded under BOT and are under implementation. The remaining 85 kms is yet to be awarded( as on 30th Nov, 2006).

On the Salem-Madurai (NH 7) stretch, the entire stretch Salem - Karur and Karur - Madurai works are progressing.

Since both the NH 47 and NH 7 stretches fall under NS corridor project they might be completed by then end of 2008.

Dear Madurai Veeran

Ya i know these projects under progress. I asked about the status, how far our NHAI is implementing it?

Any real works is happening in these sectors? Because there is no news about these projects in Tamil dailies....

Dear Vijayan

What happen to Salem-Coimbatore NH 47 four lanning and Salem-Madurai NH 7 four lanning?

Can you put inputs about that project?

If Salem-CBE NH 47 is 4 lanned, there would be a faster transportation from Salem to Coimbatore and Erode

Arul,

The works are underway near Salem. Lands have been cleared and levelled almost completely between Vinayaka Missions and Kondalampatty, expect for a few distance in Neiykarappatty Samathuvapuram, where dense residential houses are located.

As usual the local media has been negligence in this regard without flashing any news about the progress of the works.

I was also able to see works progressing between Mallur and Salem on NH7.

The stretch between Sankari and Perumanallur is also progressing well.

I am not sure the media will take these development works to the public. The media in South Tamil Nadu is doing a fair job by taking each and every project to the public, which is not so in Kongu region.

I am not sure if they will take this news atleast after the 4-lane roads are opened to traffic.

As per the NHAI website, of the 185 odd kms between Salem and Kerala border via Coimbatore(NH 47) 100 kms have been awarded under BOT and are under implementation. The remaining 85 kms is yet to be awarded( as on 30th Nov, 2006).

On the Salem-Madurai (NH 7) stretch, the entire stretch Salem - Karur and Karur - Madurai works are progressing.

Since both the NH 47 and NH 7 stretches fall under NS corridor project they might be completed by then end of 2008.

Dear Madurai Veeran,

FYI It is not via Coimbatore. The 4-lane road will bypass Coimbatore City.

State highways department is owning Avinashi road, which is proposed to be IT Expressway of CBE city

Dear Vijayan

Thanks for updating.

I heard that many government buses and travels are using Chennai-Krishnagiri 4 lane and Krishnagiri-Salem NH-7 to reach Salem due to poor/damaged NH 68.

What about NH 68 fate?

Hello Guys,

Let me introduce myself as Tarung from Chennai.(born in great Steel city salem)

I would like to be a part of this salem city blog.

It is nice to see your posts in this blog abt salem.


Cheers
Tarung

Vijayan/Arul,

How Can I upload pictures in this thread?

I have few salem city pictures.

Can you help me?

hi tarung ,
welcome to scc

Check out this post, cbeboy has explained how to load pics

http://skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=11555367&postcount=438

Hope to see some nice pics of salem from you :)

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/5643/churchsalemed2.th.jpg

The CSI Church in Salem (Near to Collectorate Complex)

Thanks to WillyWick..

Good One!

Cheers,
Tarung

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/5643/churchsalemed2.th.jpg

The CSI Church in Salem (Near to Collectorate Complex)

Thanks to WillyWick..

Good One!

Cheers,
Tarung

Dear Tarung,

You are wrong. Its the Infant Jesus Church located on the Omalur Road, near TVS.

Dear Vijayan,

This is not Infant Jesus. This is CSI church nearer to collectorate.

Tarung

Renovation


The Hindu:

SALEM: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department had planned to renovate 124 temples located in the habitations of Adi Dravida people and those belonged to backward class this financial year.

A sum of Rs. 25,000 would be spent for a temple, a Collectorate release said.


Tarung

Salem Steel bags Rs. 117 crore order


CHENNAI : Salem Steel Plant (SSP) of the Steel Authority of India has bagged an order for the supply of 11,300 tonnes of ferritic stainless steel strips to the Government of India Mint at Kolkata. SSP would supply the first lot of the Rs. 117-crore order within this month, a release said.


Cheers

Tarung

Salem emerging a real estate hotspot
(http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020302900300.htm)


Once known for its mangoes, Salem is fast emerging a real estate hotspot. High rise buildings, shopping malls and multi-storeyed buildings are coming up at a faster space in this tier-II city, courtesies to the proposal for a tidal park, expansion of Salem Steel Plant and the new railway division.


Here the land has become precious. Apartments have become the `in-thing' here. Even leading jewellers in the city have started investing in the booming real estate. They are not bitter either.

Premium prices

A Corporation official says that nearly 15 builders are engaged in converting the lands into high-rise apartments that fetch premium prices from its buyers. A mill in the city has been sold for the construction of 600 individual houses. And many more have sought the clearance for constructing apartments from the civic body.

These apartments have everything including spas. Landscaping and adequate parking have become the integral part of the buildings. "The buyers insist on ambience now'' says a leading promoter in the city, who has been searching for professional interior decorators.

Shortage in manpower

The construction industry, though lacks quality personnel, is thriving. "The major concern is the shortage of skilled manpower. When the boom is evident everywhere, the task of roping in skilled ones becomes tougher," a builder says. But he also admits that one has to pay liberally.

Good residential projects at prime localities in Salem city are quoting anything between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,100 a sq ft, which has now become affordable for the upper middle class too. Commercial rates are ranging between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 1,700 a sq ft depending on the location and quality of construction.


Affordable costs

Availability of space at affordable costs is the major reason for new entrants into tier-II and tier-III cities. With both the State and Union governments vying each other to pump in crores of rupees to create the infrastructure, Salem is fast emerging the much sought after city in the Western region. A senior official who has been monitoring the development of the tidal park in Salem says many IT and ITES firms in Bangalore and Mumbai have expressed their willingness to open shops here. With just a three-hour drive from Bangalore and Coimbatore and well-connected both by National Highways and rail link, Salem is today the investors' choice.

Salem-Ulundurpet NH68 is going to get a new look. With Already Salem-Bangalore being a 4/6-lane (not complete between Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri though), and works on Salem-Walayar and Salem-Namakkal in full swing, Salem will soon become a junction of three 4/6-lane highways.

Mr.Tarung

Welcome to forum. Good picture... i think it is a old one. Now this church is covered by roads/tress on all sides.

Dear Vijayan

It is CSI church only.

Thanks for info. on NH68.

Any idea, which part of Salem town, IT park is envisaged. I heard it will be near Govt Engg. college, Karuppur. Is it finalised?

MA Eswaran

Expansion works @ Salem Central BS

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1120/dscn1443jp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Expansion works @ Salem Central BS



Dear Vijayan kindly resize the image for the best view

Dear Vijayan kindly resize the image for the best view

Done!

Salem Railway Division's commercial section works starting today.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2007feb06/general_tn28.asp

Five Roads junction being beautified @ 3 crores.

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/6082/dscn1437wa8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Shevaroys International Food Mall @ Meyanur

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2374/dscn0914wl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4521/dscn0916ev0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/189/dscn0920ds8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/651/dscn0923tb4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Salem-Coimbatore 4-laning is progressing much faster. And a bit of sad news is High Court Stays construction of Kondalampatti interchange.

More @ http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/04/stories/2006020412470400.htm

High Court stays construction of Kondalampatti interchange

Special Correspondent

Alteration of original and duly approved scheme "to please vested interests," alleged





CHENNAI : The Madras High Court has stayed the construction of an interchange at Kondalampatti, near Salem, as found in an altered plan of four laning of the Salem-Coimbatore Section of NH-47.

Justice D. Murugesan granted interim stay for job number C-622, for building the interchange, on September 27, 2005, and then extended it until further orders on January 20, 2006.

The Judge was passing orders on a writ petition filed by six persons, who alleged that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had altered the original and duly approved scheme "with a view to please vested interests."

Mr. Justice Murugesan said: "The High Court is pleased to stay the operation and implementation of the altered plan in job No. C-622 four laning of Salem-Coimbatore Section of NH-47 from K.M. 1.60 to K.M. 53 (Package 1) on annuity basis, titled proposed interchange at Kondalampatti pending disposal of the writ petition."

The matter has been posted after two weeks for filing of counters.

Petition


In their petition, N. Krishnaveni and five others submitted that as per the original proposal, a road ramp for connecting NH-47 with NH-7 was to be constructed behind a Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited outlet. "Much later, and in fact after the proposal for construction of the access road for the outlet had been recommended by the NHAI, a new plan has come to be prepared at the instance of certain vested interests."

"The petitioners understand and believe that the alteration has been made at the behest of a person of great influence with high political connections, in whose lands a company is situated. The petitioners are very seriously prejudiced and their ventures rendered nugatory by the fresh plan to relocate the ramp road.

"The mandatory tests and formalities have been given a go by, the petitioners said, adding, the alteration has now been proposed even without undertaking any of these tests and prerequisites.

"Arbitrary"


"The procedure adopted is wholly arbitrary and whimsical and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the NHAI ought not to be allowed to abdicate their duties and responsibilities with a view to please any vested interests, more so when substantial public funds are to be invested in the project."

The Ministry and the NHAI had no authority to alter the scheme to the prejudice of the petitioners, it said and added that the move offended the right to equal treatment and protection guaranteed in the Constitution.

"Inequitable"


Describing it as the "most unjust and inequitable" move, the petitioners sought to stay the operation and implementation of the altered plan in Job No. C-622 four laning of Salem-Coimbatore Section and to direct the authorities concerned to adhere to the original scheme finalised and approved for the work.

Kondalampatti Circle - Bird's Eye View

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7596/kondalampattijnhb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Awesome pics!! keep them coming! :)

An interchange might come up @ State Bank Colony Circle which witnesses heavy traffic round the clock, as the junction connects the downtown city with railway junction, steel plant, medical college etc.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2125/sbcolonyfiveroadsav9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Agraharam:

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/418/agraharaman7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ammapet:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3632/ammapetuz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Around Central Bus Terminus:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5161/aroundnewbusstandir2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Around Old (City) Bus Terminus:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8976/aroundoldbusstandqa6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Dadagapatti & Gugai:
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7621/dadagapattigugaimm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Fort & Shevapet:

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9564/fortshevapetsx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

To come up:

Kitchipalayam & Narayana Nagar:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3962/kitchipalayamca8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Seelanaickenpatti:

TPT:

Junction:

Fairlands:

Hasthampatty:

These pictures are for thos who might not have visited the city or those who think Salem is just a small town.

Nod for works of Salem Rail Division:
http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/07/stories/2007020708240400.htm

SALEM: The Railway Ministry on Tuesday gave the green signal for initiating preliminary works of the Salem division.

Officials of the Salem junction erected a digital nameplate mentioning `Divisional Railway Manager's Office, Salem' at the site earmarked for construction. An official of the rank of Assistant Commercial Manager from Chennai has taken charge to monitor commercial activities of the new division and the formation works.

A senior Railway official told The Hindu that a portion of the Office of the Deputy Commercial Engineer (Construction) at the Salem Railway Station had been allotted to the commercial department of the new divisional office. The Salem BSNL expeditiously cleared two telephone connections. The Railway Ministry dispatched a fax machine.

"The Fax number for the commercial section is 0427-2441100," the official said.

The bicycle stand and the parcel office have been shifted to new places to facilitate construction of administrative buildings of the Salem division.

The foundation laying function is likely to be held on April 14.

Picture of Salem Airport!!

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8341/airportsalemqd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cheers
Tarung

Good Work Vijayan!

As our Mods pointed out some time back, you may post a thumb nail version (to expand on clicking) so that the servers are not taxed much.

Thanks

All,

Last weekend I got a chance to drive down from salem till VMKV engg college.

The actual NH 47 4 lane work starts exactly at Utthamasozhapuram (near wonder land theme park).

At Ariyanoor Jucntion NHAI is widening a canal bridge.. After here the work continues only at VMKV medical college and goes upto Magudan Chavadi.
So the traffic along this road is slowed down a bit..

This time I could realise few things.

1. Traffic in salem is becoming heavier,will definitely need for road widening/removing encrochments/few flyovers (must at Saradha college road)

2.Pollution level is also alarming..This is mainly due to increased number of Diesel autos.I think salem is one of the city which uses many diesel autos.( one business article mentioned this sales details).

3.Lot of new hotels coming up..mainly veg restaurants..

4.The land prices are shooting like anything..The sq.ft rate (nearer to Reddipatty/Steel plant road) had gone upto Rs.600 which was just Rs.150 last year.

Cheers
Tarung

All,

Last weekend I got a chance to drive down from salem till VMKV engg college.

The actual NH 47 4 lane work starts exactly at Utthamasozhapuram (near wonder land theme park).

At Ariyanoor Jucntion NHAI is widening a canal bridge.. After here the work continues only at VMKV medical college and goes upto Magudan Chavadi.
So the traffic along this road is slowed down a bit..

This time I could realise few things.

1. Traffic in salem is becoming heavier,will definitely need for road widening/removing encrochments/few flyovers (must at Saradha college road)

2.Pollution level is also alarming..This is mainly due to increased number of Diesel autos.I think salem is one of the city which uses many diesel autos.( one business article mentioned this sales details).

3.Lot of new hotels coming up..mainly veg restaurants..

4.The land prices are shooting like anything..The sq.ft rate (nearer to Reddipatty/Steel plant road) had gone upto Rs.600 which was just Rs.150 last year.

Cheers
Tarung

Dear Tarung,

Thanks for the updates.
Its Dreamlad Theme park, and not Wonderland (just fyi..)
Its because the other IT park (apart from the one that is coming up on NH7 between Urdhu College and Periyar University/GCE is coming up on the steel plant road. That is the reason why the encroachments along the steel plant road throughout the stretch have been removed and the road was given a facelift last year.
We need to have lot of plantations along the steel plant road to keep the environment clean and green.

Dear Tarung,

Thanks for the updates.
Its Dreamlad Theme park, and not Wonderland (just fyi..)
Its because the other IT park (apart from the one that is coming up on NH7 between Urdhu College and Periyar University/GCE is coming up on the steel plant road. That is the reason why the encroachments along the steel plant road throughout the stretch have been removed and the road was given a facelift last year.
We need to have lot of plantations along the steel plant road to keep the environment clean and green.


Tarung,

All I am seeing from the news is that the IT park newar Urdhu College. How do you come to know that another IT park is coming up on Steelplant road? Do you have any further information on that? any information from anyone is appreciated.

Thanks
Palsen

Hi Members

Recent developments in the city

1. The following arterial roads are re-laid again and well maintained with white median

a. Omalur Main Road right from 5 roads Junction to Collector office.
b. Saradha College road right from 5 roads to Hasthampatti circle
c. Brindavan

Hi Members

Recent developments in the city

1. The following arterial roads are re-laid again and well maintained with white median

a. Omalur Main Road right from 5 roads Junction to Collector office.
b. Saradha College road right from 5 roads to Hasthampatti circle
c.

Hi Members

Recent developments in the city

1. The following arterial roads are re-laid again and well maintained with white median

a. Omalur Main Road right from 5 roads Junction to Collector office.
b. Saradha College road right from 5 roads to Hasthampatti circle
c. Brindavan Road right from Lakshmi prakash hotel to Landmark building
d. Thammanan Road right from Chatiram to 4 roads
e. Old Shevapet Market road over bridge.
f. 1st Agraharam
g. 2nd Agraharam
h. Chinna Kadai Vetthi
i. Big Bazar street

Most of the roads are renewed.

2. Many appartments construction in following areas

a. Fairlands
b. Shankar Nagar
c. Angamal Colony
d. Kuranguchavadi
e. Suramangalam

3, Joy allukus jewellary building construction is under progress, just opp to central BS.

4. Shervaroys has opened a small food mall in Big bazar street.

Picture of Salem Airport!!

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8341/airportsalemqd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cheers
Tarung

There is 'air' but where is the 'port'?
Pls for heavens sake just take it as a joke!

Dear Mr.Selvam

Your joke intension is well known.

I sincerely request you stop such jokes when discussion is going on.

Many such jokes can be cracked in all threads!!!

Let us avoid such jokes and talk about improvements of our cities project.

There is 'air' but where is the 'port'?

Hahaha! You have a point.

Hi friends

I had chance to travel in NH 7 right from Salem to Madurai. Let me share the 4 laning works in this sector.

Salem-Madurai 4 laning is awarded to contrator as 5 project

a. Salem Seelaickenpatti bye-pass to Nammakal Bye-pass
b. Nammakal bye-pass to Karur bye-pass
c. Karur bye-pass to Dindigul bye-pass
d. Dindigul bye-pass to Samayanallur


e. Madurai new bye-pass (ring road)

At Salem:

-No works started from Seelanaickenpatti Bye-pass to Rasipuram.

Rasipuram to Nammakal bye-pass

-At most of the places lands are cleared and levelling is under progress.

Nammakal to Karur:

-Here also at most of the stretches lands are cleared and levelling is under progress.
-No works for 2nd bridge of Cauvery.

Karur-DIndigul

-Works are in full swing.
-Most of the lands are cleared and levelled.
-Road laying started at some places.
-Dindigul bye-pass 4 laning is also under progress.

Dindigul-Samayannallur:

-Lands were cleared from Dindigul to Kodairoad
-Levelling of land from Dindigul to Kodai road is under progress.
-After Kodai road, i think NHAI is finiding difficult to get the land because of criss crossing and MG and BG rail tracks and it runs parallel to NH.

Then i travelled to Thirumangalam via Sholavandhan, so i couldn see the work progress in Kodai Road - Madurai present bye-pass 4 laning.

But i saw a very big 4 lane mud road crossing Sholavandhan-Thirumangalam SH near Thirumangalam town.

Thirumangalam-Madurai NH 7 4laning.

- Thirumangalam is getting a very good 4 laning bye-pass.
- Thirumangalam byw-pass works in full swing.
- Thirumangalam to Madurai ring road 4 laning is also in full swing. Lands are cleared and levelled.

Anyone from Madurai please clear this!

After crossing the Madurai ring road(after T.mangalam a road will be diverting for Chennai, Trichy and RMM), i can see 4 lane works of NH 7 taken very far away from present NH 7 which passes through Thiruparaungundram, Thirunagar and Palaganantham.

Is this a new bye-pass for Madurai city? Presently old bye-pass road of Madurai on NH 7 got congested very much and there is no scope of expansion from Palgananthan signal to T.gundram!

If my guess is true, then after opening the new bye-pass traffic in Madurai city will be greately reduced and the buses coming from Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Bangalore towards South of Madurai need not touch Madurai city. Please confirm it.

Madurai is the 3rd corporation city to get 4 lane bye-pass after Chennai and Salem. Cities/Towns in NH 7 are enjoying the concept of 4 lane bye-pass. So far Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Omalur, Salem, Nammakal, Karur gor full fledged 4/6 lane bye-pass. DIndigul, Madurai and Thirumangalam will add up in that list shortly.

Its happy to see the progress in Salem-Madurai-T.mangalam 4 laning works. This work projected to complete during Dec 08.

Dear Members

Some more developments...

1. Kalyan Sarees and Jewellers building is coming near Infant jesus church on Omalur road.

2. Corporation is making plans for fullfilling under groud drainage.

3. City railway stations like Salem Market, Town getting face lift due to GC.

4. Sad news is... Government is not showing great interest for setting up IT parks at Salem and Trichy. But good news is more pressure is given for new IT park at Madurai.

5. ALmost all the roads in the city newly laid.

6. Land value shoots up in many parts of the city.

One more entertaining spot coming to Salem city!!


ARRS is planning another mini mutliplex with 3 screens near the existing Multiplex.

No. of old theatres being demolished in many cities, but in Salem only theatres strength is still increasing!

Dear Members

4. Sad news is... Government is not showing great interest for setting up IT parks at Salem and Trichy. But good news is more pressure is given for new IT park at Madurai.

.

ArulMurugan,

Is it an official news that Government is not intersted in Salem IT park? I just happen to see at www.elcot.com, on MD appointments, On Feb 1st, some company met with Elcot MD on Salem IT park.

Please share with our members if you have any specific information.

Dear Mr.Palsen

What i got is un-official news. It is just spread across Salem city due to non-progress in the IT park works.

Even the progress from government side for IT parks is going very slow.

Let us wait and see.

FYI, there is no progress for super speciality hospital at existing GH. Only museum is shifted to fairlands!!

The Hindu:

SALEM: Once known for its mangoes, Salem is fast emerging a real estate hotspot. High rise buildings, shopping malls and multi-storeyed buildings are coming up at a faster space in this tier-II city, courtesies to the proposal for a tidal park, expansion of Salem Steel Plant and the new railway division.


Here the land has become precious. Apartments have become the `in-thing' here. Even leading jewellers in the city have started investing in the booming real estate. They are not bitter either.

Premium prices

A Corporation official says that nearly 15 builders are engaged in converting the lands into high-rise apartments that fetch premium prices from its buyers. A mill in the city has been sold for the construction of 600 individual houses. And many more have sought the clearance for constructing apartments from the civic body.

These apartments have everything including spas. Landscaping and adequate parking have become the integral part of the buildings. "The buyers insist on ambience now'' says a leading promoter in the city, who has been searching for professional interior decorators.

Shortage in manpower


The construction industry, though lacks quality personnel, is thriving. "The major concern is the shortage of skilled manpower. When the boom is evident everywhere, the task of roping in skilled ones becomes tougher," a builder says. But he also admits that one has to pay liberally.

Good residential projects at prime localities in Salem city are quoting anything between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,100 a sq ft, which has now become affordable for the upper middle class too. Commercial rates are ranging between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 1,700 a sq ft depending on the location and quality of construction.


Affordable costs


Availability of space at affordable costs is the major reason for new entrants into tier-II and tier-III cities. With both the State and Union governments vying each other to pump in crores of rupees to create the infrastructure, Salem is fast emerging the much sought after city in the Western region. A senior official who has been monitoring the development of the tidal park in Salem says many IT and ITES firms in Bangalore and Mumbai have expressed their willingness to open shops here. With just a three-hour drive from Bangalore and Coimbatore and well-connected both by National Highways and rail link, Salem is today the investors' choice.

Cheers
Tarung

SALEM: The Salem Corporation has undertaken a population survey to decide the capacity of sewage treatment plants (STP) to be established under the Rs. 145-crore under ground drainage (UGD) project.

The civic administration has planned to design the UGD project to cater to the projected population of the city in 2040. Based on the statistics collected during the survey, the civic body will project the total sewage flow in 2040 and prepare designs for STPs accordingly.

"The Corporation will establish one STP in each zone. The treatment capacity of each STP will be decided based on the population in the respective zone," civic officials said. The administration deputed over 40 teams to carry out the door-to-door exercise in four zones from Saturday. It would be completed in a few days.

Tarung

Saw MD's Appointment in www.elcot.com he met DB professional VP abt Salem IT park

Saw MD's Appointment in www.elcot.com he met DB professional VP abt Salem IT park

Yes, It seems like there is a demand for Salem IT park. Also I heard that it is now waiting for CM's approval. Let us wait and see.

``Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem will also have IT parks''

With various schemes, including information technology parks, the Government hopes to eradicate unemployment"


COIMBATORE: All cities in Tamil Nadu will have information technology-driven development on the lines of what has happened in Chennai, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said here on Saturday.

Launching a Rs.300-crore information technology park for Coimbatore and drinking water projects, Mr. Karunanidhi said Madurai, Tiruchi and Salem too would have such parks. The Coimbatore park would provide 10,000 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs. With various schemes, including information technology parks, the Government hoped to eradicate unemployment.

Salem Railway Division is a definite one: Lallu

http://www.dinakaran.com/slideshow/default.asp

Salem-Attur broad gauge test drive on March 31st.

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DND20070224120421&Title=Districts+Page&lTitle=U%F4YhPeLs&Topic=0

Plan to develop Sankagiri and Vazhapadi as model towns

Staff Reporter

It is estimated to cost Rs. 50 crore





SANKAGIRI: The State Government has planned to develop Sankagiri and Vazhapadi as model towns at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 crore, Deputy Speaker of State Assembly V.P. Duraisamy has said.

Speaking after distributing monthly employment dole worth Rs. 5.01 lakh to 855 beneficiaries at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School here on Sunday, he said that the government had also initiated steps to establish a new bus stand and veterinary dispensary at Sankagiri.

He said that the government had taken up a lot of efforts to generate employment opportunities for the youth. The State had attracted large amount of foreign direct investment. A number of multinational companies had selected the State to establish industrial units. This had created jobs for a large number of people.

The Government was executing several development schemes to improve the socio-economic condition of the people living in rural areas, he said.

District Revenue Officer M. Rajarathinam presided over the function. Assistant Director, District Employment Officer Chandran and senior officials spoke.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/26/stories/2007022602600300.htm

Any mention about Salem railway division in current budget?

Till now 3 crores has been alloted for Salem Division.

Source: MOSR Velu, SUN News

Rail Budget:
* 3 crore for Salem division - the amount is likely to be spent on acquiring temporary location for the DRM office.
* 20 crore for Salem-Karur new BG line.

3-crore sufficient for establishing a new division??

3-crore sufficient for establishing a new division??

After all support from Coimbatore, Trippur and Erode with successful banth, there is no choice other than creating the division.

Actually the fund allocated is 20 crores in next few years. The way it works is that the Government will allocate funds for that year how much required to start the priliminary work. The rest will be allocated in the following years.

3-crore sufficient for establishing a new division??

More fund will be allocated in the supplimentary budget

Underground power cables to be laid

Staff Reporter

Funds allocated for schemes not sufficient: AIADMK





SALEM: Proposals to lay underground power cables, establish windmills to cut energy expenditure, set up a mobile tax collection centre and construct new office buildings are among the new development works announced in the Salem Corporation budget for 2007-08 on Tuesday.

Presenting the budget, Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini told the council members that power cables would be laid under the ground at an estimated cost of Rs. 60 crore. The Electricity Ministry had approved the proposal. Service ducts for the cables would be established while implementing the underground drainage project.

Windmills


It was also planned to install windmills in order to cut the expenditure on power. Ms. Priyadarshini said, "The electricity expenditure of the civic body is going up year after year.

With the power generated through the windmills, the civic administration will be able to bring down the spending on electricity." The place for installing windmills would be selected after a detailed study.

Sixty solar-power lamps would also be installed at a cost of Rs. 10.80 lakh, she said.

E-governance


Another important plan was to establish a mobile tax collection centre. "The Corporation will try to introduce e-governance at all levels and make its offices paperless," she added.

With a number of its offices functioning in old buildings, the civic administration also decided to construct new office buildings with all modern facilities, including a conference hall, at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore.

Besides these new projects, the Mayor promised that the Corporation's ambitious programmes, including Tirumanimutharu river project-Phase-II, underground drainage project, solid waste management programme, dedicated water supply scheme and integrated housing slum development programme would commence in the coming financial year.

Cooperation sought


The ruling party members said that the budget proposals would address all infrastructure requirements of the city. Leader of the ruling party, P. Natesan (DMK), hailing the budget, sought the cooperation of all the councillors for implementation of the programmes.

Opposition Leader Venkatachalam (AIADMK) said that the funds allocated for many programmes were not sufficient.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/28/stories/2007022800680300.htm

Elcot plans IT parks in tier-II cities
The Economic Times : 28th Feb 2007

CLOSE on the heels of kick-starting the work on the IT park in Coimbatore, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Elcot) plans to promote similar parks in other tier-II cities.
“With these cities becoming a favoured destination for IT companies, we are planning to have such parks in, Madurai, Trichy, Hosur, Salem and Tirunelveli,” Elcot managing director C Umashankar said. Elcot has acquired 307 acres of land in Madurai, 165 acres in Salem, 135.4 acres in Trichy and 192 acres in Hosur. In Tirunelveli, the land acquisition is in progress and master plans for all the projects are under preparation.
“We plan to build a tower and campus in each of the tier-II cities and have one million sq ft built-up space through private partnership,” he added.
Although these cities have vast untapped potential, they lack in infrastructure facilities. “We are lobbying with the state government for improvement of airport in all tier-II cities, including night landing facility at Salem and Tirunelveli airports. We are now in the process of showcasing the potential of tier-II cities before international audience and soon a delegation is likely to visit France and Germany, he added

Tarung

Dear Tarung

Thanks for info.

News says that


Elcot has acquired 307 acres of land in Madurai, 165 acres in Salem, 135.4 acres in Trichy and 192 acres in Hosur.

But there is official news about this in any of the paper.

This also contradicts the news in Trichy folder!!

IT parks now to have social infrastructure


As the Information Technology (IT) sector gets ready for take-off in Tier II cities of the State, the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has decided to go in for social infrastructure in the proposed IT parks.

The parks will have housing, school and shopping facilities and a hospital too, if possible, says C. Umashankar, Managing Director of ELCOT.

The Corporation has acquired 195 acres in Hosur, 236 acres in Madurai, 235 acres in Tiruchi and 165 acres in Salem for IT parks. A minimum of about 200 acres is needed to have the social infrastructure along with the business facilities of the IT companies.

"In case a park gets the Special Economic Zone status, then the infrastructure can come up in the non-processing zone or on a contiguous site," he says.

A market survey on the demand for space by IT companies in Tiruchi and Hosur was done a year ago and this will be updated. "We are creating a layout diagram for all the places to accommodate the social infrastructure," adds Mr. Umashankar. Though it is proposed to standardise the design, the facilities are site-dependent.

On the demand for space by IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) companies, he says apart from Coimbatore, the demand gained momentum during the last seven to eight months for Madurai and Tiruchi. "Hosur has an inherent demand," he adds.

I just came across the ELCOT's DVD - flash presentation and catalog on Tier-II cities.

Salem - 220 acres acquired or available in a single place (it is a government land and I think acquired is about 165 acres)
Coimbatore - 29 Acres acquired + additional plans of 400acres SEZ
Hosur - 191.5 Acres acquired + 2500 acres SEZ
Madurai - 50 acres + 257 acres
Trirunelveli - 1400 acres + 25 acres + 2500 acres SEZ
Trichy - 135 acres + 50 acres

The Hindu Dated:02 Mar 2007

To express disapproval of opposition to creation of Salem Railway Division


SALEM: Shopkeepers and traders in and around the Salem railway junction area put up the shutters in response to a bandh called to protest against Kerala's opposition to the formation of Salem Railway Division, on Thursday.

In a show of solidarity, many shops, factories, offices of private companies and other commercial establishments in Ram Nagar, Reddypudhur, Old Sooramangalam and Tiruvagoundanur areas also remained closed.

However, Government offices and educational institutions functioned normally. The bandh passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported.

Cheers
Tarung

The Hindu dated: 06th March 2007

SALEM: The decision of the Salem Municipal Corporation to allot a parking bay, exclusively for private omni buses in the city's New Integrated Bus Stand, has stirred up a controversy.

Calling it a `hasty' decision, employees and members of the Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporation Staff Federation objected to the move saying that a separate bay inside the bus terminal would hit transport corporation's operations.

The decision would force the state-run transport corporation to face `stiff and unethical' competition from private operators.

The federation general secretary, T. Thirumalaisamy, said that by permitting the private operators to use the public infrastructure, the municipal administration had done a great injustice to the common public. "It is an encroachment on the interests of public sector vehicles," he said.

Asking the Transport Secretary to intervene in the issue immediately, Mr. Thirumalaisamy said that many omni bus operators were plying their buses as stage carriages thus violating the permit conditions under clause 177 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.

Permitting them to use the bus stand would violate rule 74 (2) (ii) of Motor Vehicles Act 1988, he said.

These omni buses should be operated from their registered offices only.

The Transport Commissioner should issue instructions to officers of the Regional Transport Office here to monitor whether these omni bus operators were adhering to their permit conditions, Mr. Thirumalaisamy said.

Tarung

Link to news....... (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/SAIL_to_set_up_SEZ_at_Salem/articleshow/1733790.cms)


Source: www.economictimes.com

NEW DELHI: Even as Posco’s ambitious SEZ plan is in limbo following controversy over land acquisition, its public sector rival SAIL has decided to set up a SEZ at its existing stainless steel facility in Salem. The proposal is unlikely to face any political hurdles due to the land issue as Sail owns about 3,500 acres of land at Salem Steel Plant.

Only a portion of that would be used for setting up a specialised steel SEZ. “Sail owns 1,50,000 acres of land across the country and some of this could easily be utilised to develop the SEZ. To begin with, we are looking at developing a stainless steel-based SEZ at spare land near our Salem Steel Plant,” SAIL chairman S K Roongta told ET. The PSU is likely to apply for clearance of its SEZ proposal once the Centre lifts the present freeze on fresh applications. It is understood that the proposed facility would come on 250 acres of land that is unutilised by the SAIL plant.

The PSU would invite investments from several downstream stainless steel-based industries in its proposed SEZ. Special steel producers and other vendors may also be permitted to set their shop in the zone. Dedicated port facilities for the SEZ may also be considered. Though SEZ proposal requires that promoters have a minimum of 1,000 hectares of land, product-specific port-based SEZ are not bound by this restriction. SAIL’s proposal is unlikely to meet any hurdle as the PSU already owns land at the site and there is no requirement of any fresh acquisition. SEZ proposal of several companies including that of Posco is in limbo as entire land does not belong to the promoters or the state governments and acquisition is yet to be completed.

The Centre has put a freeze on clearing all SEZ proposals until a rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy is finalised by it. The freeze has been imposed after Tata Groups investment in Singur and Salim groups proposed SEZ in West Bengal ran into controversy over land acquisition. If Sail’s SEZ proposal is cleared, it would become the first PSUs that is looking at this route for expanding business........

Link to news....... (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/SAIL_to_set_up_SEZ_at_Salem/articleshow/1733790.cms)


Source: www.economictimes.com

Thats a Great news indeed. The Steel Plant Road is going to play a vital role (in fact it already does by hoasting major organizations such as the steel plant, government medical collge, Golf Campus, POWERGRID etc).

The steel plant road has been widened by demolishing the encroachments all along the stretch in just one week, some two years ago. I guess, the rapid expansion of the steel plant and the SEZ were planned long back.