Continued from

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showt...430#post9686430

Atleast in this thread please stick to Trichy only pls do not include tuticorin, tirunelveli etc.

Thanks!

:)

Atleast in this thread please stick to Trichy only pls do not include tuticorin, tirunelveli etc.

Thanks!

:)

I think we should consider Thanjavur, Karur also in this topic.

http://i8.tinypic.com/24y0jn5.jpg


The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up major development works at trichy airport

Giving details on the projects, K. Ramalingam, Regional Executive Director of AAI, Southern Region, told The Hindu that construction work was in progress for a new terminal building at Tiruchi airport along with associate services. While the terminal building project was being taken up at a cost of Rs.74 crore, the runway extension work has been completed. Work was also in progress for constructing a new fire station. The AAI has also approved the new apron expansion project and the Rs.44-crore work had been awarded.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081910540500.htm

I think we should consider Thanjavur, Karur also in this topic.
Same as posted in Madurai region.

Madurai region thread can represent south TN (When Trinelveli or Tuticorin projects shoots up we can split south TN into further divisions)

Trichy region thread can represent middle eastern TN and

Coimbatore can represent middle western TN.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081910540500.htm


Is there any official website for the Trichy airport ?

When we are starting threads for specific cities it will be good to focus on that particular city only. Of course sattellite towns or smaller towns located near that city will be a part of the thread. This will make the quality of the thread much better by bringing out more city specific infrastructure issues and projects. For development in all other towns and small cities we have TN economy and infrastructure thread.

@Maduraiselvam-Its important to stick to projects and not make this into a news thread or a human resource thread. There is a thread on education - under infrastructure and economy for such post on universities and any genral discussion in chaibar. I am just saying this because having posts organized brings out the best in the city.

When we are starting threads for specific cities it will be good to focus on that particular city only. Of course sattellite towns or smaller towns located near that city will be a part of the thread. This will make the quality of the thread much better by bringing out more city specific infrastructure issues and projects. For development in all other towns and small cities we have TN economy and infrastructure thread.
@Maduraiselvam-Its important to stick to projects and not make this into a news thread or a human resource thread. There is a thread on education - under infrastructure and economy for such post on universities and any genral discussion in chaibar. I am just saying this because having posts organized brings out the best in the city.
Sorry I had to write this is in public instead of a private message.
In some cases like developing cities like Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy there arent as much projects that Metros are getting. Then the development of these areas would depend on the development in other sectors, not just buildings and infrastructure related projects. The term PROJECT doesnt mean buildings and bridges, rather it include ecomomical and developmental projects. We definitely know what we are doing, and also know to highlight the best of the city and we are doing it; thanks for you advice. How is that anything other than Chennai project gonna be called as TN development? I think i am one of the bigger contributor for TN infrastructure thread as well. Come out to down south and see how things are working, depend and grow around a major city.
For instance project thread for Trichy and Madurai region thread was successful and forumer contributed a lot and now they realise that they have more to say about their own region. Now it has become two seperate threads and this will happen again for Madurai thread when other bigger cities in south wants to draw its attention. This is how one can project a city in the first hand, enabling it to stand on its own later with better developments.

For Madurai Selvam

Ur observation

_______________________________________--

Sorry I had to write this is in public instead of a private message.
In some cases like developing cities like Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy there arent as much projects that Metros are getting.____________________

You can include Madurai and Trichy in that category, but in Coimbatore topic, discussion is going only on Coimbatore and not on Pollachi, Mettupalaiyam, Ooty etc etc.,

For Madurai Selvam
Ur observation_______________________________________--
Sorry I had to write this is in public instead of a private message.
In some cases like developing cities like Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy there arent as much projects that Metros are getting.____________________

You can include Madurai and Trichy in that category, but in Coimbatore topic, discussion is going only on Coimbatore and not on Pollachi, Mettupalaiyam, Ooty etc etc.,
My dear, before making any comments read the Coimbatore project thread completely.

Proposal to bring 500 hectares of wasteland under jatropha cultivation

Through District Watershed Development Agency programme to extract bio-diesel

TIRUCHI: The Agriculture Department has proposed to cover 500 hectares of wasteland under jatropha plantation in the district through the District Watershed Development Agency (DWDA) programme.
The objective of the programme is to promote jatropha plantation for the extraction of bio-diesel to reduce foreign exchange through the import of crude oil.
It would also develop the wasteland for agrarian purpose, Joint Director of Agriculture (in-charge) V. Rethinavelu said.
He was speaking at a function to inaugurate the training programme on jatropha cultivation at Ulundankudi village near Manachanallur on Friday.
Explaining the other advantages of jatropha, he said that the organic matter of the soil would get enriched and soil erosion would be checked.
Free from grazing by the livestock, jatropha was also resistant to pest attack.
It would generate employment with job opportunities round the year. It would also protect the environment as it is free from pollutants, particularly sulphur or benzene in the smoke.
Referring to the salient features of bio-diesel, Mr. Rethinavelu said the unused hydrocarbons were very less and there was no residue in the engine and silencer.
Returns from jatropha can be had from the second or third year of planting. As a temporary measure, inter-cropping can be resorted to by raising vegetables, pulses etc., during that period.
The yield from jatropha would last for about three decades, he said.
The officers from Lalgudi Farmers Training Centre, Elangovan, Mariaravi Jeyakumar and former assistant director, M. Jayaraman, who were the resource persons, gave tips on cultivation and harvest techniques. The members of the DWDA and local farmers participated in the programme.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081924770300.htm

link to news... (http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/23/stories/2006082320530300.htm)


The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced work on four-laning of 204 km Tindivanam-Tiruchi stretch of the National Highway 45 at a cost of Rs. 1,200 under BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) scheme.

Activities such as land-acquisition, cutting of trees and shifting of service and other utility lines are under way.

The work is being undertaken under three packages:

Tindivanam-Ulundurpet (70.2 km), Ulundurpet-Padalur (92.7 km), and Padalur-Tiruchi (40 km). It will commence shortly.

The total land width of the stretch after acquisition will be 60 metres.

The current land width is 45 metres. The work will take a maximum of three years for completion, according to informed sources.

While the existing two-lane highway will be strengthened, another two-lane will be laid anew.

The first two packages are likely to involve an expenditure of Rs. 450 crore each, and the third entails a cost of Rs. 300 crore.

The third package encompasses construction of two new bridges, across the Cauvery and the Coleroon respectively.

Meanwhile, the four-laning work along the Tiruchi-Madurai stretch of National Highway 45-B is progressing as per the plan of NHAI.

The entire four-lane for a length of 124.7 km is being laid along a new alignment with geographical corrections in two packages:

Tiruchi - Thuvarankurichi (60.9 km), and Thuvarankurichi-Madurai (63.8 km).

The work, warranting duration of 30 months, started during February 2006, and is slated for completion by August 2008.

Four-laning of the 55 km Tiruchi-Thanjavur stretch of National Highway 67 is expected to commence shortly.

The survey has been completed, sources said, confirming that the work on laying a new by-pass road between Thuvakkudi and Jeeyapuram along Mathur, Panjapur, and Ramji Nagar is also on the anvil.

While the four-lane roads will facilitate horizontal growth of the city, the by-pass road is basically meant for movement of trucks and goods carriers, in order to ease traffic congestion in the city, sources added.

Nice to see that Trichy-Madurai four laning is progressing well. This will be a big relief for the drivers in this curvy road.

Nice to see that Trichy-Madurai four laning is progressing well. This will be a big relief for the drivers in this curvy road.

I think when traveling from Madurai to Trichy at some smaller towns like Melur, Viralimalai, Manaparai, etc. the roads are very scary. The traffic need to planned by bypassing the towns, instead of going into narrow roads inside the town.

I hope the NH being layed is bypassing these places.

I saw these webdevelopment companies in Trichy and believe me one is in rural area (Pulivalam)

http://www.iteamtechnologies.com/index.htm
http://www.rajaramsystems.com/contacus.html
http://www.harshainfotech.com/

I am not sure if they belong to same people.But it needs lot of courage to start and I wish them luck...

I think when traveling from Madurai to Trichy at some smaller towns like Melur, Viralimalai, Manaparai, etc. the roads are very scary. The traffic need to planned by bypassing the towns, instead of going into narrow roads inside the town.

I hope the NH being layed is bypassing these places.

Hi Selvam,
If I remember correctly, bypasses are planned at these places. Anyways, there won't be scope for four laning in many of those towns, I guess. So, naturally four laning will have bypasses as they will aim to avoid traffic hassles.

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


CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will soon get new industrial and information technology policies and revive the IT task force, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who also holds the IT portfolio, told the Assembly on Wednesday.

The State Government has decided to formulate the new IT policy with a view to consolidate the gains made so far and propel the industry into a higher growth trajectory. The policy would comprehensively cover all sectors of the IT industry.

A separate policy for IT hardware manufacturing and biotechnology would also be formulated. The IT task force would have representatives of the IT industry and the objective behind constituting it was to identify the infrastructure requirements. Replying to the debate on the demand for grants to the IT Department, the Chief Minister said there were plans to establish information technology parks in Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem and Tirunelveli. The decision to set up IT parks in other cities, he explained, was taken with the objective of spreading the IT revolution that at present was concentrated around Chennai.
According to Mr. Karunanidhi, a second Tidel Park will be set up at Taramani in Chennai. The State Government in association with the Software Technology Parks of India would also establish an IT park in Coimbatore.

The State Government, the Chief Minister said, would provide exemption from the general and central sales tax "without any limit" on the sale of computers manufactured by companies with an investment exceeding Rs.100 crore in the SEZs in Tamil Nadu. This concession would be given for 10 years from the commencement of commercial production. The announcement comes in the wake of the Budget speech in which the Finance Minister said special concessions would be granted to companies setting up computer manufacturing facilities in the State. The incentives are for increasing the use of computers and making them affordable.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, a national centre of excellence announced by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, is to be located in Chennai.

Noting that the first phase of the IT Expressway project, to develop six lane road between Taramani and Siruseri, at a cost of Rs.205 crore was progressing, Mr. Karunanidhi said in the next phase similar work would be initiated over 25 km from Siruseri to Mahabalipuram.

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

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

Hi, may be when you post the same article both in Madurai and Trichy thread the relevant content alone could be cut out and posted.

Chennai , Aug. 23

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) will promote a joint venture company for oil and natural gas exploration, production and distribution, announced the Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants to the industries department, he said that the objective would be to enhance the energy security of the State.

Natural gas resources have been identified in the Cauvery Basin and the Krishna-Godavari Basin, which could be exploited. The new company would set up a Statewide natural gas distribution network. TIDCO would soon identify a private sector partner.

To acquire new land

The Chief Minister also announced plans to acquire over 2,000 acres land near Sriperumbudur and Oragadam (on the Chennai-Bangalore highway) to expand the existing industrial estates. The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) will set up a 250-acre special economic zone (SEZ) at Oragadam for automobile component manufacturers.

Chennai accounts for over 35 per cent of the automobile components manufactured in India. Many of the component manufacturers also cater to the export market. The SEZ would meet the needs of new investors and those planning expansion, he said.

With the industrial development rapid in these areas, a Rs 300-crore plan to upgrade the 24-km stretch of road between Singaperumal Koil and Sriperumbudur and the 20-km road between Vandalur and Wallajahbad would be taken up. These would be developed as 4-lane and in important stretches as 6-lane roads, he said.

Multi-product SEZ

TIDCO would also set up a 3,000-acre multi product SEZ in Perambalur district to attract investments of Rs 5,000 crore. Over 3,000 acres of land has been identified near Perambalur about 250 km south of Chennai. Initially, garment units and light engineering units would be established with 250 acres set aside for each of these sectors.

200 micro enterprises to be promoted

Under a Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development project in Tiruchi

TIRUCHI: About 200 micro enterprises would be promoted in the Tiruchi region by the Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (TIDITSSIA) in the next four years under a Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development (STED) project funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board of the DST has sanctioned Rs.38 lakh to the TIDITSSIA to identify the projects and prospective entrepreneurs, provide necessary training and guide them right through their ventures. All the projects will be in the manufacturing sector.
The TIDITSSIA had identified six core areas — garment manufacturing, food processing, imitation jewellery (synthetic diamond polishing), finished leather products, business process outsourcing and mechanical products — for promoting the micro enterprises, the TIDITSSIA president, S. Sridharan, said.
The first venture, a garment manufacturing unit floated as a partnership venture by five first generation women entrepreneurs at Karumandapam in Tiruchi, is to go on stream shortly. The unit, with about 50 modern sewing machines, would take up job works for a Karur-based handloom made-up goods manufacturer. A nationalised bank had, in principle, agreed to advance credit, M. Pushpareka, team leader of the project, said.
Twenty other projects and entrepreneurs have been identified in the city under the sector. The projects would come up at Tiruvanaikovil, Palakkarai, Tiruverambur, Woraiyur and Subramaniapuram and were in the final stages of assessment and sanction by various banks, S.Abdul Rasheed, Secretary, TIDITSSIA said.
While garment manufacturing will be exclusive for women, projects in other sectors will be for men. Food processing would be the other sector to be promoted this year and the association had identified the products and was working on finalising the marketing tie-ups, C.Ramaswamy Desai, Project Director, TIDITSSIA-STED, said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/30/stories/2006083023420100.htm

Airport expansion at a steady pace

TIRUCHY: Modernisation of Tiruchy airport, an effort expected to give a major pep to air traffic in the region and help Tiruchy to transform into a strategic air travel hub, is progressing at a steady pace.
While the works to construct the state-of-the-art terminus has picked up momentum, tenders for the apron expansion had been received and would be opened in the first week of September. The apron construction to be taken up at an outlay of 16.6 crore, would, however, start only after the monsoon in December.
Talking to this website’s newspaper, Airport Director S Sreekumar said that the construction of a modern fire station had been completed, except for structures like approach roads and drainages. In fact, the airport authorities are vying to upgrade the fire station - a category VI one to category VIII.
The up gradation proposal had been mooted owing to the fact that bigger aircraft would land here once the expanded runway became operational.
The fire station would be provided with more vehicles and the capacity of water at disposal would also be increased. Manpower would also be increased once it gets upgraded. ‘‘The move would become inevitable once airlines start operating bigger aircrafts,’’ Sreekumar said.
Sreekumar said that the airport authorities are studying the option of commencing flight take-offs from the newly expanded runway, due to the delay in calibration of the relocated Instrument Landing System - only after which landings could be possible. If there is further delay in calibration the airport would go ahead with using the runway for take-offs, he hinted.
The Airports Authority of India has fixed a deadline of September 2007 for completing the new terminus with a capacity to handle about 500 passengers. The integrated terminal building, along with two aerobridges, escalators and other additional features is estimated at an outlay of Rs 75 crore.
Sreekumar said that a decision had been taken to have joint ventures for cargo handling. Instead of total privatisation of the work, the airport could go for a partnership for cold storage cargo alone, he said.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060830012658&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Tiruchy ancillary units face manpower crunch

TIRUCHY: Unemployment may the problem that nags the nation.

But here is a group of industries in and around Tiruchy that have been clearly hit by a manpower shortage and are taking desperate steps to find workers - skilled as well as unskilled.
‘‘Atkal thevai’’ (Workers wanted). Thus welcome the boards hanging on the gates of almost all the units in the industrial estates at Thuvakudi, Thiruverumbur, iyamangalam and Mathur.

The ancillary units of PSU giant Bharath Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), working under the aegis of BHEL Small Scale Industries Association (BHELSSIA), have hit by a manpower shortage owing to the sudden spurt of orders flowing in.
The 200 odd units involved in making spares for BHEL and industries manufacturing wind energy generators are in need of over 5000 workers - diploma holders in mechanical engineering, welders, fitters, turners and helpers.
Earlier the units were procession 60,000 tonnes of steel, while now it is around 1.5 lakh tonnes, prompting the need for more manpower to meet the demands, said Tiruchy District Small Scale and Tiny Industries Association (TIDISSIA) Vice-President N Kanagasabapathy.
The boom in the wind energy sector has also stimulated the increase in orders for the ancillary units, he said, adding each unit would need from 10 to 20 more workers.
Sources indicate that there would be a further increase in the need for manpower, which is hinted by the fact that BHEL has recruited 119 persons recently - after many years.
Now the industries have planned to conduct campus interviews in eight districts in the region through the Employment Office. In fact, an interview was held in Thanjavur, where few diploma holders were recruited.
Assistant Director of District Employment Office, P Suresh Kumar, has extended cooperation to find workers through study circles, he said. Recently, the District Employment Office had also helped 40 physically disabled persons land in appropriate jobs in the units.
BHELSSIA is also conducting campus interviews in various technical institutes in the State. One of the factors that need to be addressed is the distance between the workers’ place and the units, said a unit owner, adding that many units are planning to provide accommodation to the workers from places far away.
Not only men, but also women would be absorbed for clerical jobs, he said, adding there is a separate wing in BHELSSIA for training freshers. Now the industries have planned to conduct campus interviews in eight districts in the region through the Employment Office.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060829010249&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1960526.cms

Low-cost carriers wait in the wingsAdd to Clippings
MANJU V

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2006 02:37:21 AM]
MUMBAI: Travelling to places like Jaipur, Trichi, Indore and Guwahati will soon be easier as half-a-dozen lowcost airlines will be launching services soon. Six out of the 12 airlines that sought permission to launch operations in the last year, need a final nod from civil aviation minister.

This year only IndiGo has taken to the air with two aircraft. Now, with the Aircraft Acquisition Committee (AAC) clearing six out of the 12 proposals for starting new carriers, there may be some activity towards the end of the year.

“Most of the airlines have applied for non-metro sectors. But there are also flights linking metros to non-metros,” an official said. Officials say the six airlines that need the minister’s nod are Mukti Airways, Mega Airways, Magic Airlines, Air Dravid, Air One Feeder and Sky King Airways. Others in the pipeline, awaiting clearance from AAC, include King Airways, Star Aviation, Aryan Airways, Jagson Airways and Premier Airline.

“Promoters of these airlines are from varied backgrounds, like real estate, public relations and advertising,” an official said. Mega Airways, for instance, is promoted by Kolkata-based real estate businessman Rajkumar Gupta; the airline will be flying to northeastern states. Ahmedabad-based Mukti Airways will be starting operations with five ATRs to fly to Goa, Mumbai and Aurangabad. Air One plans to start operations with the 50-seater Embraer jets.

Analysts say these airlines will bring competitive fares to non-metros. “They have realised there are infrastructure constraints in metros and profits can be made by tapping regional sectors,” an analyst said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/07/stories/2006090710000400.htm

Anna Universities in Tiruchi, Coimbatore soon

Staff Reporter

Purpose behind trifurcating varsity is to foster research, improve teaching standards

# Process of identifying Vice Chancellors for the technical varsities had commenced
# Purpose behind trifurcating the University was to foster high-quality research, high teaching standards

TIRUCHI: The newly proposed Anna Universities at Tiruchi and Coimbatore would start functioning during the course of the current academic year, State Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi said on Wednesday.

The process of identifying Vice Chancellors for the technical varsities had commenced. The number of engineering colleges to be affiliated to these universities, set to function from Bharathidasan Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, and Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, was being arrived at, he told presspersons.

The purpose behind trifurcating the Anna University at Chennai and bringing in the Common University Act was to foster high-quality research and implement high teaching standards, the Minister said.

He added that towards this end, the State Government had decided to make it mandatory for all engineering colleges to acquire accreditation from the National Board of Accreditation of the All India Council for Technical Education , and obtain EDUSAT connectivity.

Dr. Ponmudi, however, ruled out financial support from the State Government to aided Arts and Science Colleges of long standing in the event of their transforming into Deemed-to-be-Universities. This, he said, was in deference to the suggestions of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council after re-accreditation. "Let such institutions obtain funds from the University Grants Commission ," he said.

When his comment was sought on the complaint of industries about poor quality human resource churned out by higher educational institutions, Dr. Ponmudi said it was in this direction that the Government had allotted funds to provide special coaching in communication skills to students from socially and economically backward sections.

He also felt that incorporating modules on life skills and communication into the curriculum was necessary well beyond the first year of engineering programmes.

On the offer of M.Phil programmes through distance education mode by several universities despite the Government restriction, Dr. Ponmudi said the directive would be implemented strictly from the next academic year.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/08/stories/2006090815530100.htm

TIRUCHI: A sudden demand for semi-developed housing plots in Navalpattu, caused by the likelihood of emergence of an information technology (IT) park in the near future, has come as a huge relief to the cash-strapped Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB). The plots were lying unsold for 22 years, ever since the board developed them under the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project.

Last fortnight alone, the TNHB had auctioned about 1,000 plots meant for economically weaker sections. Plots measuring 338 square feet were sold (along with a lavatory alone) for Rs.7,250 apiece while each of the 430 square feet plots (with lavatory and bath) were sold for Rs.11,044 each. The remaining plots numbering over 400 are slated for auction on September 13, official sources said. A senior TNHB official said that the demand erupted after the Chairman of the Electronic Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), C. Umashankar, accompanied by senior district officials, inspected a 135-acre site lying adjacent to the TNHB Colony, and approved it for establishment of an IT park.

While the IT park planned at Panjappur will be fully state owned, at Navalpattu, the Government would create infrastructure and connectivity and hand them over to top software companies.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/14/stories/2006091416610100.htm

TIRUCHI: A delegation of the Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (TIDITSSIA) is expected to meet Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Dayanidhi Maran, shortly, to impress upon them the need for promoting Tiruchi as an IT hub and expediting the works to establish an IT Park.

The willingness of a handful of international air operators, who are taking initiative to further augment international services from Tiruchi airport combined with the widening of national highways connecting the southern districts to reduce the travel time to Tuticorin port contribute to the situation.

"A conducive industrial climate prevailing in the district is reflected in the demand for sheds and plots promoted under the industrial estate concept. The need of the hour is a right initiative from the Central and State governments," said the president of the TIDITSSIA, S. Sridharan.

The delegation would impress upon Mr. Dayanidhi Maran the need for modernisation of Tiruchi airport without delay.

Excise duty exemption

Mr. Sridharan said the TIDITSSIA would also urge the Chief Minister to prevail upon the Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, to provide excise duty exemption for industries, particularly pharmaceutical companies, to be set up at the proposed special economic zone and the integrated industrial park to be established by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) in Perambalur district and at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district.

A large number of pharmaceutical companies had migrated to the northern States of Himachal Pradesh and Chattisgarh from Tamil Nadu in the recent past due to excise duty exemption and other attractive concessions available there.

Exempting them from the excise net and purview of sales tax would ensure their return to and reinvestment in the State, he said.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2006sep14/general_tn4.asp

Two central Govt projects - BHEL & OFT brought Trichy into national industrial map long back (during 70s, I think). Not much has happened afterwards.

Now another opportunity beckons. The industrialists and the real estate developers should up their antennae and bring in another revolution. Without the help of the locals, no Govt can perform. SIRUTHULI of Coimbatore can be taken as an example.

Being an alumni of REC (now NIT), I have a soft corner for Trichy. When I visited the college recently, I did not see much improvements on the Tanjore Road compared to 1984, except for a few housing projects visible from the road. But Srirangam was a total surprise. You may mistake it for Mylapore or Nanganallur. So many flat complexes.

Market area was surprisingly cleaner compared to olden days and traffic was also less (probably due to one way traffic). Thillai Nagar is same except for a few commercial complexes on the main road. Woraiyur, Cantonment areas look almost same.

Tanjore has improved a lot with broad roads et al. I found that the under ground drinage has not been implemented yet. Due to the canals criss crossing, this may cost a fortune. But under JNNURM, these things can be easily accomodated. The inner city roads are still the same. Probably a satellite town may be the answer with IT Park as the hub. New schools, modern airport, modern rail station and bus terminus apart from quality housing are the need of the hour.

Instead of TIDCO / ELCOT doing it alone, they can think of PPP model. But it is high time Trichy is looked at seriously.

Another area of development should be Nagapatnam port. It can be developed to a major port with massive gas storage and Gas Grid can be started from there to cover entire TN. It is centrally located and can be reached from Trichy quickly. Trichy - Tanjore _ Kumbakonam - Nagapattinam road has to be widened and made into a 4 lane highway. Based on the Gas, lots of new petrochem industries can be developed in Trichy and surrounding areas. Water may not be a problem as it is in Chennai. Land also is relatively cheaper. Technical work force will be available from the nearby districts.

The tourism industry is already blossoming with Navagraha temples, Tanjore Big temple, Srirangam, Nagore, Velankanni, Chidhambaram etc (Madurai being the next city, lots of passing tourists also). Mukkombu and Kallanai can be improved. If things are well planned and regulated, Trichy can attain great heights.

Nice Inputs :)

is tiruchy covered under JNNRUM? I was thinking it was chennai, madurai and coimbatore only......

Nice Inputs :)

is tiruchy covered under JNNRUM? I was thinking it was chennai, madurai and coimbatore only......
Only three cities in TN are covered.

JNNURM:
Trichy is not under the current plan.
I hope that the Trichy should fight with state and central govts to be included in the same. Similar cities in other states which slept earlier are now crying. The local district collector has a significant role to play. Let Trichy throw stones and hope for the fruits to fall. There is a possibility of similar new initiatives with world bank funding. May be Trichy has to take in the surrounding towns also for integrated development. The min population question can be answered.

The local Ministers, MLAs, MPs and the district Collector may take this up as their mission.

SEZ on Tiruchy, Perambalur highway: Maran

TIRUCHY: A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) would be developed along the Tiruchy-Perambalur highway which would provide jobs to over 10,000 individuals, said Union Information and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
Addressing the gathering during an election meeting here on Tuesday, Maran said that the SEZ to be developed at an investment of Rs 5000 crores would have 20-30 major industries that would provide employment to jobless in the region.
“You can’t just rest since Kalaignar has provided you everything - rice at Rs 2 per kg, colour TVs, waiver of cooperative loans and a host of other benefits,” he told in a lighter vein, adding that only employment would provide self sustenance.
Noting that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was making concerted efforts to bring IT majors into the state, Maran said that the proposed IT park would come up in Tiruchy in 18 months.
Not just, Chennai, but second rung cities like Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli would also emerge as destinations for IT companies due to these efforts, he said.
Calling upon the public to repeat the verdict of the parliamentary and assembly elections, he said a local body compatible with the state government is vital for successful implementation of the state’s schemes.
You have witnessed the benefit of electing a state government that is like-minded with the Centre - prestigious Sethu Samudram project and One India scheme have become a reality due to this. The need of the hour is to form local bodies that will coordinate with the Centre and the State Government, he emphazised.
“The cordiality that exists between the Centre and the States should be carried further to cover the local bodies too,” Maran said.In the absence of anything worth complaining, the opposition is blowing up chikungunya incidence. It is a disease, caused by mosquitoes and intensive measures are being adopted to keep it under control, he said.
Union Forest Minister A Raja, T N Ministers K N Nehru, N Selvaraj, former Tiruchy MP N Siva, Mayor Sarubala R Thondaiman were present.Earlier he addressed similar meetings at Perambalur and Ariyalur.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061004012139&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (Tidco) has invited bids to identify a private partner to promote a special economic zone in Perambalur district.

It said that the Perambalur SEZ, approved in principle by the Commerce Ministry, would be a multi-product one for industries in engineering, auto components, textile and garments, leather products, pharmaceuticals and food processing.

Land acquisition for the SEZ covering over 1,225 hectares is on and it will be on the National Highway 45 about 20 km from Perambalur town. The Chennai airport would be about 220 km, Tiruchi 75 km and the Cuddalore port 100 km from the SEZ.

The private promoter will be the principal developer and majority stakeholder in a special purpose company to implement the project. Tidco will shortlist at the most six bidders or consortia and invite them to submit proposals for developing the SEZ to select the final bidder.

To qualify for the bid which closes on November 8, the bidder must have a net worth of at least Rs 500 crore as of December 2005, must have executed a project of Rs 200 crore in infrastructure construction, industrial park or SEZ or invested Rs 100 crore or more in the project.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/10/19/stories/2006101901002300.htm

The Rane group was planning to set up two plants near Tiruchi — one through Rane Engine Valves and the other through Rane Brake Linings.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/24/stories/2006102404471900.htm

TIRUCHI: Sun Microsystems India, a software service and infrastructure provider, has launched its operations in Tiruchi city on Thursday.

Joining hands with Accel Frontline, a city-based provider of enterprise IT solutions, Sun has commenced its operations with the centre based in the city and plans to expand its services down south.

"We have identified 18 such Tier III cities across the country to gear up for next phase in market growth," the Regional Director of the concern, Ganesh Mahabala told presspersons here on Thursday.

Identification and suitable training for the representing-companies at the selected cities will follow the launch. It further plans to reach out to a wider base of customers in segments such as education and research.

"We are planning to provide end-to-end solution for every smaller segment. Tiruchi has been looked upon as potential market as it possesses large number of business units, an attractive market from an IT infrastructure consumption point of view," he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/29/stories/2006102903500200.htm

Not projects but some nice Trichy pics

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10309860&postcount=161

‘IT firms keen to open offices in Tiruchy'

TIRUCHY: Many information technology companies have expressed willingness to set up office at Tiruchy, District Collector Ashish Vachhani said here on Tuesday.The District Collector who participated in the ‘bangaloreIT.in 2006’ said, students of Tiruchy should equip themselves to meet the requirements of the companies. He called upon the industries to act as an interface with institutions for determining the requirements of the industries.
Speaking at the two-day workshop on disaster preparedness, organised by the Department of Social Work, BARD and Foundation for the Rights of the Young Child, Chennai, he said, Bharathidasan University, the 22 engineering colleges in Tiruchy and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) should work in collaboration for enhancing soft skills.
Bharathidasan University Vice-Chancellor C Thangamuthu said, the university, in association with CII, would be offering a structured programme to enhance communication skills of the student community at Khajamalai Campus shortly. With the introduction of an IT park, the City would witness a boom in job avenues, he added.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061101004743&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DNT20061106111112&Title=TamilNadu+Page&lTitle=R%AAZLm&Topic=0

The Chief Minister, M.Karunanidhi, will formally declare open the Palakkarai Road overbridge here on Saturday.
http://i14.tinypic.com/2rqhjbs.jpg
NO MORE CONGESTION: A view of the Palakkarai road overbridge in Tiruchi.

It will bring to an end the five-year ordeal of residents, consequent to the closure of the Palakkarai Main Road, and relieve traffic congestion on other parts of the city. The T-shaped bridge, sanctioned at a cost of Rs.16 crore, connects Bheema Nagar with Palakarrai over the railway level crossing on Heber Road and extends across the Uyyakondan river. The bridge was partially opened for traffic on a trial basis recently on the Bheema Nagar side even while work was apace on the other section over the river.

The Collector, Ashish Vachhani, on Tuesday told mediapersons that civil works on the bridge, with 50 spans running for a total distance of about 900 metres, had been completed. However, the bridge would be fully opened for traffic 15 days after the formal inauguration, as the decks across the Uyyakondan river were laid only a few days back. The time gap was required to allow the mandatory curing and testing process, he said.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110811520100.htm

Korean firm seeks nod for ship building unit in cuddalore at a cost of Rs. 1000 Cr

`World-class facility' in Cuddalore to cost Rs.1000 crore

A private firm, Goodearth Maritime Limited has sought permission to set up a world-class ship building facility in the State.

Dongshik Shin, chairman, Korea Maritime Consultants Company, the technical adviser of Goodearth, met Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi at the Secretariat on Tuesday and sought clearance for the setting up of the project near Cuddalore. Goodearth Maritime chairman P.B.Anandam briefed the Chief Minister about the project.

They informed Mr.Karunanidhi that the total cost of the project would be Rs.1,000 crore. In the first two years, about Rs.500 crore would be spent on the project.

About 5,000 persons would be directly employed and about 20,000 people will gain indirect employment by the project, a release said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110804000400.htm

Construction work on the new terminal building at the Tiruchi airport will be completed by end of 2007, said the Airport Director, Mr S. Sreekumar.

The expanded runway was ready for commissioning with only the glide path calibration being awaited. The feasibility of extending the runway further up to 12,500 ft from 8,000 ft, was also under consideration, he said in an informal chat with newspersons on the sidelines of the inaugural function of the Vigilance Awareness Week at the airport here.

Earlier, speaking at the function, Mr Sreekumar stated that the Airports Authority of India in association with the Indian would host a customer meet with frequent flyers and passengers using the Tiruchi airport to draw feedback.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110802361900.htm

Korean firm seeks nod for ship building unit in cuddalore at a cost of Rs. 1000 Cr

`World-class facility' in Cuddalore to cost Rs.1000 crore

A private firm, Goodearth Maritime Limited has sought permission to set up a world-class ship building facility in the State.

Dongshik Shin, chairman, Korea Maritime Consultants Company, the technical adviser of Goodearth, met Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi at the Secretariat on Tuesday and sought clearance for the setting up of the project near Cuddalore. Goodearth Maritime chairman P.B.Anandam briefed the Chief Minister about the project.

They informed Mr.Karunanidhi that the total cost of the project would be Rs.1,000 crore. In the first two years, about Rs.500 crore would be spent on the project.

About 5,000 persons would be directly employed and about 20,000 people will gain indirect employment by the project, a release said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110804000400.htm

Cuddalore is not near Trichy:)

Cuddalore is only 150 kms from Trichy. I thought it would fit into trichy region better than into any other threads. :-)

Cuddalore is only 150 kms from Trichy. I thought it would fit into trichy region better than into any other threads. :-)

It is just 15kms from Pondicherry, so you cud ve posted this news in Pondicherry thread ;)

Are you serious?. Just now i dug through various threads and coudnt find pondicherry thread. You could start a thread for pondicherry and i promise this cuddalore news posted by me would be first on it. :-))

Are you serious?. Just now i dug through various threads and coudnt find pondicherry thread. You could start a thread for pondicherry and i promise this cuddalore news posted by me would be first on it. :-))

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=179795&page=8

there u go :)

Pondi thread http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=179795&page=8

How ever cuddalore developments we usually post it in TN thread. Pondicherry is exclussive for its 4 cities.

Im really confused with the SSC forum structure now. I have already visited the pondicherry thread but thought it was only meant for pondicherry pics and views as its under city folder. If projects are posted there then it could have been placed under projects folder or another thread could have been created here.

Airport modernisation to be complete by 2007 end

TIRUCHY: As part of the ongoing modernisation work in airports in South India, the state-of-the-art terminal at the Tiruchy International Airport featuring steel and glass structure with fully air-conditioned facilities will be completed by the end of 2007.
Speaking to media persons after the observing the Vigilance Awareness Week here, Airport Director S Sreekumar said the terminus, to be the first of its kind in the southern region, will have three floors, two areo-bridges for passengers, baggage conveyors belt for cargo, three escalators and retiring rooms. The 11,800 sq ft terminal will have modernised facilities to handle 400 passengers an hour.
The airport expansion work would include extension of runway, apron, construction of parallel taxi-way and its associated works like parking stands.
On the newly constructed runway, he said the construction of a new 8,000 ft long runway at the airport has been completed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The newly constructed runway is ready for commissioning. The runway will enable accommodation of larger aircraft such as Airbus 321 and Boeing 737 to land and take-off from the airport. It can accommodate seven aircraft as against the present capacity of three.
Further, a proposal had been submitted to AAI for further extension of the runway by 4500 feet, he said and added that the AAI had approved in principle for the expansion work. The AAI has appointed a Global Technical Advisor, who conducted a Techno Economic Feasibility study to prepare and complete the plan for modernisation and development, he added.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061109013230&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Are you serious?. Just now i dug through various threads and coudnt find pondicherry thread. You could start a thread for pondicherry and i promise this cuddalore news posted by me would be first on it. :-))

Mr. Madurai_veeran,

now that there is a thread for Pondy, why have you not posted the cuddalore news in that thread so far? (as you had mentioned)

Mr. Madurai_veeran,

now that there is a thread for Pondy, why have you not posted the cuddalore news in that thread so far? (as you had mentioned)

Thanx for your reminder. I have posted now :) .

TIRUCHI: The extended runway of Tiruchi Airport will be commissioned on January 1, paving the way for commencement of new air services to the city.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the airport officials held on Wednesday, airport sources told The Hindu . The decision will be intimated to the Airports Authority of India headquarters, to give the mandatory advance notice, for appropriate follow up action.

The extension of the runway from about 6,100 feet to nearly 8,000 feet was taken up at a cost of Rs.26 crore. The work began in March 2004, but ran into considerable time overrun owing to various factors. Civil works on the project was completed recently, though the glide path calibration is still awaited. A few ancillary works apart from laying the `final layer' on the existing runway are also pending. These works are to be taken up in due course even as the safety clearances are obtained.

The airport authorities have decided to go ahead with the commissioning of the expanded runway without waiting for the glide path calibration. Sources say that this would not be a major impediment for air operators as flights could be operated without the Instrument Landing System. The decision comes in the backdrop of demand from air operators for a firm commitment from the airport authorities on the `operational availability' of the extended runway.

Meanwhile, a team of Air India Express experts, after a recent visit to assess the infrastructure at the airport, had reportedly expressed reservations over the strength of the taxiway and the apron.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/17/stories/2006111714450100.htm

Conversion of the Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai line will be a challenging task for Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), which has been entrusted with the task by the Railway Board.

The122-km stretch is the remaining portion of the Villupuram-Thanjavur conversion project (192 km). The line between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai has been converted.

There are 310 bridges, including 33 major ones, and 18 level crossings and subways between Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai. The line runs along the east coast, and the sub-soil, where the existing bridges are located, is weak.

An RVNL official says in view of the poor soil condition, it is desirable to lay the new bridges on the existing foundation. RVNL has decided to dismantle the existing bridges and construct new ones using pile foundation. Their height will be increased by two to three metres, taking into consideration last year's floods. As the soil throughout the stretch is uniformly weak, the embankments also have to be strengthened.

Another problem being encountered by RVNL is the movement of construction materials such as ballasts and soil to the construction spot. With all these difficulties, the work has to be completed by December 2007, the target date fixed by the Railway Board.

According to railway officials, once this portion is completed, it will link Chennai with Tiruchi via Villupuram, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, known as `mainline' in railway parlance. For years, it did not get priority and allotment of funds was poor. Now, the Board has decided to complete the section before December 2007.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/17/stories/2006111705360400.htm

As part of BHEL's expansion schemes, the power plant equipment major's Tiruchi unit is in the process of expanding its manufacturing capacity from 4000 mw to 5800 mw at an outlay of Rs 190 crore, a senior company official said here.

The expansion scheme of BHEL across the country was being carried out at a total outlay of Rs 1000 crore, S Sathyanarayanan, executive director, BHEL Tiruchi Complex said, addressing the annual BHEL's sub-contractors' meet-2006.

He said almost 50 to 60 per cent of the requisite machinery had already started arriving at the site and before December-end 2007, orders for the rest of the machinery would be placed. In all probability, the expanded BHEL complex would be ready for operation by December 2007, he said.

After attaining 5800 mw capacity, the complex will go in for further expansion at an outlay of Rs five to six hundred crore. By virtue of this expansion in the next phase, BHEL Tiruchi Complex would equip itself for the installed capacity of close to 8000 mw.

Turning to the sub-contractors located in and around Tiruchi and other places in Tamil Nadu, he said they should adopt newer technologies, envisage systems for cost reduction and strive to reduce manufacturing expenditure.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=337404&ssid=53&sid=BUS

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=337404&ssid=53&sid=BUS

Since there are lot of vendors in and around Trichy supporting BHEL, TN should try to get L and T's proposed Boiler plant.
How is BHEL Trichy compared to other BHEL plants ?

BHEL to enhance power generation

To augment capacity to 10,000 mw by the end of 2007

TIRUCHI: The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has invested Rs. 1,200 crore on a new equipment during the tenth five-year period to enhance power generation capacity to 10,000 Megawatts by the end of 2007, S.M. Mahajan, General Manager, Central Manufacturing Technology and Investment Planning, BHEL, said on Tuesday.
Talking to presspersons, he unveiled the BHEL's plans to further increase the capacity to 13,000 mw by the end of the eleventh five-year plan (April 2007 to March 2012) with Rs.3,200 crore investments on new equipment. With orders to the tune of Rs.40,000 crore for the next two years, the BHEL is keen on furthering production capacity by 15 per cent.
In the Tiruchi unit alone, Rs.200 crore has been spent during the current five-year plan to increase power generation capacity of boilers to 6,000 mw (from 4,500 at present) by the end of 2007.
Separate blocks
Separate blocks were being established in existing units to cater to the soaring orders. In the event of linkage of fuel - natural uranium and heavy water - for nuclear power plants, the BHEL will have orders for supplying 500 mw turbines. Efforts were under way to increase the generation capacity of the nuclear power plant equipment to 700 mw, he said, noting that the potential for nuclear power generation was tremendous in the country. "It could be increased to 10 per cent of the total power generation from four per cent at present," Mr. Mahajan said.
Thermal turbines
Likewise, the generation capacity of thermal turbines will be increased to 800 mw in due course. The current power generation capacities of gas turbines and hydro turbines manufactured by BHEL are 250 mw and 200 mw respectively.
Goal of the country
The goal of the country to increase hydel power to 37 per cent (from 23 at present) by the end of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan in order to cut down on thermal power generation, he informed.
Mr. Mahajan, who is also the president of Indian Welding Society (IWS), saw in the growth of the BHEL a tremendous upswing in fabrication sector.
He appealed to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to increase the skill levels of their welding personnel by availing the utility of the short-term courses conducted by the Welding Research Institute (WRI), in association with international entities including the American Welding Society (AWS) and the Welding Technology Institute of Australia.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/30/stories/2006113016590300.htm

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/517/2006120116530301ac0.jpg

The six-year long ordeal endured by residents of Palakkarai and Bheema Nagar areas will finally end on Friday with the opening of the Palakkarai road overbridge for traffic.

The re-opening of the important bus route section should also come as a huge relief for road users as the closure of the Palakkarai Main Road had put the other arterial roads under heavy pressure due to traffic diversions.

Though the over-bridge was formally declared open by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on November 11, traffic was allowed only on the Heber Road-Warehouse section of the T-shaped bridge.

The other half of the bridge, running across the Uyyakondan river, remained closed to allow `curing' of the concrete structure.

The bridge, with 50 spans, has been constructed at a cost of Rs.16 crore.

Finishing touches

On Thursday, Highways authorities were engaged in giving the finishing touches to the approach roads to the bridge, especially near the Prabhat Theatre junction. A traffic island will come up soon at the tri-junction.

Though service lanes and the approaches on the other sides have been black-topped, the approach road from the Prabhat Theatre Junction would be blacktopped after a few days to allow `compacting' of the WBM (water bound macadam) road layer, highways officials said. However, this would be done during night hours without any suspension of traffic on the bridge, they said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/01/stories/2006120116530300.htm

Call for increasing air connectivity to Tiruchi (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/02/stories/2006120218420300.htm)


The district administration has taken up with the State government the need for strengthening air connectivity to Tiruchi; new services to the city, especially by the Air India Express, are likely to be introduced next year, according to Collector Ashish Vachhani.

With the anticipated flow of investments into the city in the information technology sector in the near future, air operators, including private airlines, could tap the emerging potential for introducing more services, Mr.Vachhani said speaking at the valediction of the Aviation Safety Week at the Tiruchi Airport on Friday.

Pointing out that major expansion works were being carried out in the airport, Mr.Vachhani said the city was a gateway for travellers from the central and southern districts of Tamil Nadu. The manufacturing sector already has a strong base here.

The civil aviation sector has undergone a sea change in the country with the entry of many operators and the industry is emerging as a major service sector. Yet, unlike in many foreign countries, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have managed to put in place a non-intrusive security mechanism, he said.

The Airport Director, S. Sreekumar, underlined the need for sensitising the travelling public on their responsibility in adhering to safety norms as several external factors could impact on safety procedures. The AAI was constantly upgrading its safety systems, and satellite controlled navigation systems were being introduced. A safety management system was put in place in all airports and adequate training was provided to the staff on safety procedures. Safety cells were also being formed in all airports, he said.

The Area Marketing Manager of Indian, T.H. Radhakrishnan, said that the airline has a well laid down safety protocol for ensuring operational safety of aircrafts. The Assistant Commandant of the CISF, R.K. Sharma, urged the employees of various agencies involved in the air travel industry to strictly adhere to security and safety procedures to eliminate the possibility of human errors.

could ne one say wat does traffic island mean?Is tat ne thing like signals would coume up at d junction.

National flag carrier Air India will take delivery of the first Boeing B737-800 aircraft in Seattle on November 30, 2006, out of total 68 aircraft order placed with the US-based aircraft manufacturer.

The first B737-800 aircraft will reach India on December 5. Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Air India executives will be present to receive the aircraft," an Air India spokesperson said.

The first aircraft will be deployed for its low-cost carrier Air India Express in the Trichy-Gulf route.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=265997&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

Finally after a long wait Air India Express is set to takeoff from Trichy.

My 500th post :-).

Tiruchi comes first in monthly ranking (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120318060300.htm)


TIRUCHI: Tiruchi district has been ranked first in the State, during October 2006, for its performance in implementing the 20-point programme under the monthly ranking done by the State Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Department.

This is the first time that the district has bagged the top position under the ranking, according to official sources. The ranking of the districts is based on various parameters relating to the implementation of development works and schemes.

The 20-point programme covers various schemes, including drinking water supply, rural development, land distribution, assistance schemes for the scheduled castes and tribes and immunisation.

Spurred by the ranking, the district administration has expedited the execution of rural development works sanctioned for the current fiscal without losing focus on the quality of works executed. About 2,145 works sanctioned under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) during the previous financial year were carried forward and all but 172 of these works stand completed. During the current year, the district has been sanctioned Rs.11 crore and about 4,070 tonnes of rice under the SGRY. The district administration has sanctioned 1,945 works utilising the allocation. It has also taken up an intensive drive to ensure hundred per cent functioning of streetlights in all the 408 panchayats.

Hygiene front

A special drive has been launched simultaneously to clean and chlorinate all the drinking water supply overhead tanks (OHTs) in the panchayats. For the first time, a system of marking the date of cleaning on the OHTs has been introduced. The next due date for cleaning would be marked on the OHTs to ensure proper follow-up action. A special cleanliness drive has been taken up to improve rural sanitation, officials said.

Officials stated that the series of initiatives taken to plug leakages in the Public Distribution System has yielded rich dividends. Rice off-take, the most important commodity, has come down to 66 per cent (of the district allotment of 13,000 tonnes a month) in November against 89 per cent registered in May. During October, the off-take was 72 per cent. The stringent measures aimed at preventing pilferage and weeding out of bogus family cards have ensured that the benefits of the system reached the target groups, officials claim.

A blog from some one in Trichy about Salem. I thought this should be useful.
http://www.travelpost.com/travel/dhana

Please tell me in what way is the above news related to Trichy region?.

Nabard plan for Tiruchi (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/04/stories/2006120400511500.htm)


Tiruchi, Dec. 1

The Potential Linked Credit Plan (PLCP) for Tiruchi district for 2007-08, prepared by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development , which envisaged a credit flow of Rs 1,139.58 crore was released here. The District Collector, Mr Ashish Vachhani, released the PLCP at the District Consultative Committee meeting.

Mr Vachhani said a credit flow of Rs 473.09 crore had been projected for crop loan, Rs 183.60 crore towards term loan under agricultural and allied activities and Rs 107.10 crore as non-farm sector investments, Rs 9.26 crore as agro and food processing industries and Rs 366.52 crore for other priority sectors.An 8 per cent credit growth is expected over the current year, without major deviation under sectoral projections.

CHENNAI: Two more technical universities will be established at Tiruchi and Coimbatore. The Assembly passed the Bills on Thursday.

The new universities will be named Anna University, Tiruchirapalli, and Anna University, Coimbatore. The existing Anna University will be known as Anna University, Chennai.

Replying to the debate, Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi said managing the affairs of more than 240 affiliated engineering colleges in the State had become a near impossibility. To ensure better and effective monitoring of the colleges the new universities were being set up.

The break-up

About 150 engineering colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts will come under the purview of Anna University, Chennai. The Tiruchi university will have control over 75 engineering colleges in Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar, Nagapatinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Perambalur, and Thiruvarur districts.

A total of 53 engineering colleges in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, the Nilgiris, Theni, Dharamapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Salem districts will be affiliated to Anna University, Coimbatore. The new entities will be independent and have separate vice-chancellors and registrars.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120803170400.htm

Electrification of Villupuram-Tiruchi BG line begins (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/10/stories/2006121005400400.htm)


CHENNAI: Work on electrification of the Villupuram-Tiruchi broad gauge line has begun.

The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Chennai, which is executing the project, finalised the contractor recently. The Railway Board has fixed December 31, 2007 as the target date for completing the work.

Plain stretch

As it is a plain stretch of 178 km, it is possible to complete the work in 18 months, according to a CORE official here. By next March, the 56-km stretch between Villupuram and Vriddhachalam will be electrified. Work on the remaining 122 km from Vriddhachalam to Tiruchi Junction will be completed by next December. But, the electrified line will become operational only after completing it up to Tiruchi Junction.

Three sub-stations, one each at Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur and Tiruchi, will be set up.

These will be linked to the State grid for power transmission

BHEL to support 25 micro enterprises under entrepreneurship programme (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/10/stories/2006121004600700.htm)


The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Tiruchi, has come forward to support 25 micro enterprises to be promoted under the Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development (STED) programme being implemented by the Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (TIDITSSIA).

STED is funded by the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board. At least 200 micro enterprises are to be promoted under the project over the next four years in six core areas, including mechanical engineering. TIDITSSIA's mandate is to identify the projects and prospective entrepreneurs, provide necessary training and support their ventures. A few start-up ventures, in garment manufacturing and food processing sectors, have begun operations.

Based on a request from the TIDITSSIA, BHEL has agreed to support 25 machine shops initially by offering them job works though through a tender process. Entrepreneurs, identified by TIDITSSIA, would be encouraged to start lathes, milling, grinding, threading and welding and minor fabrication units.

Speaking at an interaction session with prospective entrepreneurs here on Saturday, BHEL General Manager (Outsourcing) A. Chandra Babu, said the power sector was poised for rapid growth and the scenario presented tremendous opportunities for BHEL and its sub-contractors. He indicated that BHEL could extend support to more micro enterprises based on the success of the initial ventures.

BHEL would examine the feasibility of segregating some of the smaller components (normally outsourced) and call for separate tenders for the benefit of the micro enterprises. It would also consider the possibility of relaxing the bank guarantee requirements for the materials supplied for conversion works to these units. Arrangements could be made for collection of raw materials and finished goods from these micro enterprises.

He, however, said the fabrication units in Tiruchi faced severe shortage of skilled manpower and urged the entrepreneurs to take care of this requirement.

BHEL Additional General Manager P. Soundar Rajansuggested that the entrepreneurs pool their resources and function as a cluster. BHEL AGM (Valves) Shanmugam said the BHEL was planning to outsource most of the components that went into the production of valves, which could be taken advantage of by the entrepreneurs.

TIDITSSIA president S. Sridharan said 25 entrepreneurs would be selected from 69 prospective and registered entrepreneurs. The TIDITSSIA would seek to expand the scope of cooperation with BHEL.

Trichy Airport from Google Earth

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8827/trichybx3.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4820/trichy1ia2.jpg

Bamboo processing centre to be inaugurated in Tiruchi today

It can produce 500 mats in an eight-hour shift

TIRUCHI: A Common Facility Centre for primary bamboo processing and mat weaving has been established on the Sri Sankara Educational Trust campus at Sannasipatti on the city outskirts. The Bangalore-based Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute (IPIRTI) and the trust have jointly set up the facility with financial assistance of Rs.24.95 lakh from the National Mission for Bamboo Application.
Promoting bamboo-based products and generating employment will be the major objectives of the centre, which is to be inaugurated on Saturday. This is the first of eight such facilities planned to be set up across the country this year, according to the IPIRTI Director, C.N. Pandey.
At a press conference here on Friday, he said that the Centre, to be managed by the Sri Sankara Trust, would have six machines, including four indigenous ones, for cross-cutting, splitting, knot removing and sizing, sliver making and mat weaving. The unit could produce 500 mats in an eight-hour shift.
The trust had also planned to involve groups of traditional mat weavers at Musiri, Pachamalai, Perambalur and Orathanadu, who would weave the processed bamboo into mats. The trust would have buy-back arrangements with the groups, said B. Sivaramakrishnan, chairman of Sri Sankara Educational and Charitable Trust.
Future plans
The IPIRTI had proposed to upgrade the centre with additional machines for manufacturing other bamboo-based composite products such as moulded skin doors and high-density bamboo boards, which could be used in place of plywood. The second phase of the project would entail an investment of about Rs.2.50 crore and the institute had planned to seek financial assistance under the National Mission for Bamboo Application, Mr. Pandey said. Though the country was the second largest producer of bamboo next to China, its potential had largely been untapped.
Alternative to wood
Apart from traditional applications, bamboo-based products could be used extensively in the construction industry as an alternative to wood and plywood. Its only shortcoming of being susceptible to termite attack could be overcome with a chemical treatment process developed by the institute, he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/16/stories/2006121615130100.htm

Tiruchy-Chidambaram four-laning work to be taken up at a cost of Rs 1000 crore

TIRUCHY: The Tiruchy-Chidambaram route four-laning work would be taken up at a cost of Rs 1000 crore, said State Transport Minister K N Nehru. He said that the four-laning work and the Shengarayur-Poondi bridge work which were announced during the previous DMK regime, would begin soon.

This apart, Tiruchy district was poised to get major bridges, road projects, colleges and schools soon, Nehru said. The state government has allocated Rs 450 crores for flood prevention and drinking water facilities to Tiruchy. Local Administration Minister M K Stalin has also agreed to sanction more funds sought by Mayor Sarubala R Thondaiman for flood prevention project in the city.

Reiterating that chief Minister M Karunanidhi had given his consent for establishment of medical facility in Tiruchy at a cost of Rs 100 crore out of state fund, he said preliminary works for the project was going on.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20061218022923&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0&

Plan to raise oil palm on 1,000 hectares in Thanjavur

Thanjavur: The Agriculture Department has planned to raise oil palm on 1,000 hectares in Thanjavur district. A press release issued here by M. Jothi, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that the Government was giving Rs. 22,990 per hectare as subsidy for the first four years of cultivation.
The subsidy pattern includes free distribution of 143 oil palm saplings to the farmers per hectare to the value of Rs. 100,10, a subsidy of Rs. 4,480 per hectare for digging pits and planting saplings, Rs. 2,450 as cultivation maintenance subsidy for the second year, Rs. 2,800 for the third year and Rs. 3,250 for the fourth year.
The department has trained 250 farmers in oil palm cultivation. Select 15 farmers would visit National Oil Palm Research Centre, Peddevagi, Andhra Pradesh, on a study tour to learn latest techniques and findings in oil palm cultivation.
Seminar at Papanasam
A seminar on oil palm would be conducted at Papanasam in which farmers, scientists, agriculture department officials, bank officials and officials will participate, the release added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122112470200.htm

Tiruchi-Pudukottai section to be opened from Jan. 5

Rail services in Thanjavur - Tiruvarur BG line from Dec. 28

TIRUCHI: Rail traffic in the Tiruchi - Pudukottai broad gauge (BG) section will resume from January 5, the Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, said on Wednesday. A function would be organised at Pudukottai on that day to mark the resumption of train services in the newly laid broad gauge track, he told the media at the Srirangam railway station.
The 53-km long Tiruchi - Pudukottai gauge conversion work is part of the Tiruchi - Manamadurai BG project, for which a sum of Rs. 188 crore has been sanctioned.Mr. Velu said the Thanjavur - Tiruvarur broad gauge section would be opened for rail traffic from December 28 adding that a function to mark the inauguration would be held at Tiruvarur.
Earlier, inaugurating the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) facility at Srirangam railway station, Mr. Velu said the railways aimed at achieving Rs.20,000 crore as profit during the current fiscal from Rs.13,500 crore it recorded during last year. Despite the increase in the price of diesel in the past couple of years, the Railways had not hiked the passenger fares. Emphasis has been laid on improving passenger amenities in railway stations. The allocation for the Southern Railway for passenger amenities alone was Rs.40 crore.
Plans were afoot to introduce the Unreserved Ticketing System facility in 71 more railway stations in Southern Railway jurisdiction during the current financial year. Mr. Velu said a separate Railway Land Development Authority had been established to identify and commercially utilise the vacant railway lands. The Mayor, R. Sarubala R. Tondaiman, the Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, R.C. Jat and Railway officials participated in the function.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122126420300.htm

Integrated bus stand: Panel report by January (http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/22/stories/2006122225190300.htm)


The committee, set up to identify a suitable site for establishing an integrated bus stand in the city, has completed the inspection of the short-listed sites and is expected to submit its report by the first week of January.

The committee, comprising officials from the Revenue, Town and Country Planning, Corporation, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the PWD, was constituted based on the directive of the Department of Municipal Administration.

The panel has inspected all the five sites, short-listed by the Corporation previously.

The sites were at Devadhanam off the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass Road, the Ariyamangalam compost yard, Ramji Nagar on the Tiruchi-Dindigul National Highway, Kottapattu on the Pudukottai National Highway and Panchapur on the Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway.

Sources said the committee would soon have a sitting to list out the advantages and disadvantages of each site and prepare a report. The report will be placed before the Corporation Council, which will then make its recommendations to the government.

Apart from the suitability of the place, the cost involved in land acquisition was expected to be a major factor in finalising the site.

TIRUCHI: The Public Sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Tiruchi, would make a further investment of Rs.500 crores on the next phase of modernisation and capacity augmentation, its Group General Manager, R.N.Misra, has said.

The BHEL, one of the leading power plant equipment manufacturers, has already taken up a modernisation programme at its Tiruchi unit with an investment of Rs.200 crores.

"Business growth is bound to sustain as major investments were being made in infrastructure sector.

Volumes are bound to increase in the coming years and the ancillary units of BHEL should gear up to meet the challenges in a sequential manner," he said speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the BHEL Small and Medium Industries Association (BHELSIA) here on Friday.

The BHEL considered its vendors important stakeholders and it was important that they adopted a focused approach towards meeting the targets. As boilers were not a very profitable product, cost control was the only way to achieve better margins, he said.

Ancillary units

The consultant of BHEL, S. Sathyanarayanan, emphasised the need for BHEL and the ancillary units to bring about a unified focus on meeting all requirements of the customer in terms of cost, quality and delivery. Though the ancillary units have improved a lot over the years, they continued to lag behind in product delivery. The BHEL was entering the export market in a big way and was likely to go in for outsourcing of more products. It was up to ancillary units to seize the opportunity to become global players.

Though there were over 300 ancillary units, only 40 per cent of them have obtained ISO certification so far. Ancillary units have to take urgent steps to bridge the gap between their performance and customer expectation, he said.

The president of BHELSIA, Rajappa Rajkumar, said that most of the member ancillary units of the association were ready to go in for expansion.
The ancillary units have successfully carried out conversion works for the BHEL to the tune of 1 lakh tonnes this year and the figure was expected to touch 2.25 lakh tonnes in 2007-08.

The Secretary of BHELSIA, K. G. Muralidharan, said that the association has planned to set up a training and calibration centre at a cost of Rs.1 crore. A new industrial estate was also in the pipeline. About 80 ancillary units have obtained ISO certification and some have already taken to on site fabrication to cut costs.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122419060300.htm

Commissioner for Railway Safety inspects Trichy-Pudukottai broad gauge line

TIRUCHI: With the Southern Railway completing the laying of a new broad gauge line in the Tiruchi-Pudukottai section, Commissioner for Railway Safety, Pranab Kumar Sen, on Tuesday commenced the three-day inspection of the track.

Accompanied by senior officials of the Madurai Railway Division, Mr. Sen inspected the track by travelling in a trolley. He will inspect the section again on Wednesday, while the speed trials using a special train formation will be conducted on December 28 between 9.30 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. to assess the condition of the newly laid track.

Once the track is certified fit for operating rail passenger traffic, the section will be opened for regular trains. The Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu had recently announced the resumption of train service in the Tiruchi-Pudukottai section from January 5.

Development of the 53-km Tiruchi-Pudukottai stretch was taken up as part of the Tiruchi-Manamadurai BG conversion works, for which the Railways has sanctioned Rs. 188 crores. In the second phase, the conversion work will be taken up between Pudukottai and Karaikudi and the third and final phase will be in the Karaikudi-Manamadurai section.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/27/stories/2006122711960400.htm

HolidayAir, the Lankan low cost airline which was waiting in the wings for more than a year, will finally take off in March next year.

“We are looking to launch on March 10 and will be occupying our operational offices at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by February,” Arjun Ruzaik, CEO, HolidayAir told The Sunday Times FT.

He said HolidayAir will have only one A320 aircraft, but within two years, when the complete roll out happens, the company will have eight aircraft. “Presently we will be flying only four routes (Cochin, Calicut, Trichy and Trivandrum in India), but in 24 months, we will be flying 16 to 20 routes including the Far East, Middle East and Near East, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, and the Maldives,” Ruzaik explained.

He said that passengers can expect a 20 to 60 percent cost saving on any given day, when compared to other carriers like SriLankan.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/061231/FinancialTimes/ft302.html

Four-laning of Tiruchi-Ulundurpet and Tiruchi-Thanjavur stretches on

TIRUCHI: Work to convert the Tiruchi-Padalur section of National Highway 45 into a four-lane road has commenced.

Site clearance works, including felling of roadside trees and levelling, are in advanced stages at several stretches. Road laying and construction of bridges will commence after Pongal.

The National Highways Authority of India has divided the work into two packages — Tiruchi-Padalur and Padalur-Ulundurpet. Taken up under build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, the project is to be completed within 30 months from November 2006. Land acquisition process for widening the highway is also in the final stage.

While the Tiruchi-Padalur package has been awarded to an Indian consortium, Navayuga-Indu-Abhisek, work on the Padalur-Ulundurpet section is being executed by an Indo-Malaysian joint venture, IJM-Sapoorji Pallonji. Preliminary works have begun on the 92.7-km Padalur-Ulundurpet stretch.

The 40-km Tiruchi-Padalur section will have 19 minor and major bridges. Apart from new bridges across the Cauvery and the Coleroon rivers, flyovers will come up at Ariyamangalam Palpannai Junction, TVS Tollgate and Mannarpuram. The existing road over-bridges across railway crossings near Goldenrock and Ariyamangalam will be replaced with new ones.

The highway will have a total width of about 60 metres, including service lanes on either side and centre medians.

The traffic load on the Tiruchi-Tindivanam section is estimated to be around 20,000 to 25,000 passenger car units every day. Work on four-laning the Tiruchi-Madurai Highway (NH 45 B) is under way and preliminary works have just begun on the Tiruchi-Thanjavur highway.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010316860100.htm

Daily flight service from Tiruchi to Bangalore (http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/04/stories/2007010416510200.htm)


Kingfisher Airlines will introduce a daily service in the Bangalore-Tiruchi-Bangalore sector from January 10.

The airline will be the second private operator to introduce operations from Tiruchi after Air Deccan, which is already operating in the Chennai-Tiruchi-Chennai sector.

Kingfisher Airlines has been given the clearance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for operating the service, airport sources told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The airlines will operate a 72-seater ATR72 aircraft on the sector.

As per the schedule put up in the airlines web site, flight (IT2435) will depart from Bangalore at 1.30 p.m. and arrive Tiruchi at 2.25 p.m. on all weekdays except Sundays.

In the return direction, the flight (IT2436) will leave Tiruchi at 2.55 p.m. and reach Bangalore at 3.50 p.m.

On Sundays, flight IT 2435 will leave Bangalore at 10.30 a.m. and reach Tiruchi at 11.25 a.m.

In the return direction, flight (IT2436) will depart from Tiruchi at 11.55 a.m., and reach Bangalore at 12.50 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India has put on hold the commissioning of the extended runway at the airport, pending glidepath calibration.

The airport officials had earlier planned to commission the extended runway on January 1.

A trial calibration of the relocated Instrument Landing System (ILS) conducted a few months back identified certain obstructions.

Airport sources said they were expecting the AAI special flight soon to carry out a fresh calibration.

But the delay has come as a disappointment for air operators who are keen on operating services from here.

Air India Express, which had planned to introduce services to Dubai, had kept its plans in abeyance.

A technical team of the airline, after a recent visit to assess the infrastructure available at the airport, had reportedly raised doubts over the strength of the taxiway and the apron to withstand the Boeing 737-800 aircrafts.

Relaying of the top layer of the existing runway has also run into trouble following a dispute between the contractor and the AAI.

However, AAI sources say that these were not major operational impediments. Work on strengthening the apron has been taken up recently.

Daily flight service from Tiruchi to Bangalore (http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/04/stories/2007010416510200.htm)

While observing many international and local airlines showing keen interest in operating at Trichy airport, wonder why is not able to take off as expected, particularly, seems great delays on the completion of the runway and its affiliated works, despite of it's great market potentials, in terms of its geographical location, medical and pilgrimage tourism,vast number of NRI's staying abroad in Middle East and Asean countries, easy assessibilty with various mode of transportations available to nearby districts etc.

Can someone enlighten me to better understand.

Im not very particular to ur question but in general.......,AAI has not done ne significant improvements in southindian airports esp d tier2 citi airports in TN.It would go on sayin dat evrything r in cards but not implementation....,
Coimbatore is facing d same trouble of d exsisting runway length n inadequete parking bays resultin in delay of launch of silk air.,similar problem exsists in trichy also

Flights to Dubai, Singapore and Delhi or Bombay will start from Trichy by Air India Express.

Source: www.dinamalar.com

TIRUCHI: The information technology park to be promoted by the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu will come up at Navalpattu on the outskirts of the city.

About 135.04 acres, off the Tiruchi-Pudukottai Highway, has been transferred to the ELCOT. The park will include a built-up area of one million square feet, which will be open for allotment besides plots to be constructed by the Corporation. The ELCOT plans to get the park declared a special economic zone for IT and IT-enabled services, Managing Director C. Umashankar told The Hindu .

Though there has been much speculation on the location, ELCOT and district administration officials have settled for Navalpattu, which offers scope for expansion. "We are looking at the possibility of getting more land adjoining the site at Navalpattu," Mr. Umashankar said.

Besides being revenue land, which is easy to transfer, the site is closer to the airport. The ELCOT will begin construction of the built-up area after obtaining the Government's approval. Work on strengthening the approach road is expected to begin soon. The demand for space in the Tiruchi park, Mr. Umashankar said, was as good as those in the other Tier-II cities.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012404890700.htm

Rs. 500 crore for new bridges, repairs

CHENNAI: The Highways Department has prepared a plan for repairing bridges and constructing new ones at a cost of Rs. 500 crore, Highways Minister Vellakoil Saminathan told the Assembly on Wednesday.Informing the House that a list of bridges was being prepared, he said attention would be paid to the Cauvery delta where numerous bridges were constructed during the British period.
On renovation of the Thanthai Periyar bridge across the Cauvery connecting Kulithalai and Musiri, the Minister said this would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 2.94 crore. Considering the bridge's condition, entry of heavy vehicles was banned on January 4.
Responding to an appeal by C. Govindasamy of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on problems faced by students of middle schools at Tirupur, School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu promised him that upgradation demand of the middle schools in the area would be considered. Infrastructure improvement would be taken up under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. To a query by Deputy Speaker V.P. Duraisamy on the introduction of compressed natural gas vehicles in Chennai on the lines of New Delhi, Environment Minister T.P.M. Moideen Khan said it was under consideration.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/25/stories/2007012516320800.htm

US-based Sun Microsystems is expanding its presence in India's tier II and III cities. It has identified 18 such cities for entry with the help of its partner network, according Mr Rajesh Rege, Director, Sales, Sun Microsystems India.

The cities identified include Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Dehradun, Guwahati, Goa, Indore, Bhopal, Ranchi, Jammu and Nagpur, he told newspersons.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/31/stories/2007013100761300.htm

Hi all,

Any idea "Navalpattu" is how far from Trichy airport? I request any one who has the Trichy map showing this "Navalpattu area" with respect to Trichy airport, to pl post here.

Thanks

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for widening of National Highways for three sub-projects in Tamil Nadu: Salem-Ulundurpet (136 km), Trichy-Dindigul (88 km) and Trichy-Karur (80 km) costing Rs 941 crore, Rs 576 crore and Rs 516 crore respectively on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis, said an official release.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/02/stories/2007020203481100.htm

Hi all,

Any idea "Navalpattu" is how far from Trichy airport? I request any one who has the Trichy map showing this "Navalpattu area" with respect to Trichy airport, to pl post here.

Thanks

Hi Eswaran, i googled to find that Navalpattu is 4kms from Trichy airport on the Trichy-Pudhukottai NH.

Here is a link to a flash presentation on Trichy in which i found this info.

http://www.anadocs.in/reviewelcot/elcot_images/trichy.swf

Hi all,

3 highway sections in Tamil Nadu to be upgraded

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet's Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday gave its approval for upgrading the Salem-Ulundurpet, Tiruchi-Dindigul and Tiruch-Karur sections of the national highways in Tamil Nadu at a total cost of Rs. 2,033 crores.

The upgradation would be undertaken on build-operate-transfer mode under phase III A of the National Highways Development Programme phase. The Salem-Ulundurpet section would cover a distance of 136 km and cost Rs. 941 crores, while the Tiruchi-Dindigul section would cover 88 km and cost Rs.576 crores and the Tiruchi-Karur section would cover 80 km and cost Rs. 516 crores.

The projects had come up for clearance at a previous meeting of the CCEA itself along with a similar project for upgrading Bangalore-Mulbagal section of the national highways in Karnataka. The previous meeting cleared the Karnataka project, but deferred a decision on the projects in Tamil Nadu because of certain discrepancies in the concessional agreements. The discrepancies were later removed leading to Thursday's decision.

Hi Madurai Veeran,

Thank you for your link & the info.

MAE

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/feb/08it.htm

Tier-two cities in Tamil Nadu are fast emerging as new IT destinations, with a number of projects aimed at attracting IT investment nearing completion in cities like Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy.

Initiatives have already been taken up to set up an information technology park in Coimbatore on the lines of Chennai's Tidal Park. Similarly, the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu is setting up two IT parks in Madurai and Trichy, which are expected to get the status of special economic zones.

In Trichy, about 135 acres of government land had been transferred to Elcot for the purpose of establishing IT parks. Sources in Elcot told Business Standard that the corporation had acquired 135.04 acres at Navalpattu on the outskirts of the city, where it would set up an IT park soon.

The corporation has submitted a proposal to the government to declare the park as a special economic zone for IT and IT-enabled services. Elcot plans to construct a built-up area of about one million square feet.

Navalpattu, situated on the Trichy-Pudukkottai highway, was chosen for the project considering its proximity to the Trichy International Airport. Elcot is looking at the possibility of acquiring more land near the site for future expansion.

With the completion of the ongoing expansion and modernisation of the airport and the upgradation of Trichy-Pudukkottai highway, the officials expect that the park will be able to attract huge investments.

Moreover, the rich talent pool in the city, which churns out not less than 10,000 graduates in the software and hardware sectors every year, is also expected to attract big firms.

Meanwhile, Elcot has also completed the acquisition of land in Madurai to set up another IT park. Sources said that the state government had already transferred 8.81 hectares of land in Ilandhaikulam near Pondikudi and 16.02 hectares at Kinnimangalam near the Madurai Kamaraj University, to the corporation.

Elcot sources said that a plug-and-play facility, similar to the one at the Tidal Park, would also be created in the proposed IT Park at Madurai, the construction of which will begin soon. They claimed that 50 per cent of the booking for space in the park was already over.

The Trichy City Corporation is also making all efforts to utilise the Centre's Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns as well as the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme. Under the UIDS programme, the Centre would provide 80 per cent of the project cost as grants, while the state and city corporations would contribute 10 per cent each.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/10/stories/2007021005650400.htm

TIRUCHI: Tiruchi Anna University, which became functional earlier this month, will promote information technology-assisted education and focus on creativity and innovation.

Vice-Chancellor V. Ramachandran, who assumed charge on Friday, told reporters that effective IT-assisted learning environment would be created for learners to complement existing teaching methodologies.

Web-based education

Teachers of affiliated colleges would be initiated into Web-based education. Two years from now, teachers in affiliated colleges with a B.E. degree must complete post-graduation.

He said research activities would gather momentum after creation of infrastructure over a year. The university would first go for 10 mbps connectivity and dedicated servers. It would have an incubation centre that would provide space for IT companies, including Infosys, Wipro, and Sify, to develop communication competencies and soft skills of students.

The university set up would cope with recent shifts in higher education by switching over from physical to virtual classrooms, teacher-focussed to learner-focussed learning, and presentation mode to discovery mode. Standardised content would be replaced with individualised content. The university would facilitate learning rather than transmitting information. After studying the nature of industries and other potentialities, new region-specific programmes were on the anvil.

Technical collaboration

Possibilities of offering programmes in Fisheries Technology and Port Management would be explored. The university would have technical collaboration with world-class universities. It would channelise technology for the economic uplift of society.

Nano-technology

The university would strengthen the technical content in Tamil to expose students to nano-technology and biotechnology, and broad-base use of Tamil in technical education.

TIRUCHI : Calibration of the glide path of the Tiruchi airport was completed on Saturday.

A special aircraft from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) carried out the calibration of the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which was relocated following the extension of the runway, on Friday and Saturday. The completion of the process will pave the way for commissioning of the extended runway and introduction of more services to the city. A similar exercise carried out last year had identified a few obstacles. The AAI team will submit a report to the headquarters soon, after which the landing procedure for the airport would be notified.

Indications are that all the required clearances, including those from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, would be obtained by March-end. Several air operators, including the Air India Express were keenly awaiting the calibration of the ILS for introduction of services. Air India Express was planning to commence operations from Tiruchi by end of March.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/11/stories/2007021120140300.htm

Air India Express, budget airlines, starts direct link between Trichy-Singapore and Trichy-Dubai from March 26.

http://www.dinamalar.com/

Amenities in five model railway stations to be improved (http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022221770300.htm)


The Southern Railway has embarked on the task of improving passenger amenities and carrying out modernisation works in Tiruchi Junction, Thanjavur, Puducherry, Villupuram and Kumbakonam railway stations coming under the Tiruchi Railway Division, the Divisional Railway Manager, R.C. Jat, said on Wednesday.

Presiding over the first meeting of the newly-constituted Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) held here, Mr. Jat said the above five stations had been declared as model stations, where a host of works such as improvement to circulating area, retiring and waiting rooms would be completed within six months.

Necessary improvements in passenger amenities would be made in all the 159 stations coming under the jurisdiction of Tiruchi Division in due course of time, said Mr. Jat, who is also the chairman of the DRUCC.

TIRUCHI: Construction has begun on a new bridge across the Coleroon river for the four-lane Tiruchi-Chennai National Highway.

Two more major bridges, across the river Cauvery and the Upparu, will come up as part of the project on the Tiruchi-Padalur section of the highway.

The bridges form a major component of the project on this section, which runs 38.5 kilometres between Padalur and Mannarpuram in Tiruchi.

All the existing bridges on this section are to be strengthened to accommodate two-lane traffic on one direction and the new ones will take the traffic in the opposite direction.

Project completion

The Indu Navayuga Infrastructure Projects Private Limited, the contractor for this section of the National Highways Authority of India project, had targeted to complete the work within 24 months against the project schedule of 30 months commencing November 2006, company officials said.

The new 900-metre-long bridge across the Coleroon river, with 27 spans, is coming up adjacent to the existing bridge on the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass Road on the outskirts of the city.

The 600-metre-long new bridge across the Cauvery will have 15 spans and the piles for the structure will be erected before the release of water for irrigation from the Mettur reservoir on June 12.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022514660100.htm

``Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem will also have IT parks'' (http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022509480400.htm)


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.

IT parks now to have social infrastructure (http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/27/stories/2007022706780500.htm)


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.

Bus stand work to begin at long last (http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/28/stories/2007022819710300.htm)


Expansion of the Central Bus Stand here is expected to commence soon, after the finalisation of the tenders for three major components of the project.

The Corporation has split the expansion work into six components but could manage to find bidders only for three works, which are under progress. But a major part of the project was stalled due to last year's tender boycott by contractors, demanding an increase in schedule of rates for raw materials, especially bitumen. The row came to an end with the government notifying the revised schedule recently.

The bids received for constructing additional bus shelters and laying roads at the recently acquired railway land adjoining the bus stand will be considered by the Corporation Council on Wednesday.

While additional bus shelters are to be constructed at a cost of Rs.65 lakh, roads would be laid at a cost of nearly Rs.1 crore. The works are expected to commence soon.

Similarly, the Corporation has finally managed to attract bidders for the expansion of the road over-bridge across the Uyyakondan river near Cantonment. Though the Corporation had called for tender on five occasions, no bids were received. Two bids have been received now after the civic body revised the estimate for the project from Rs.75 to Rs.82 lakh. The council will consider the bids also on Wednesday.

New equipment

The Corporation will spend 50 per cent of the XII Finance Commission grants for the civic body this year on strengthening its infrastructure for solid waste management. The Finance Commission has allotted Rs.3.30 crore for 2006-07 and half the allocation will be spent for purchasing vehicles and equipment for transporting solid wastes. These would include six dumper-placer trucks with containers at a cost of Rs.84 lakh to replace some of the ordinary ones in use now. The Corporation will also purchase a poclain at a cost of Rs.20 lakh.

These apart, 60 corrosion-resistant garbage containers of different sizes will be bought at a cost of about Rs.37.50 lakh. These containers are to be placed on the roadsides. The civic body will spend about Rs.24 lakh for buying 400 corrosion-resistant handcarts that are to be used in by-lanes and narrow streets.

About 1,600 high-density polyurethane garbage bins will be purchased at a cost of Rs.7.20 lakh for door-to-door collection of garbage.

While Rs.165 lakh will come from the Finance Commission grants, the Corporation will provide about Rs.8 lakh from its general funds for buying the vehicles and equipment at a total cost of Rs.172.70 lakh.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/01/stories/2007030102120500.htm

Airport runway to be commissioned today

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi Airport's extended runway will be commissioned on Thursday, paving the way for introduction of more air services to the city soon.

The runway extension project, which began in March 2004, was completed last year, except for a few ancillary works. Calibration of the glide-path of the extended runway was carried out recently. The Airports Authority of India has cleared its commissioning.

Airport sources said the extended runway would be operational with effect from 5 p.m. on Thursday.

The runway has been extended from 6,100 feet to nearly 8,000 feet at a cost of Rs.26 crore. A modern fire station has also been constructed. The commissioning of the runway, after a long wait, will give a boost to the travel trade here, as a few air operators are eyeing the Tiruchi market.

The Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, may launch operations on the Tiruchi-Dubai and Tiruchi-Singapore sectors from March 26. These services will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The airlines use Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The flights will also provide connectivity to Chennai.

Kingfisher Airlines, which recently introduced services to Bangalore from here, is likely to introduce daily services between Tiruchi and Chennai in the next few days.

Mihin Lanka, a budget airline of Sri Lanka, is also planning to introduce services to Colombo from Tiruchi.

^^

Are the Trichy-Dubai/Singapore flights going to be via Chennai? Anyways, its good for Trichy and surroundings to have direct connections even if it involves a stop at Chennai.

Today, 12:25 PM #243
tarung
Tarung


Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chennai
Posts: 11 Update on Salem IT park

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

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


Originally posted by Tarung in Salem folder.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2007mar02/general_tn10.asp

As per the above report, the newly extended runway was opened yesterday. Flights to Dubai and Singapore are expected to start at the end of this month by Air India express.

TIRUCHI : Public support and the Revenue Department's cooperation in acquiring land have helped the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to maintain the pace of four-laning the Tiruchi-Thanjavur Highway. The work is scheduled to be completed within 30 months from December 2006.

The NHAI is working with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to shift the lampposts along the stretch. Under the Board's supervision, the NHAI will undertake the task through the concessionaire, Madhucon Projects. The Rs.280-crore project to widen the 56-km stretch on Build-Operate-Transfer basis is a component of the four-laning of the Nagapattinam-Coimbatore National Highway-67.

The Tiruchi-Thanjavur project involves the construction of three rail overbridges - at Palpannai and Tiruverumbur in Tiruchi and Pattukottai Road junction in Thanjavur. There will also be two major bridges, 21 minor bridges, 10 grade separators and 10 underpasses.

The width of the four-lane road will vary between 22 and 25 metres, depending on the width of the median, which will be 5 m in the rural stretches and 2 m along settlements. Trees are to be grown on the medians to reduce glare.

In the urban segments, there will be service roads to facilitate segregation of local traffic. Elsewhere, the width of hard earth shoulders will be 2 m on either side.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/02/stories/2007030217030100.htm

Rs.4 cr. for development of infrastructure facilities

TIRUCHI: The Goldenrock Railway Workshop has embarked on the task of improving infrastructure facilities in various shops located within the workshop at a cost of Rs.4 crore with a view to improving the working condition, its Chief Workshop Manager S. Rangarajan said on Monday.
Speaking at the National Safety Week celebrations held at the organisation here, Mr. Rangarajan said the workshop had also initiated pollution control measures by establishing effluent treatment plants within the organisation to address the environmental concerns. With diverse material handling capacity, the workshop had been accepting new works and taken efforts to improve safety systems at work places.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/06/stories/2007030620080300.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/08/stories/2007030822550300.htm


TIRUCHI: G.B. Engineering Enterprises, a medium-sized boiler manufacturer here, will put up an eight MW biomass-based power plant at Pudukudi in Thanjavur district.

The power plant, the foundation stone for which will be laid on Thursday, would generate power from renewable fuels such as rice husk, de-oiled rice bran and agricultural waste. The plant would have a circulating fluidised bed boiler (CFBC) and introduce a new technology, Torbed Combustion System, through a joint venture with Pro Bio Energy, Canada. Amorphous silica, which has industrial applications especially in the cement industry, will be a by-product obtained through the adoption of this technology.

While the solvent unit of GB Group would supply a part of the raw material, the company would also source agriculture waste from local farmers, its Managing Director B. Pattabiraman told The Hindu . The project, recommended by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, would be commissioned in about a year's time.

GB Engineering would sign an agreement for supply of power to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Mr. Pattabiraman said. The widespread availability of agriculture waste could be tapped effectively through such decentralised power projects, which offer the advantage of reducing transmission losses."If everything goes well, we plan to double the capacity in a couple of years," Mr. Pattabiraman said. The investment would be around Rs.5 crore per MW.

VILLUPURAM: The work on laying of four-lane road from Tindivanam to Tiruchi has been expedited so as to complete it six months ahead of schedule. Originally, it is to be over by April 2009, but the contractors were directed to complete the works by December 2008, according to T. R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping and Surface Transport.

Mr. Baalu visited Tindivanam and Villupuram areas on Friday to inspect the progress of works on the Kandampakkam railway bridge, the rail bridge across the Then Pennaiyar and the bypass road at Ulundurpet.

Later, addressing the presspersons, Mr. Baalu said the Tindivanam-Tiruchi four-lane project had been divided into three sectors — from Tindivanam to Ulundurpet, a distance of 72.9 km to be executed at a cost of Rs.480 crore; from Ulundurpet to Padalur, a distance of 94 km at an estimated cost of Rs.460 crore; and from Padalur to Tiruchi, 38.5 km at a cost of Rs. 320 crore.

Each sector had been assigned to one contractor, he said. Bypass roads would be coming up at three places in Villupuram district: from Kidangal to Singanur (5.1 km), from Muthapalayam to Janakipuram railway cross (8.6 km) and from Senkurichi to Pali (7.4 km).

In this stretch, six major bridges, three railway over-bridges and five under passages would be built. Mr. Baalu said that between Madhurandagam and Tindivanam 28 shelters for the benefit of passengers would be set up at a cost of Rs. 8 crore.

The Minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of works he inspected. Collector Brajendra Navnit and other officials accompanied the Minister.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/10/stories/2007031005930300.htm

Tiruchi Goldenrock Workshop to get Rs. 75-crore fund (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/11/stories/2007031105390400.htm)


The Railway Ministry has allocated Rs. 75 crore for the modernising and upgrading of the Goldenrock Railway Workshop here.

It is one among the 10 railway workshops identified by the Ministry for modernisation. All these workshops were 75 to 100 years old and were coping well despite the technological advancements made in various fields.

The fund would be utilised to upgrade the workshop to meet the future needs of the Railways, the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Southern Railway, Jayanta Ghosh, told presspersons here on Friday.

With container traffic likely to increase manifold, the demand for wagons is going to increase tremendously. The Goldenrock workshop, in the last three years, had been supplying new wagons only to the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) Limited.

In view of the quality of the wagons and sustained production, a few private firms have evinced interest in placing orders with the workshop for container wagons, he added.

33rd rake flagged off

Earlier, at a brief function, Mr. Ghosh flagged-off the 33rd rake containing 45 wagons manufactured at the workshop in the presence of Chief Workshop Manager S. Rangarajan.

Since Goldenrock workshop started manufacturing wagons in 1962, it has manufactured 32,334 numbers of wagons comprising 47 varieties. This included 1,450 low platform container flat wagons worth Rs. 270 crore for the CONCOR, according to a release from the workshop.

Construction of 990 BLC wagon order worth Rs. 201 crore for CONCOR is under progress and so far 720 wagons had been despatched. During the current year, 570 wagons worth Rs. 117.18 crore had been manufactured and despatched. The workshop is expected to achieve the `highest ever production' with the manufacture of 730 more wagons in the current year.

In addition, 48 surplus MG wagons have been rehabilitated and exported to Malaysia through IRCON, New Delhi.

Treatment plant

Mr. Ghosh also inaugurated the second effluent treatment plant on the workshop premises.

The effluents (alkaline in nature with oil contamination) from the production shops and a few diesel sections would be treated at this plant.

One more effluent treatment plant is in the advance stage of construction and was likely to be commissioned shortly, the release added.

Reliance Energy bags Rs 516-crore TN highway project
ASHISH KUMAR MISHRA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007 03:26:10 AM]

MUMBAI The Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Energy (REL) has bagged a contract for developing the Namakklal-Karur highway — a stretch of 80 km in Tamil Nadu for Rs 516 crore. People close to the development said a special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be floated by REL to execute the project. REL won the project under National Highways Development Project phase IIIA.

The project includes the high traffic density corridor from the Trichy-Karur project and is contiguous to the Namakklal-Karur project on NH-7, which is already being developed by REL. “We have received the letter of acceptance from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and will be initiating work on the project soon,” said a source close to the development. An REL official refused to comment on the project. REL’s interest in road projects has been spurred by the incentives provided by the government to help attract private investments in road infrastructure projects.

Historically, investments in infrastructure, particularly in highways, were made by the government because of the large volume of resources required, long gestation period, uncertain return and associated externalities. Resource requirements and the concern for managerial efficiency and consumer responsiveness in recent times have led to the private sector taking active involvement .

The government has also announced several incentives such as tax exemptions and duty-free import of road building equipment and machinery to encourage private sector participation. It has been decided that all the sub-projects in NHDP Phase-III to Phase-VII would be taken up on the basis of public-private partnership in the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) mode.

The private sector participation envisaged in Phase-II of NHDP has also been increased. In 2006, REL had won contracts for two road projects in Tamil Nadu itself and invested around Rs 750 crore. The first project was a 34-km stretch from Namakkal to Karur, with another 10 km for maintenance, and the second, a 54-km stretch from Dindigual to Samaynallur.

“REL is bidding for two more road projects in Tamil Nadu and one in Uttar Pradesh. The company is in talks with various state governments to develop link roads too. But nothing has been decided yet. REL may allocate more funds for its road projects as it has won three projects outbidding major players in the sector,” said sources. The transportation segment appears to have become a huge investment area for REL. While it is already executing the Rs 2,356-crore Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, REL has bid for the Rs 6,192-crore Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd line. This is a 32-km stretch, three times longer than the first corridor.

New Delhi: Many airlines are lining up to begin operations from the southern city as the Rs 26 crore extension work at the Tiruchirapalli International Airport have completed.

Air India Express has approached the airport with plans to launch operations on the Tiruchi-Dubai and Tiruchi-Singapore sectors, airport Director S Sreekumar told PTI in Tiruchirapalli.

The airlines, to use the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, would commence operations from March 26, he said.

While Malaysian Airlines had approached AAI last year with plans to operate direct services to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Kingfisher Airlines has also showed interest to introduce services to Chennai and other destinations.

Oman Airways is also keen to launch services to Gulf countries and Air Arabia had carried out market survey in and around Tiruchirappalli, Sreekumar said.

The Rs 26 crore project to expand the runway to 8,000 feet from 6,100 feet began in March 2004 and after obtaining certification from the Airport Authority of India this month, the Tiruchirappalli airport could now handle wider-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 737s, he added.

Further extension of the runway to 12,500 feet has been approved by the AAI and would be implemented when the state government acquires the requisite land, he said.

The airport is in the process of constructing of a new Air Terminal complex, after it acquired 50 acre of land from the state government, Sreekumar added.

AAI is hopeful to commission the new Air Terminal before end of 2008, he said.

Canopies at arrival area, extended aprons to house two to three aircrafts at a time, installation of public announcement systems, control towers fitted with modern gadgets and clamping of Electronic Flight Plan Filing System are also being worked out simultaneously as part of the modernisation efforts of the Trichy Airport, he added.

Source: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/airlines-line-up-to-operate-from-trichy/36064-7.html

Special Correspondent

Budget airline will offer services to Dubai, Singapore

TIRUCHI: Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, will begin operations from here on March 26.

Officials of the budget airline conducted a final inspection of the airport on Saturday and cleared the launch. A six-member team from Mumbai inspected the recently commissioned extended runway and the secondary runway.

The airline will open an office here next week, airline sources told The Hindu . It has outsourced ground handling operations to a Hyderabad-based company.

The airline will introduce services to Dubai and Singapore from here on March 26. Both will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031817830700.htm

TIRUCHI: The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has applied for the allotment of an additional 98 acres adjoining the site finalised for the Information Technology Park here. The Revenue department transferred to ELCOT 135 acres at Navalpattu for the facility that envisages a built-up area of a million square feet. ELCOT has sought the adjoining area that also belongs to the Revenue department, to be able to allot land for companies looking to establish their own campuses.

Though preparatory work is yet to begin, ELCOT is keen to start the process. Having planned the modalities for the promotion of the Coimbatore IT Park, ELCOT is now concentrating on Madurai. "So far 12 companies have evinced interest in the Tiruchi IT Park.

We are anticipating participation by bigger players as well," said Mr. C. Umashankar, Managing Director, ELCOT.

ELCOT will acquire the plots in the vicinity of the IT Park that were sold a few months ago by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board through auction before laying an approach road. The small plots, along with toilets and bathrooms, which the Board constructed for people from the low-income group a decade ago, were lying unsold till a few months ago.

When the Board conducted the auction sensing the demand in the wake of the IT Park plan, more than 400 plots were sold on a single day.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/23/stories/2007032313520100.htm

AI Express Tiruchi flights from today (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/26/stories/2007032600841500.htm)


Air India Express, the subsidiary of Air India, is all set to launch its operations from Tiruchi. The first flights of the airlines on the Tiruchi-Dubai and the Tiruchi-Chennai-Singapore sectors will be flagged off on Monday.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the launch on Sunday, the Executive Director (Ground Services) of Air India, Mr S. Ranganathan, said that Air India Express would consider introducing more services from the city once the infrastructure at the airport is strengthened. The airline would consider introducing services from Coimbatore and Madurai once the expansion work at the airports was completed.

The Tiruchi-Dubai and Tiruchi-Chennai-Singapore flights would be operated thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Tiruchi-Dubai flight would return the same day and would be operated on the Tiruchi-Chennai-Singapore sector.

The Singapore-Chennai-Tiruchi flights would be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Plan to project Tiruchi as investment destination (http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/28/stories/2007032823360500.htm)


The Confederation of Indian Industry has lined up a series of events to showcase Tiruchi as a preferred investment destination in the information technology and manufacturing sectors.

Briefing the media on the activities planned for 2007-08, K. Premanathan, Chairman, and A. Senthil Annamalai, Vice-Chairman, CII, Tiruchi zone, said that the focus during the year would be on facilitating more investment flow into Tiruchi by bringing in investors and corporate from various parts of the country. The zone's theme for the year will be `Track Tiruchi - Invest to Flourish.'

As part of the initiative, the CII would host a two-day conference on `Emerging Opportunities in Energy and Heavy Automobile Sector,' which could showcase the Tiruchi's strengths in the power plant equipment and heavy duty automobile manufacturing. The conference to be held on June 29 and 30 would project Tiruchi as the ideal destination for outsourcing infrastructure equipment and components.

A Business Growth, Expansion and Management Summit, scheduled for July 27 and 28, would encourage local industry and business to identify the opportunities, problems and prioritise the options.

The construction industry and the handloom textile manufacturing sector of Karur would be the other major focus areas this year.

A two-day conference-cum-exhibition on Green Building Concepts will be held at Tiruchi in September. The event would showcase the latest techniques and products in the field. It would also focus on energy efficiency in buildings.

Homtex 2007, the conference on the home textile industry, would be held at Karur in October. An exhibition is also being planned as part of the event, which would focus on the recent technological advances and product developments in the field.

Tiruchi's potential to emerge as a tourism hub would be projected through Tiruchi Fest 08, planned during January 2008 to coincide with the Pongal festival.

The CII would join hands with the Tourism Department to organise the event. The second edition of `TroOpportunities,' a job fair, and Tiruchi Mini Marathon, would be held on a bigger scale this year, Mr. Premanathan said.

The CII was also working on providing skill development training to college, polytechnic and ITI students so as to make them industry ready. With the fabrication units of Tiruchi facing a huge shortage of skilled manpower, the initiative was expected to help attract more students.

A sub-zonal office of the CII was expected to start functioning at Karur this year.

The Tamil Nadu Government's proactive investment policy has led to the emergence of Tier II and Tier III cities as attractive investment destinations with more companies opening businesses there in the past few months, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Industry-Southern Region.

Companies operating out of Tier II cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi and Tier III cities such as Virudhunagar, Tuticorin, Karur, Sivagangai and Tirunelveli have doubled, or even tripled, their turnover in just two years, Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, chairman, CII Tamil Nadu State Council, told reporters at the inauguration of Innovision 2007, a symposium on innovation in industries, on Thursday.

With Tamil Nadu in general and Chennai in particular becoming one of the most favoured investment destinations, the CII, together with the Government, was promoting Tier II and III cities as hubs for IT and manufacturing industries. For example, a city like Tiruchi had witnessed a buoyant growth with many companies touching the Rs.100-crore mark and some even exceeding Rs. 1,500 crore. Boilers, energy and fabrication units catered both to the export and import markets. The cut-flowers industry in Virudhunagar had several units doing business above the Rs. 200-crore mark annually. Many IT majors were now looking towards Tier II cities. About 40 companies had come up in Tiruchi in the past few months.
There were immense possibilities for industrial units to foster innovation in process development and services delivery, said Ajai Chowdhry, chairman and CEO, HCL Infosystems. However, the lack of an enabling research and development atmosphere in academic institutions was a major hurdle in creating innovations in industries. Only an industry-academia link could solve this.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/23/stories/2007032304340300.htm

http://www.elcot.in/popup_paper.php?cid=37

TIRUCHI: Overhead high tension power lines that run along the city roads will soon be replaced by underground cable. About 2,100 metres of lines will be replaced.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) will take up the work in a phased manner. Lines in thickly populated areas will be replaced initially. The Government had decided to go in for underground cables in five Corporation limits in the State.

The TNEB has initially identified six areas for laying cables, with an investment of about Rs.55 lakh.

Rockfort, Nandikovil and Andar Streets, Gandhipuram in Thillai Nagar, Officers' Colony in Puthur, Srinivasa Nagar and Fathima Nagar in Woraiyur have been identified in the first phase, S. Mohan, Chief Engineer (Distribution), TNEB, Tiruchi Region, said. Work has started around Rockfort.

The 11 kilovolt (kV) lines will be replaced in the first phase; 33 kV lines will then be replaced. Low-tension lines will be replaced by aerial bunched cables. Household connections will remain unaltered until the entire city gets the underground network.

Such cabling will minimise power breakdown owing to snapping of lines, he said. They will also ensure high degree of safety compared to overhead lines.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032216810100.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/28/stories/2007032814220100.htm

TIRUCHI: Computerisation of the Immigration Department at the international airport here has reduced the time taken for verifying the bonafides of passengers.

Immigration sleuths have been provided with a computer each.

Twelve computers connected to a main server have been installed for use by the officials, who already have a hi-tech equipment to detect forged travel documents.

The computers contain details of Indian and foreign nationals whose names figure in the Look Out Circular (LOC).

The LOC contains name, passport number, sex, nationality, date of birth and the necessary action to be taken.

Besides, it also contains the list of those who have lost their passports.

Airport sources said the LOC provided by the Bureau of Immigration would be updated periodically.

Prior to installation of the computers, the Immigration Department maintained separate and country-wise LOC registers with names of such persons in the list in an alphabetical order.

Hitherto, it took considerable time, as the registers had to be verified to ascertain if the names of the passengers found a place in the registers of several countries.

All that the immigration officials have to do is to type the passport number, name and sex to rest assured that a passenger does not figure in the list.

Indian Adds 2 more flights to Sharjah (http://www.dinamalar.com/2007mar23/district/trichy.asp)

Effective March 25th Indian added 2 more flights to Sharjah via Trivandrum.

TIRUCHI: The Corporation Council has decided to establish the proposed integrated bus stand at Devadhanam off the Cauvery river, brushing aside misgivings aired by environmental activists and Opposition parties.

The Council adopted a resolution, favouring the 57.20-acre site off the Chennai Bypass Road, at an urgent meeting here on Thursday. Members of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhgam staged a walkout protesting the decision. The Communist Party of India also opposed the choice.

Five sites


The civic body short-listed five sites — at Devadhanam, Ariyamangalam (compost yard), Ramji Nagar, Kottapattu, and Panchapur — for the bus stand. A committee of officials, formed to assess these sites, based on a High Court directive, favoured Devadhanam and cited various shortcomings in the other four sites.

The report said that there was no cultivation in the identified site (situated to the east of the Oyamari burial ground), and the bus stand's sewerage lines could be linked to the underground drainage network to prevent pollution of the river. New link roads could be laid to avoid using the existing road that runs along the river. The council accepted these recommendations.

While the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Congress councillors welcomed the decision, the Opposition raised strong objections. The AIADMK floor leader, Mariam Pitchai, said that the Corporation could avoid making a huge investment on land by locating the bus stand on its own land at Panchapur or Ariyamangalam.

Given the opposition to establishing the bus stand at Devadhanam, the project could be stalled if the issue was taken to the court.

O.R. Sriraman of the CPI said that the bus stand should ideally be situated in the outskirts to spur expansion of the city.

The Deputy Mayor, M. Anbazhagan, who was in the chair, said that the council's decision would be conveyed to the Government for approval.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/30/stories/2007033015850100.htm

Coimbatore, April 2. (PTI): A panel of exporters and agricultural producers has suggested that the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) cover the quality risks associated with export of commodities, especially perishables.

The Centre and State Governments should also consider subsidising transportation charges and packing expenses for all crops in all States, including mango and banana in Tamil Nadu, the panel has recommended.

A meeting of exporters and producers of agricultural commodities was held here last week, jointly organised by the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell and Horticultural College and Research Institute of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and Michigan State University, US.

Based on the day-long discussion, in which 150 farmers, exporters and entrepreneurs attended, various recommendations emerged to handle various problems faced during exports, TNAU sources said.

The Government should arrange chartered flights and also reserve space on a priority basis in the regular air services for export mango during the season and for regular export of agricultural commodities, the panel recommended.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products and Export Development Authority (APEDA) and National Horticultural Board can consider payment of incentives to mango growers, who export their produce, the panel suggested.

Plant Quarantine offices may be established near airports, including Coimbatore and Trichy in Tamil Nadu, to avoid "delay or uncertainties".

The meet also suggested that facilities could be arranged for single window clearance of all activities, formalities related to export such as the functions of the Commerce Ministry offices, Plant Quarantine, ECGC, APEDA and Exim Bank.

Facilities such as cold storage, refrigerated containers, vapour heat treatment and irradiation may be established by the Centre and Tamil Nadu Government and leased out to private agencies, it said.

A branch of APEDA could be opened in Chennai covering Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala States.

The Tamil Nadu Government, through appropriate agencies, should take steps to create awareness among growers, besides promoting and assisting certification of orchards, the panel said.

Exporters could avail the incentives being offered by the DGFT, ECGC, APEDA and Exim Bank.

TNAU may take up studies on weight loss of fruits and vegetables as a result of dehydration after harvest until it was exported.

Experts from EXIM Bank, DGFT, Plant Quarantine Station and representatives from Canara Bank also attended the meet.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/015200704020311.htm

RPG Enterprises is planning to set up 20 Spencer's stores, one of the largest supermarket chain, in different formats in Kolkata.

It recently opened the first two Spencer's Dailies in Kolkata that stock about 5000 products including fresh fruits and vegetables, personal and home care products, food and grocery.

The company has earmarked an investment of close to Rs 1,000 crore for expansion throughout the country.

Although majority of the funds would be raised through internal accruals, RPG Enterprises also proposes to raise funds through an IPO for its retail expansion plans, but it could opt for a public issue, private equity or private placement.

"This would be announced in the next 12 months," informed Sanjiv Goenka, vice-chairman, RPG Enterprises.

The company expects 25-30% of its total revenues to come from its retail business, from the present 5%, with the Rs 11,000 crore RPG group's retail business expected to touch close to Rs 700 crore in 2006-07. The company recently inaugurated 2 of its Daily formats in Kolkata and plans to open four Hypers this year.

The city would soon have RPG's biggest hypermarket of India covering 74,000 sq ft, larger than the one it opened in Gurgaon that covers close to 65,000 sq ft, Goenka said. These would offer more than 25,000 products - groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables, home appliances, white goods and luggage, at competitive pricing.

Kolkata would also have two more hypermarkets, functional by July this year, of close to 40,000 sq ft and 55,000 sq ft, with the state's first Hypermarket scheduled to be inaugurated before April 15 in Durgapur.

"We are looking at setting up stores in lucrative tier II towns and cities also including Aurangabad, Trichy, Madurai, Mangalore and Durgapur ," Goenka said.

RPG, at present, has a total of 400 retail outlets which is expected to grow to 2000 stores by 2009 and 4000 by 2011.

At present, there are 125 Spencer's stores across 25 cities in India, comprising 8 Hypermarkets, 5 Spencer's Super Stores, 104 Spencer's Daily, 3 Spencer's Fresh stores, and 5 Spencer's Express stores, reports Business Standard.


http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/ipoupcomingissues/rpgenterprisesipo/rpgweighsipoopt/market/stocks/article/274201

The Four-Laning between Chidambaram and Trichy is to be taken up at the cost of Rs1200 crores.



http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/firstpage.aspx?global.eid=Dinakaran%20Trichy%20E10

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040502482100.htm

Tiruchi April 4 BHEL's Tiruchi unit, which manufactures boilers for power plants, received record inflow of orders last year, worth Rs 7,700 crore. Thanks to this, the unit opens the year 2007-08, with an outstanding order book worth Rs 11,650 crore.

The value of orders booked last year was more than double that of the previous year, a reflection of the growth in power sector. Orders received included about Rs 440 crore for renovation and modernisation jobs and Rs 410 crore for spares.

Mr R.N. Misra, Group General Manager, BHEL Tiruchirapalli Complex, told journalists here on Wednesday that the Tiruchi unit had given a proposal for expansion to the company's board of directors. He did not want to disclose the quantum of investments, but said that the board would take a decision this month.
This would be the second phase of expansion. The first phase (Rs 190 crore) is under way.

The expansion plan will raise the capacity of the Tiruchi unit, the largest of all the company's units, from about 4,000 MW to across 10,000 MW. (Although the unit's nameplate capacity is 4,000 MW today, Mr Misra said that the actual capacity, including the job got done by ancillaries, was about 5,300 MW. The expansion would then mean a doubling of the unit's production capability.)

Imagine unlimited flights between Bhutan, Kathmandu, Male, Dhaka and Colombo to the six metros plus 18 airports in India. In about 18 months, this could well become a reality. That's of course assuming that these SAARC countries will accept Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's offer, to improve air connectivity in the South Asia region.

Singh's offer, first mooted at the SAARC summit last November, was followed up by the Union ministries of civil aviation and external affairs by formal proposals. Pakistan is the only nation to which a formal proposal on these lines has still not been forwarded, but that's only because bi-laterals are still being negotiated between New Delhi and Islamabad.

In Dhaka last year, Singh had suggested that the SAARC nations should "improve air connectivity amongst ourselves". "India is prepared to offer to all SAARC neighbours, on a reciprocal basis… the facility of daily air services by designated airlines from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and 18 other destinations," the PM had said.

The offer has since been followed up with formal proposals, which include an offer for Fifth Freedom Rights (civil aviation jargon for allowing an airline from one nation to make a stop at a second nation for onward travel to an altogether different destination). India's proposal provides that the ultimate destination need not necessarily be a SAARC country.

Government sources said they were confident that the offer "is likely to be received and reciprocated in the same spirit in which it has been made" and expect that in a year's time, inter-country discussions would be completed. This, however, is subject to the other SAARC nations signifying their assent.

Incidentally, the proposal also fits in with the government's future vision for India as an air transport hub once the Delhi and Mumbai airports are modernised. The 18 destinations that the PM has offered are Amritsar, Jaipur, Guwahati, Lucknow, Patna, Gaya, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Khajuraho, Goa, Kozhikode, Trivandrum, Cochin, Trichy, Vishakhapatnam, Indore, Bhopal and Gwalior.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7d1b93eb-aed1-49ac-8881-c63cff6b6cfc&ParentID=a78bdc34-60b8-43da-b05a-e681a1a225d6&

TIRUCHI: Expansion work on the Central Bus Stand here will be completed within the next six months, Corporation Commissioner B. Balachandran has said.

The corporation will spend about Rs.2.14 crore on the project and already some of the work has begun.

The expanded bus stand would have 33 additional bays taking the total number to 76, Mr. Balachandran said. The Collector, Ashish Vachhani, and the Commissioner inspected the work under progress on Tuesday.

Mr. Balachandran also said that the Government had accorded administrative sanction for construction of a new office for the Golden Rock zone.

The office would come up near the recently constructed Market Complex in Sengulam Colony.

Work on expansion of Chettipalam, across the Uyyakondan river near Cantonment, would be taken up soon.

Technical and administrative sanction for the work, to be taken up at a cost of about Rs. 97.3 lakh, had been obtained. Expansion of Kasivilangi bridge across the Kudamurritti on Kuzhamani Road would be taken up at a cost of Rs.55 lakh under the Traffic Management Scheme.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040516600100.htm

First of its kind in Tamilnadu, GNV hospital in Trichy has opened Endoscopy Laser, Keyhole surgical and training Center.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/firstpage.aspx?editioncode=26#

Trichy-Thanjavur four laning to start soon. The Trichy-Madurai would be completed by August 2008.

Also New flyovers to come up in Gandhi Market, Paalpannai and Mannarpuram Junctions.

http://www.maalaimalar.com/asp/News/dis_news_article.asp?artid=195806

TIRUCHI: Winds of change are blowing over Tiruchi’s rice mills. Millers in this region are now on a modernisation mission.

Moreover, the mills now cater to the open market also. Earlier, these mills used to supply rice exclusively to state government-run public distribution system.

As part of the change in outlook, all these mills are now modernising its equipment and sourcing high quality paddy from local markets and neighbouring states.They have also started broadening their market in domestic and foreign shores.
The transition has been happening over the last two years in the paddy growing area with the removal of restrictions on rice and paddy movement, abolition of stockholding limits and the larger role of private trade after the government stopped monopoly purchases.

According to office-bearers of Tiruchi District Rice Mill Owners’ Association, the lifting of restrictions under the Essential Commodities Act like paddy movement and stock limits have helped the millers expand their markets.

As a result, the millers are expanding capacity and setting up modern equipment to improve quality. There are over 140 rice mills in the district with an average capacity of about 30 tonnes a day. A few mills handle about 50 tonnes of paddy.

The millers are improving the facilities and adding equipment such as graders, sorters and polishers that improve the quality and finish of the grains.

Farmers in the area were also diversifying into varieties that are popular in the open market rather than targeting the public distribution system.

In the last two years the area under ‘Bapatla’, a rice variety that is popular across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, is on the increase. Millers were also looking at neighbouring states to buy paddy for processing.

However, one concern is the fear that the Centre may impose stock restrictions on the rice millers as part of its approach to controlling commodity prices. If that happens, the millers in the region will be hit hard.

The free movement of rice and paddy has only helped control prices, says a trader.

According to millers in the area, Tamil Nadu can be a low cost supplier as compared to Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh of non-Basmati rice to the export market. At Rs 15 a kg for the ‘Bapatla’ variety, Tamil Nadu has a competitive edge over
other states which sell at least Re 1 higher.

http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Modernisation%20propels%20Tiruchi%E2%80%99s%20rice%20mills-2603620070330.html

AN EDGE OVER OTHERS: One of the concerns for companies is the quality of manpower in tier-II, tier-III cities. This is one area where Tiruchi, with about 40 arts, science, engineering and management colleges located in and around the city, expects to score over its competition in wooing IT companies to set up shop.


With metros facing space scarcity and escalating real estate prices, information technology companies have been looking at setting up offices in tier-II and tier-III cities. However, one of the concerns for companies is the quality of manpower in these cities.

This is one area where Tiruchi expects to score over its competition Coimbatore and Madurai in wooing IT companies to set up shop. A city with many education institutions over 100 years old, Tiruchi has produced quality talent including the likes of scientist Sir C.V. Raman and President Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Today, there are about 40 arts, science, commerce, engineering and management colleges located in and around the city. Some well known colleges include National Institute of Technology (formerly known as Regional Engineering College), St. Joseph's College and Bharathidasan Institute of Management.

About 6,000 graduates pass out each year from these colleges and are recruited by large IT companies mainly in Chennai and Bangalore, according to Mr K. Premanathan, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Tiruchi Zone.

Talent pool


This talent pool is probably what drew some small IT/ITES companies to set up shop in the city some years ago. Besides two large companies, GFT Technologies and DMS Soft, there are about 30 small IT/ITES companies around Tiruchi that mainly work on jobs/processes outsourced by companies in Chennai. This includes a host of Web design, hosting and development companies such as Harsh Infotech, Bi Soft Solutions, Genisoft Technologies and Adalma.

GFT Technologies is a German company that has been in Tiruchi for the last five years and is involved in Business/IT consulting and application development, systems integration and application management, outsourcing and design. DSM Soft provides Engineering Data Services (MCAD/CAM, 2D drafting, training) and Geo-Spatial Data Services (Photogrammetric mapping, GIS, Data output and Reprographics).

Big cos showing interest



With the CII and Tiruchi Corporation making efforts to popularise the city among investors, large companies such as L&T Infotech, Cognizant Technology Solutions and Tata Consultancy Services seem to be showing interest in setting up offices here, sources say.

The State Government, on its part, is making land available for companies. About 170 acres have been bought by the State at Navalpattu, near Tiruchi airport. Of this, some portion has already been allotted to private entrepreneurs, said Mr Premanathan. "Private companies have also been scouting for lands along the Tiruchi-Chennai highway, beyond Samayapuram," he said.

IT park


ELCOT, in a joint effort with the Tiruchi Corporation is planning to set up an IT park on the lines of the TIDEL Park. in Chennai. About 50 acres near Panchapur (on the Tiruchi-Madurai highway) have been identified for this purpose, he said. However, formalities such as the revenue sharing model between the two parties have not been decided yet, he added.

Well-connected


The State has also embarked on an infrastructure development plan for the city. Tiruchi is well connected through highways to other major cities and industrial centres in the State including Chennai, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Karur, Namakkal, Madurai and Coimbatore. The State is planning to widen these highway roads into four-lane roads, said Mr Premanathan.

The Tiruchi International Airport is also being modernised.

Tiruchi is also being promoted as a potential electronics hub due to the presence of about 300 small and medium-scale engineering industries in the region. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and Dalmia Cements are other companies that have manufacturing units in Tiruchi.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/30/stories/2007033001232100.htm

Reliance Energy has bagged the BOT project in March 07 for converting Trichy-Dindigul into 4 lane road. The project covers a stretch of 88km and construction cost would be Rs5.8b.

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/brokerageresultsestimates/relianceenergymotilaloswal/motilaloswalexp/market/stocks/article/275238

To pump in Rs. 1,000 crore to augment production capacity

TIRUCHI: With the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) poised to invest over Rs.1,000 crore for augmenting the manufacturing capacity of its Tiruchi unit to 10,000 MW, there is a huge potential for business and technological growth in the fabrication industry here, according to speakers at the inaugural of an international workshop on `Manufacturing Technology-Realms Ahead' here on Thursday.

Tiruchi has emerged as a hub for welding and heavy engineering fabrication industry. The country's manufacturing sector was also expected to grow rapidly and the BHEL was planning to invest over Rs.4,000 crore to increase the manufacturing capacities of its units across the country. With the BHEL-Tiruchi planning to double its capacity, it would bring in a huge growth in the industry, said S.M. Mahajan, Group General Manager, Central Foundry Forge Plant, BHEL, Haridwar.

The two-day workshop, `Mantra 2007,' was jointly hosted by the Welding Research Institute (WRI) of BHEL, Tiruchi, the Indian Institute of Metals and the Indian Welding Society to review the emerging trends and future directions of the manufacturing sector.

Mr. Mahajan called upon the ancillary units of the BHEL to go in for mechanisation and adopt the latest technology, especially some of which being adopted in Europe.

The Consultant to BHEL-Tiruchi, S. Sathyanarayanan, said that BHEL has devised strategies for business and technology development. The company was working with world leaders and was also on the look out for acquisitions and mergers to become globally competitive. On the technology front, BHEL planned to double its spending on research and development. Investment in R and D has increased by 100 per cent over the past couple of years.

The government planned to add about 1.50 lakh MW to the country's installed power generation capacity over the next 10 years and Tiruchi could become a centre of excellence for fabrication and welding, he said and called upon the small and medium units to go in for low-cost automation and technology upgradation.

G. Uma Shankar, Head, WRI, said that the fabrication industry of Tiruchi could diversify into fabricating components for heavy automotives, Railways and the shipping industry. With the industry facing a severe shortage of skilled manpower, low cost automation held the key to overcome the problem.

M. Namasivayam, General Manager, BHEL, Tiruchi, released the conference proceedings and B. Pattabiraman, Managing Director, G.B. Engineering Industries, received the first copy. The Chairman of Indian Welding Society, South Zone, K. Thambithurai, and S. Suresh, Convenor, `Mantra,' spoke.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/13/stories/2007041321640500.htm

CHENNAI: Chennai-based Sanmar group is flexing its muscle to become one of the top global players in the core business of chemicals ( caustic soda, VCM and PVC) and engineering. It will invest Rs 3,950 crore over the next two years to lift group net sales to over Rs 5,532 crore ($1.3 billion) by 2009-10.

Group chairman N Sankar on Friday said: “The group is undergoing a rapid transformation. We are targeting aggressive growth following the seamless integration of our two major overseas acquisitions in Egypt and Germany with domestic operations besides the strong organic growth expected from domestic expansions”. Deputy chairman Vijay Sankar said the group’s topline has been growing at 20%. It grew from Rs 955 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 1,323 crore in 2005-06. Again net sales grew by 20% at Rs 1,596 crore in 2006-07. It is projected to touch Rs 5,532 crore by 2009-10 with a CAGR of 51%.

He said the topline growth is to be achieved without compromising on margins. Earnings before interest, tax and depreciation ( EBITDA) is expected to touch Rs 1,531 crore in 2009-10 from Rs 380 crore in 2006-007( CAGR of 59%) and profit before tax Rs 797 crore from Rs 269 crore ( 45%).

“ We hope to achieve this with our reputation in financial management, cutting edge HR practices and a crack management team”, he said. Asked about the sources of funding, they said the company has tied up Rs 1,000 crore as debt while Rs 200 crore will come from a rights issue by the only listed company, Chemplast Sanmar.

The group also hoped to raise an array of funds in two months for repaying the $300-million bridge loan taken from ICICI for funding the overseas acquisition in Egypt. Of the total capex, Rs 2,500 crore will be used to expand the overseas chemicals business through the recently acquired Trust chemicals ( TCI) in Egypt, Rs 1000 crore in scaling up the capacities of Chemplast Sanmar and Rs 150 crore each in expanding the operations of engineering, shipping and speciality chemicals businesses.

Mr Vijay Sankar said the group completed takeover TCI in Egypt last month for $ 300+ Million. It will pump in additional funds to expand the capacities making a total investment of $ 550 Million. The two year old plant is now operating only at 40% of its 2-lakh tonnes caustic soda capacity.

When fully operational, it will have 2.75 lakh tonnes of caustic soda and 4 lakh tonnes of VCM, half of which will be used for setting up a 2 lakh tonnes PVC plant in Port Said for the local and regional markets.

The balance will be supplied to the new two lakh tonne PVC plant being set up by Chemplast at Cuddalore. Once the combined capacities are completed by early 2009, Sanmar will be one of the top 20 PVC producers in the world with a combined volume of 4.6 lakh tonnes against 64,000 tonnes of Chemplast. He said Egypt has low operational costs besides being one of the lowest energy cost nations.

The plant also has tax benefit till 2015. He said the Sanmar was also set to expand steel foundry business. It has acquired the oldest foundry of Eisenwerk Erla in Germany for Rs 150 crore.

With Rs 460 crore topline, it has a strong customer base in the transportation sector in Europe. It is proposed to set up another foundry near the existing facility near Trichy. With a combined capacity of 30,000 tonnes, Sanmar will be among the top ten steel foundries in the world.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Chem__Fertilisers/Sanmar_eyes_top_global_spot_in_core_chemicals/articleshow/1907514.cms

TIRUCHI: Closed circuit television sets would be installed in Tiruchi and Villupuram Junctions shortly as part of an effort to further improve security at these railway stations, the Divisional Railway Manager, R.C. Jat, said here on Friday.

The Tiruchi Railway Division would be spending over Rs.1 crore on the security front during the current fiscal, he said while presiding over the 52nd Railway Week Celebration here.

A dedicated Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad would come up in Tiruchi shortly to act in case of an emergency, he said adding that plans were afoot to procure a luggage scanner for use in Tiruchi Junction.

A thrust had been given on improving passenger amenities in major railway stations in order to make them "model stations" of the division.

A sum of Rs. 20 crore would be spent by the Division on passenger amenities during this year.

Mr. Jat said five more stations - Srirangam, Ariyalur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam - had been identified for improving amenities this year. Our objective was to improve amenities in all the stations in the division, he said.

Highlighting the performance in 2006-07, Mr. Jat said the division had done exceedingly well in every area of activity. Earnings in passenger and freight fronts had increased compared to the previous year.

Gauge conversion works were being carried out in several sections of the division and once the sections were converted into broad gauge and traffic resumed, the earnings would further increase in a couple of years.

Out of the 21 efficiency shields, the division had bagged seven in 2006-07 and this was possible because of the commitment and excellent teamwork of the staff, he said.

The Chief Electrical Engineer (retired), Southern Railway, V. Janakiraman, the Additional Divisional Railway Manager, S. Balachandran, and the Divisional Personnel Officer, Jolly Devasia, spoke.

Awards were presented to 390 railway staff for their meritorious service.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/14/stories/2007041407720200.htm

TIRUCHI: A station identification display board has been installed inside the III air-conditioned sleeper coach of the Tiruchi-Ernakulam Tea Garden Express.

Though the facility has already been introduced in the AC chair cars of the Vaigai and Pallavan Super Fast Express trains, this is the first time in the Southern Railway that the board has been provided in a compartment.

The global positioning system-based facility will now enable passengers in the coach to know the train's current location.

An antenna fixed atop the coach will receive the signals from the satellite and the system will decode the latitude and longitude of the place and identify the station.

Railway officials here said the system would display the station name in English on the Light Emitting Diode board.

Once the train leaves a station, it will show the approaching station's name.

The system will have names of all the stations where the train will stop between Tiruchi and Ernakulam.

It will also indicate the names of important stations where the train will cross but not stop.

The board will display the time when the train leaves a station.

The facility would be of great use to passengers, as they would know the station's name sitting in the coach, an official said.

The LED display boards, weighing nearly one kilogram each, have been set up on both sides of the coach at a cost of Rs.1.05 lakh.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/14/stories/2007041413790100.htm

TIRUCHI: The erection of passenger shelters in a couple of platforms at the railway junction here, besides improvement of passenger amenities and beautification of the station, all on an outlay of about Rs. One crore has brought cheer to the travelling public.

The shelter, running to a length of 200 metres on platform 1-A, and the extension of the shelter on Platform 1 (towards the Madurai side) at a cost of Rs. 48 lakh, will bring much reprieve to the passengers, who had been suffering under scorching sun and rain for boarding trains in the absence of shelter. Repeated pleas were made by various organisations for this facility. The shelter works on both platforms are expected to be completed shortly.

The division plans to create more amenities at Tiruchi junction, a major station in the Southern Railway. Seating arrangements would be made in all the platforms at a cost of Rs. 48 lakh. The existing steel chairs in platform one and other platforms will be replaced with stainless steel chairs by July, according to railway sources.

Other projects planned at the station include renovation of the retiring room with additional facilities; construction of a new air-conditioned dormitory; and an air-conditioned waiting hall on platform one. The railway authorities have also planned to give a face-lift to the façade of the station building.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/16/stories/2007041611330100.htm

Trichy- Rameswaram national highway to be converted to four lane at cost of Rs 900 crores.

http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/firstpage.aspx?editioncode=25#

Funds for railway workshop (http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/17/stories/2007041716790500.htm)


The Railway Board has sanctioned a sum of Rs.16 crore to the Goldenrock Railway Workshop here for creation of necessary facilities to handle high horse power general motors technology - based diesel locomotives when they come to the workshop for periodic overhaul in future.

The Chief Workshop Manager, S. Rangarajan, said that the funds would be utilised for constructing new sheds and procuring latest equipment to handle diesel locomotives.

He was participating at the 52nd Railway Week celebrations held at the workshop here recently

With the Railway Board having sanctioned Rs. 75 crore for the modernisation of the workshop, necessary works in this regard would commence shortly.

Modernisation would reduce the work burden of the employees' as sophisticated equipment would be utilised for various works, he said.

Facilities were being upgraded in wheel shop, coach and wagon bogies and traction motor shops in order to make them model shops, he said.

Periodic overhaul

Listing out the achievements, he said the workshop had carried out periodic overhaul of 140 diesel engines though the target fixed during financial year 2006-07 was 102 diesel locos.

The drivers' cabin in 10 diesel locos had been modified thereby making it crew-friendly.

The production wing of the workshop had supplied certain spare parts meant for passenger coaches to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

Satisfied with the quality and workmanship, the ICF had agreed to provide more orders to the workshop for manufacturing more spare parts.

Having bagged contracts from the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), the workshop had despatched 626 low container flat wagons during 2006-07 to the CONCOR thereby manufacturing 100 more wagons when compared to the previous year, he said.

The workshop had also despatched 48 surplus metre gauge wagons to Malaysia, after rehabilitating them, through IRCON, New Delhi, the Manager said.

The workshop had taken pollution control measures as part of its efforts to protect the environment.

The establishment of effluent treatment plants inside the workshop premises was a step in this direction, he said.

TIRUCHY: In a move expected to transform Tiruchy into a strategic industrial hub, a proposal has been sent to the Centre for setting up a special economic zone in Tiruchy, right at the site identified for the IT Park at Navalpattu on the outskirts of the city.

The 125 acre SEZ would house the IT Park in 10 acres, according to the proposal sent to the Centre by Electronics Corporation of India (ELCOT). In fact, ELCOT has sought for four more SEZs, two to be set up at Madurai and one each at Salem and Tirunelveli, apart from Tiruchy.

While the SEZs at Madurai are proposed at Ilandaikulam on an area of 28 acres and at Vadapazhanji on 213 acres, the Salem SEZ would come up on an area of 160 acres in Ammapettai and at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli - on 125 acres. The proposalsz were sent on April 5, said ELCOT MD Umashankar and hoped that there would not be any problem in getting the nod from the Centre.

As far as the IT Park in Tiruchy is concerned the work is progressing smoothly, except for the fact that no big players have so far evinced their interest to set up shops. Though they are convinced about the infrastructure here, the talks are more oriented towards the cost they have to incur for setting up their units in the IT park. Sources said a dozen companies have decided to establish themselves at the park, while negotiations are still on.

Tenders are likely to be called for drafting the master plan for the park, elaborating on the roads, streetlights and water supply needed for the park. Apart from the 136 acres already in possession of ELCOT, acquisition of an additional 100 acres, sought by ELCOT for Phase II of the project, would soon begin. The acquisition is in its preliminary stage, said Collector Ashish Vachhani.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20070418005042&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

TIRUCHI: Construction of a new bridge across the Uyyakondan river near MGR statue in Cantonment has commenced.

The bridge, being built parallel to the existing bridge (Chettipalam), is expected to relieve traffic congestion in the area. The narrow bridge, declared a weak one already, has become a major traffic bottleneck in recent months, especially after the commissioning of a traffic signal. The traffic signal positioned, rather peculiarly on the descent of one side of the bridge, has been causing much inconvenience to road users and often resulted in traffic snarls.

The Corporation has commenced work on laying a temporary barrage across the river to divert the water flow in the river and facilitate the construction of the new bridge. Based on a request from the Corporation, the Public Works Department has permitted the civic body to lay the barrage, as this was a lean period for irrigation. Besides, the irrigation channel would be rendered dry during the forthcoming annual closure period.

Estimates revised


The project is being taken at an estimated cost of about Rs.94 lakh and a substantial portion of the funds would come under Traffic Management Scheme. The estimates were revised recently after the tenders for the project, originally estimated to cost about Rs.85 lakh, failed to attract any bids, as the contractors have been demanding higher rates for raw materials.

Two-way traffic


The new bridge would run for a length of about 40 metres with a width of about 12 metres so as to accommodate two-way traffic. A decision on retaining or dismantling the existing bridge would be taken subsequently, after the new bridge was constructed, officials sources indicated. The new bridge is expected to be completed in six months.



http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/20/stories/2007042018100500.htm

Textile clusters in Tamil Nadu

Tiruchirapalli, April 19 (PTI): The Union Textiles Ministry is in the process of establishing textile clusters and common facility centers in strategic locations across Tamil Nadu. A total of 20 clusters had been planned in the country and of this three would be in Tamil Nadu, G Ramesh Babu, Quality Assurance Officer and Cluster Development Agent, Textiles Committee (Ministry of Textiles), told reporters here.
Taken up under the Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Programme, feasibility studies were being undertaken for the formation of the common facility centres. The committee had planned full-pledged centers with advanced machinery and equipment for several activities such as warping, designing and a quality analysis laboratory for the benefit of cotton based primary co-operative weaving societies, located in various areas.
The clusters would come up in Tiruchirappalli, Kurinijipadi in Cuddalore district and Tiruvannamalai. These locations had been chosen as per the 2005-06 textile development programme for which the textile ministry had allocated a funding of Rs.two crores. Under the programme of 2006-07, ten new clusters would be formed in the state.
The primary objetive of the whole project was to create awareness among weavers and others about the latest designing and technology that could be inherited apart from marketing skills. Consortia comprising of master weavers and senior artisans are formed in the textile villages and in turn the junior weaving community would be imparted with requisite training in the relevant areas of specialisation.
In Tiruchirapalli district, Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM) has been identified as a partner in this programme. According to S.Sundar, in-charge, Center for Contemporary Management Reserach of BIM, the students of the institute were visiting textiles and handloom societies in the district to evaluate the performance levels.
BIM would come out with the recommendations for the right type of machineries and technologies to be involved under this programme and these recommendations would help in creation of creation of common facility centers. As a pilot initiative, textiles consortia had already been formed at Manamedu in the district, where heritageous textile practices of producing cotton sarees etc had been taking place for several decades.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200704191121.htm

Tiruchirapalli, April 20 (PTI): A technology business incubator (TBI), designed to help young entrepreneurs in developing and marketing new products and setting up production unit, has been set up at the Welding Research Institute (WRI), a research wing of the BHEL unit here.

Initiated by the Union Department of Science and Technology, the TBI would focus on thrust areas like welding consumables manufacturing, quality control and non-destructive testing technologies and special purpose welding systems, a senior DST official told PTI here yesterday.

The department would fund WRI a sum of Rs.2.40 crore on capital account and Rs.45.7 lakhs as revenue expenditure for running the incubator for five years.

WRI will allocate equipment and facilities for the freshers and once the product was developed and market established they would go out and install their own facilities in the nearby industrial estates.

According to G.Uma Shankar, Additional General Manager, BHEL (in-charge of WRI), WRI-TBI had been registered as a society with an objective to create technology based new enterprises, facilitate transfer of technology, foster entrepreneurial spirit, and speedy commercialisation of the reserach output.

Shankar was confident that at least 40 entrepreneurs would be promoted through this project within the next five years. In fact, the TBI would be assisted by DST only for the first five years after which it was expected to manage on its own earnings.

DST sources added that at present there were 40 TBIs and science technology entrepreneurs parks in the country.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200704201121.htm

TIRUCHI: Bharathidasan University plans to start a five-year Integrated degree programme from the coming academic year for admitting talented 10th passed students. The university will provide the students a monthly scholarship of Rs. 5,000.

The Standing Committee on Academic Affairs, in its Friday meeting, approved the unique programme leading to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Integrated Science. The Vice-Chancellor, C. Thangamuthu, said that the university would pay the special science scholarship to students with funds mobilised from the Department of Science and Technology, industries, besides its own. The programme, envisaging a paradigm shift in teaching-learning methodologies, would encompass a research-focused understanding of all the branches of science such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science and Environmental Science. The uniform system in vogue was examination-oriented and did not suit promotion of research-oriented study of sciences, he said.

Terming the shortage of scientists in the country as disturbing, the Dean of Sciences, M. Palaniandavar, said that the research-oriented integrated degree programme would be offered through the St. Joseph's College, Tiruchi, to begin with. The services of most distinguished professors and teachers, including retired faculty members from universities and colleges, would be availed for the programme.

Upon completion, these students would be eligible to join straightaway the five-year integrated Ph.D programme, blending course work of postgraduate programme and research thesis. Students can register for Ph.D. programme at the very outset and choose credit-based courses in tune with the area of research with mentoring support from guides.

B.Sc. students under the conventional pattern would also be eligible to pursue the five-year integrated Ph.D programme under which the university would provide Rs. 2,000 a month to a student in addition to government scholarships.

The university had also decided to provide a monthly scholarship of Rs. 1,000 to students admitted to its five integrated PG programmes of five-year duration.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/15/stories/2007041512330100.htm

Mihin Lanka Air services to Tiruchi


The new low-cost airline promoted by the Sri Lankan Government, Mihin Lanka Air, will soon expand its operations to India, said the Additional Director-General, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr Dileep Mudadeniya.

"The airline plans to start operating to India soon. The airline has already done some test flights to India," Mr Mudadeniya said at a press conference. The airline that currently operates four times-a-week between Colombo and Dubai plans to operate regular flights to Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchi.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/04/21/stories/2007042101060500.htm

Please refer to their website http://www.mihinlanka.com


Mihin Lanka Air services to Tiruchi


The new low-cost airline promoted by the Sri Lankan Government, Mihin Lanka Air, will soon expand its operations to India, said the Additional Director-General, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr Dileep Mudadeniya.

"The airline plans to start operating to India soon. The airline has already done some test flights to India," Mr Mudadeniya said at a press conference. The airline that currently operates four times-a-week between Colombo and Dubai plans to operate regular flights to Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchi.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/04/21/stories/2007042101060500.htm

TIRUCHI: The Government has accorded administrative sanction for a new link road between the Anna Nagar Main Road and the MGR Statue on the Lawsons Road near Cantonment in the city to be laid at a cost of Rs.3.20 crore.

The project has been pending for nearly a decade and the link road was proposed as part of the Karur By-Pass Road. The road would provide an important link across the Uyyakondan river, which runs across the city, and contribute to a large extent towards easing the congestion in Thillai Nagar and Woraiyur areas.

A new bridge would be constructed across the river to connect the Anna Nagar Main Road and Cantonment. Currently, a narrow lane links the Anna Nagar Main Road and the Pattabiraman Pillai Street. Consequently, the 80-feet wide Anna Nagar Main Road remains largely under-utilised. For the same reasons, Anna Nagar and its neighbouring areas have been languishing without proper access to public transport system.

The new road would be laid utilising a financial grant of Rs.1.20 crore from the Seed Capital Assistance Scheme of the Department of Town and Country Planning. The Corporation would raise Rs.1.20 crore by way of loans and contribute Rs.80 lakh from its own funds.

The project has already been approved under the Court Complex Detailed Development Plan of the Department of Town and Country Planning.

The Corporation would have to acquire about 2,426 square metres of land from private parties and take over about 14,287 square metres of government land. The land acquisition process, which would be a key process, is expected to commence soon, Corporation officials said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/22/stories/2007042218480500.htm

TIRUCHI: The Anna Science Centre Planetarium here will soon get an EDUSAT uplink with the support of the Department of Science and Technology. An interactive scientific kiosk, established by the IBM, will also be operational at the centre soon.

The educational broadcast through EDUSAT will be available at the centre by June. The planetarium would also get video conferencing facility to facilitate interaction with other science centres in the country.

The programmes will include regular interaction with scientists for which an annual agenda will be drawn. The centralised agenda will be coordinated with other science centres with EDUSAT facility, including the two centres in Tiruchi and Chennai.

The meetings, which will be organised at each centre, will have a national reach through video conferencing. Through this, the students will have a chance to interact with students and resource persons of other centres, according to T.M. Alagiriswamy Raju, Project Director (in-charge) of the Anna Science Centre.

The centre has also come up with a new planetarium show titled `Astounding Universe' on astronomy and constellations. The 45-minute show will feature eight modules, each focussing on different aspects of galaxy.

The proposed IBM's science kiosk at the centre will be open to public from June. The kiosk includes theme-based missions and integrated game, web camera and animation — to help visitors explore science in an interactive way. Famous exhibits of other science centres across the globe could be viewed through the kiosk in various angles.

Initially the kiosk would focus on four themes — archaeology, space, marine and science games. The software would be subsequently updated, Mr. Raju said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/24/stories/2007042412360100.htm

Four laning of Trichy- Didivanam is done with double purpose both road is laid and the soil is taken from the natural lakes and tanks. There fore the water bodies get cleaned and deepend.

http://i12.tinypic.com/2n6yd76.jpg

Among the changes are completely revamped menus on all South Indian sectors. Even spicy pickles and traditional Indian ‘after-mints’ of sweet cumin seeds have been provided. Passengers to Trichy and Trivandrum will find the cold snacks have been replaced with hot items. Ice cream, another favourite in India, is now served on Subcontinent flights and will shortly be introduced on Middle Eastern and European sectors.

http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/17020/

"To overcome the labour shortage, TEA along with Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is holding talks with various district administrations in the state to set up Apparel Training and Design Centres (ATDCs) to impart training to rural people.

We are now negotiating with the district administration of Dharmapuri and hope to start our training centres in Trichy and Kanchipuram also in a year's time," he added.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Cons_Products/Garments__Textiles/Tirupur_exports_cross_Rs_11000_crore_in_FY07/articleshow/1968255.cms

TIRUCHI : Expansion work at the Central Bus Stand in the city undertaken at an expenditure of Rs. 2.14 crore is progressing at a fast pace and is expected to get over by next month end.

The work was initiated last year on 2.77 acres of adjacent railway land that the Tiruchi Corporation acquired by paying Rs. 5.66 crore.

Thirtyfour new bays will be added to the existing 43 for parking buses, besides other works."All the expansion works will be completed and the new look bus stand will be ready by June end," the State Transport Minister, K. N. Nehru said while speaking at a function organised by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation at the Central Bus Stand on Tuesday to inaugurate new bus routes. Earlier, Mr. Nehru went round the bus stand and inspected the works in progress. Mr. Nehru also inaugurated thrice a day super deluxe bus services to Coimbatore from Tiruchi. The buses will leave Tiruchi at 4.15 a.m., 2.50 p.m. and 10.50 p.m. and reach the destination within four hours and 15 minutes with stoppage only at Karur. The fare for Karur is Rs. 36 and for Coimbatore Rs. 86.

In the return direction, the buses will leave Coimbatore at 5.40 a.m., 11.30 a.m. and 9.45 p.m. Advance booking facility is available in both the directions.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050211290100.htm

The mandapam beneath the East Gopuram of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple will be reconstructed soon and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department has sanctioned Rs.4.5 lakh for the purpose.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/25/stories/2007042511230100.htm

Steps would be taken to set up another zoological park in the state at Tiruchirappalli in an area of 100 acres, he said adding entry to children into the Children's Park at Guindy here would be made free.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/401200705021753.htm

Answering a query, he said CTS was evincing interest in tier-two cities like Tiruchirappalli and others and already initiatives had been taken at Coimbatore and Kochi. Kochi would be the company's eighth location to operate and the unit's formal inauguration is slated to take place any time.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/India_Business/Cognizant_to_recruit_18000_IT_professionals/articleshow/1972567.cms

In a span of 10 months around 25 shops have been setup with over 400 people employed in them. A total of 300 hundred sewing machines are installed and plans are to increase it to 700 in this year.

Source: dinakaran dated 04/25/2007
http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epapertamilmurasu/firstpage.aspx#

Elcot is mulling additional 120 acres land for the Trichy IT Park. Also it has requested parking space for 2000 cars!!! The Trichy housing and revenue department are looking into the request.

Source: Daily Thanthi dated:04/29/2007

http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/firstpage.aspx?editcode=Main%20City%20Edition#

Solar operated signals and lights are being installed at various places in Trichy city at a cost of 40 lacs. These will be operational in few days.

Source: Dinakaran dated:04/30/2007

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/firstpage.aspx?global.eid=Dinakaran%20Trichy%20E10#

First of its kind in TamilNadu and second in country, VOICE Clinic has started functioning in Royal Pearl Hospital in Trichy.

Full article can be read from Dinakaran dated :04/28/2007

As part of the expansion plans, ALEgION would open ten branches before the end of this fiscal at Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Indore and Trichy. The branches at Mumbai and Trichy will come up before June this year. The broking firm currently has branches at Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar and Coimbatore, he said.

http://www.business-standard.com/banking/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=283348&subLeft=1&leftnm=2

TIRUCHI: Security and surveillance in the over 100-year-old central prison here will be further strengthened, following sanction of modern security gadgets by the State Government. Prison officials have planned to procure an X-ray scanner, a mobile phone detector and a multi zone doorframe metal detector from the Rs. 25 lakh sanctioned by the Government.

K. Murthi, Deputy Inspector-General of Prisons, Tiruchi Range, said the equipment would be in place shortly, adding more teeth to the existing security measures. Established in 1865, the jail can accommodate over 2,500 prisoners. Besides the Tiruchi prison, the multi-zone doorframe metal detector has been sanctioned to the special prison for women here and the central prison at Cuddalore, which will also get a mobile phone detector. The Cuddalore prison comes under the Tiruchi Range. Prison officials here have been armed with handheld metal detectors and doorframe metal detector. Security officials say the multi-zone doorframe metal detector will pinpoint the presence of a metal in the body. Nothing can be taken inside the prison unauthorised once the advanced gadgets are in place.

Government has sanctioned Rs. 1.55 crore for renovation of various prisons in the Tiruchi Range.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/04/stories/2007050416800700.htm

HCL Infosystems Limited opened its Career Development Centre in Trichy today.

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=283726&tab=r

New plan for development (http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050520570500.htm)


The Tiruchi Corporation on Friday initiated the process of preparing a city development plan that would serve as a vision document for the next 30 years.

The Corporation has roped in Community Consultancy India to prepare the plan taking into consideration health and sanitation, security, tourism, transport, power supply, garbage disposal, industry requirement, road connectivity, education and economic development. The draft would be ready by July 15, the Corporation Commissioner, B. Balachandran, said.

The plan was a pre-requisite for the Corporation to seek Central Government funds for major projects, the Mayor, Sarubala R. Tondaiman, told presspersons. Earlier, she held a meeting with officials of various departments, heads of institutions and representatives of non-government organisations.

The Corporation would hold such meetings periodically and incorporate participants' views into the plan. A City Monitoring Committee would be constituted with the participants as members, she said. The Mayor exuded hope that the Centre would bring Tiruchi under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, and added that even otherwise the city would qualify to receive funds under Urban Infrastructure Scheme for Small and Medium Towns.

The plan would factor in the shifting of Gandhi Market to Ariyamangalam and construction of integrated bus stand.

The Srirangam temple would soon be beautified with greenery and lighting on four sides at a cost of Rs. 5 crore.

Explaining that there was progress in underground drainage work, Ms. Tondaiman said that under the second phase, a sum of Rs. 160 crore would be spent.

A Rs. 94-crore project for providing water supply to suburban areas was also on the anvil. Three collector wells would come up on the Coleroon riverbed, she added.

UniverCell is all set to expand with more branches across South India during this fiscal and all India presence by 2009. According to its founder Sathish Babu, the company has earmarked a turnover of Rs 150 crore during this financial year. As of now, it has sixteen showrooms in Chennai including the recently opened branches at Avadi, Perambur, Purasawalkam and City Centre. Stretching its wings to districts, the company has opened two showrooms at Salem and add three more in Coimbatore. It has ambitious plans to move further to Madurai, Trichy and Puducherry. UniverCell has EMI schemes with zero per cent interest tie-ups with leading credit cards. The company sells leading brands like Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, LG, Samsung. Also, it offers special exchange offers with free talktime and validity on handsets.

http://newstodaynet.com/06may/bu7.htm

The construction of a full-fledged indoor stadium at the Anna Stadium complex, which ran into rough weather due to paucity of funds all these years, has now got a fresh impetus with the district administration submitting a revised proposal to the State Government and the receipt of Rs. 30 lakh from the Centre as a matching grant after a long time.

As per the revised proposal, the district administration plans to mop up additional amount of Rs. 35 lakh from the public for the execution of the project, which was devised way back in 1998 at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.67 crore.

The original plan envisaged that the Centre would provide 50 per cent of the project cost, while 25 per cent would have to be borne by the State and the rest to be mopped up from public contributions.

The State Government had granted Rs. 14 lakh for the project and a sum of Rs. 35 lakh was mopped up through contributions from the public. However, the project could not make any headway as necessary funds from the Centre as matching grant did not come through all these years. For the past three years there was no construction activity owing to paucity of funds, say official sources here.

The revised proposal was based on the original plan devised in 1998 and would not incur any additional expenditure, say the authorities here.

At present works to the tune of Rs. 35 lakh on this project have been completed. The sources say the State Transport Minister, K.N. Nehru, elected to the Assembly from Tiruchi - II constituency, has also evinced keen interest in the completion of the project.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/06/stories/2007050611780100.htm

Finally the government realized Grand Anaicut(Kallanai) is a tourist spot.This was long pending as many people are visiting this dam everyday.

Grand Anaicut, a dam built by the Chola kings in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli district about 2,000 years ago would be developed as a tourist spot, Tourism Minister N Sureshrajan said today.


http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BDA3F9AD3-D9CA-4C79-B542-98074FE64C93%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Chennai

Development work would be taken up this year at Srirangam, the seat of the pontiff of the Vaishnavite sects of the 108 `Divya Deshams', Tourism Minister N Sureshrajan said on Monday.

Moving the discussion on demands for grants to his Ministry, he said an amount of Rs 5 crore would be spent for developing this pilgrim centre near Tiruchirapalli. Elagiri, a hill resort in Vellore district, would be developed at a cost of Rs five crore, he said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200705080312.htm

Simultaneously, the activities of TCS located at Kochi, Coimbatore, Chandigarh are also poised for expansion and the company was also “holding tier-ii cities like Madurai and Tiruchirappalli in its radar”.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Infotech/Software/TCS_to_hire_32k_pros_in_07/articleshow/2020316.cms

Anna University-Tiruchi has created a pool of over 150 senior faculty members of affiliated engineering colleges and experts to facilitate BE-qualified teachers to acquire a postgraduate degree, as a first step towards infusing quality into engineering education.

The initiative will focus on Computer Science and Engineering stream to begin with and subsequently extended to other programmes through the 20 colleges the university has identified as regional centres in the districts of Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Madurai, Thanjavur, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Cuddalore.

According to Vice-Chancellor V. Ramachandran, principals of colleges, from where the senior faculty members are drawn by virtue of their qualifications and teaching experience, have agreed to depute their talented staff for training.

Initially, the training will be through classroom teaching and later made web-based once affiliated colleges are provided 8 mbps connectivity on one-to-one basis at one-third the market price by virtue of the negotiations that the university had with service providers.

The university had also encouraged colleges to acquire connectivity on cluster basis and do the routing as per their requirements, he said.

The M.E. Computer Science and Engineering programme of the university is specifically meant for the faculty serving with BE qualifications in affiliated colleges. The three PG programmes that the university has decided to start afresh from the coming academic year are M.E. in Pervasive Computing, M.Tech. in Biotechnology and M. Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Analysis. Also, the eight B.E. programmes that the Bharathidasan Institute of Technology had been offering so far would come under the ambit of Anna University-Tiruchi from next year.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/09/stories/2007050913900100.htm

From May 21st AIE will increase the singapore-trichy flight from the current 3to 4 flights a week.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/14/stories/2007051410780100.htm

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested the State Government to allot about 1,000 acres of land for the next phase of airport expansion here.

With Tiruchi proving its potential through overwhelming response to new air services to Singapore and Dubai by Air India Express, the focus has shifted to the next stage of development.

Apart from a further extension of the runway, construction of a cargo complex and hangars are also planned.

The AAI has given "in principal" clearance for extending the airport's runway by another 4,500 feet. The runway was recently extended from 6,100 ft to 8,000 ft on an investment of about Rs. 26 crore.




Meanwhile, Air India Express is tipped to be exploring the possibilities of introducing additional flights and new routes, possibly Abu Dhabi, over the next couple of months.

Chennai's loss, Trichy's Gain

News: ePaper | Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
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Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

New portfolio for Minister raises hope

S.Ganesan








TIRUCHI: With the Union Minister A. Raja taking over Information Technology and Communication portfolio, expectations have been raised among industry circles here.

Industry representatives hope Mr. Raja, who represents Perambalur constituency, would spur the much-awaited development of Tier II cities, especially Tiruchi. Mr. Raja had evinced interest in the development of Tiruchi Airport and proposed the upgrading of K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College in Tiruchi. Owing to his efforts a couple of industries, including a unit of MRF Tyres, are coming up at Perambalur. Hopefully, the anticipated IT-sector boom in Tiruchi would take place under his tenure, say industry representatives


http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/16/stories/2007051603560200.htm

Chennai's loss, Trichy's Gain

News: ePaper | Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Jobs |

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

New portfolio for Minister raises hope

S.Ganesan


TIRUCHI: With the Union Minister A. Raja taking over Information Technology and Communication portfolio, expectations have been raised among industry circles here.

Industry representatives hope Mr. Raja, who represents Perambalur constituency, would spur the much-awaited development of Tier II cities, especially Tiruchi. Mr. Raja had evinced interest in the development of Tiruchi Airport and proposed the upgrading of K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College in Tiruchi. Owing to his efforts a couple of industries, including a unit of MRF Tyres, are coming up at Perambalur. Hopefully, the anticipated IT-sector boom in Tiruchi would take place under his tenure, say industry representatives


http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/16/stories/2007051603560200.htm


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good news for Trichy. Now I was able to solve a puzzle that appeared on Hindu dated May-3 on a private tyre factory (posted in TN thread also).
MRF is investing or proposing to invest 1000 crores in Alathur (I guess part of Perambalur ?). The news article didn't mention the comapany name. This was also announced by Raja. :cheers:
http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/03/stories/2007050310550500.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/14/stories/2007051410780100.htm

Yesterday, Trichy Revenue and Airport officials visited the land that AAI had requested for expansion work. A meeting is scheduled today in Chennai to workout the details.

Source: dinakaran and dailythanthi e-paper

May 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's low cost airline - Mihin Lanka - will include two additional destinations to India by the end of this month.

The airline is awaiting the final route clearance from India, and with its newly acquired A321 aircraft, the airline will begin flights to Trivandrum and Trichy, sources said.

This aircraft can accommodate 194 passengers and would be used to fly to both new destinations. With these additional routes to India, Mihin Lanka would have additional traffic from Indian expatriate workers based in the United Arab Emirates. These workers can take connections from Dubai to Colombo and then fly out to Trivandrum or Trichy.


http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/May18120318JV.html

TIRUCHI: Indian would introduce direct flights on Chennai-Tiruchi-Chennai sector from May 25.

The flights would be operated thrice a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Chennai-Tiruchi flights (IC 621) will leave Chennai at 9.25 a.m and reach Tiruchi at 10.15 a.m. In the return direction, the flights (IC 622) will depart from Tiruchi at 11 a.m. and reach Chennai at 11.50 a.m. The airline would operate A 320 aircraft with a capacity of 145 seats, Area Marketing Manager T.H. Radhakrishnan said in a release. The introduction of the direct flights comes in the wake of a long pending demand from the industry here seeking daily morning flights to Chennai. Indian would offer a special introductory fare for the new flights and bookings were already open.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/19/stories/2007051917000300.htm

Any updates on the IT park promoted by Trichy based M/s. Mangalam Estates at Contonment, Trichy. The NOC for it was granted in March 2006 and the park will have a built up area of 1,57,000 sq ft space.

Any updates on the IT park promoted by Trichy based M/s. Mangalam Estates at Contonment, Trichy. The NOC for it was granted in March 2006 and the park will have a built up area of 1,57,000 sq ft space.

There is rumour that IT Park will be coming up at Sriganoor on Trichy-Chennai highway.

TIRUCHIRAPALLI: Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) has proposed to establish a mini-cement plant adjacent to the paper factory at Kagithapuram in Karur district, about 115 kms from here.
Speaking to reporters, TNPL Managing Director V Murthy said that the cement plant of 400 tonnes per day (TPD) capacity is meant to convert lime sludge accruing in the paper plant to cement.
The company was all set to float tenders for the purchase of machinery and equipment, he added.
About 30 acres of land has been earmarked for the plant and it would also be utilising the excessive fly ash generated.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Paper__Wood__Glass_Plastic_Marbles/TNPL_to_set_up_mini_cement_plant/articleshow/2060456.cms

The Tiruchi branch of the Kotak Mahindra Bank was formally inaugurated here recently.

Addressing presspersons on the occasion, Head (Retail Liabilities and Branch Banking) K.V.S. Manianm said that this was the bank's 10th branch in Tamil Nadu. It had 105 branches all over the country and had planned to start at least 80 more branches by the end of the current financial year. He said that Tiruchi, being one of the Tier II cities, provided adequate prospects for the bank to grow and expand.

He said that the bank netted a profit of Rs.141 crore during the last financial year. The sale of gold had gone down well with the customers. About 200 kg of gold had been sold out so far. This year, the sale was expected to touch 600 kg.

He said the bank would introduce credit card services and select insurance services.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/21/stories/2007052116930300.htm

Nine railway stations under Tiruchi division will be modernised on an outlay of Rs. 20 crore, as part of a modernising project this fiscal.

Of this, a sum of Rs. 6 crore will be earmarked for Tiruchi Junction for development works, which are likely to be completed by March 2008, according to the Divisional Railway Manager, R.C. Jat.

Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Vriddhachalam, Puducherry, Srirangam, Mayiladuturai, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam are the other stations to be upgraded and provided with improved passenger amenities such as waiting lounges, water facilities and additional shelters.

Plans are afoot in improving platform surfaces, installation of modern lights outside the stations and platform extension at select stations.

Apart from this, about Rs. 1.2 crore would be allocated as development fund for Tiruchi Fort station to improve passenger amenities, Mr. Jat said.

Three platforms at this station would be raised.

The first platform would be extended to accommodate 24 bogies from 18 at present.

Two new platform shelters to a length of 64 metres each would be constructed for platform one, two and three.

The façade of the fort station would be restructured resembling a historical castle.

The project would also include an air-conditioned community hall near the station at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh.

Funds for a similar community hall would be marked down for Vriddhachalam this financial year.


http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/19/stories/2007051911090100.htm

In the first phase, it has been proposed to take up projects in Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchi and Krishnagiri for certification of fruits such as bananas, citrus fruits, grapes, mangoes, fresh vegetables and flowers.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/16/stories/2007051614930800.htm

Meanwhile, the AAI has already awarded the works for the terminal buildings at 13 airports and airside works (runway, taxiway, apron, fire station, control tower, isolation bay) for 19 airports. AAI is aiming to complete all works associated with terminal buildings at Pune, Agatti, Nagpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Vizag, Trichy, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Dehradun and Agra within the current financial year.

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200705/aviationworld21.shtml

In line with its expansion plans, the company commissioned new liquid compression stations at Pune and Trichy.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200705192121.htm

Indian has announced a promotional one-way fare in the Chennai-Tiruchi/Tiruchi-Chennai sectors consequent to the introduction of direct flights on the sectors from May 25.

The minimum fare in the sector will be Rs.1,625 (inclusive of taxes). With the introduction of the new thrice a week flights between Chennai and Tiruchi, Indian will operate 11 flights a week on the sector, including the transit flights. For further information, contact at 1407 or 1800-180-1407, according to press release.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052009920300.htm

From May 21st AIE will increase the singapore-trichy flight from the current 3to 4 flights a week.

Air-India Express will soon start services to Abudhabi and also planing to connect Trichy with KualaLampur. The Trichy-Abudhabi sector is cleared while the Trichy-KualaLampur is yet to be approved by the Malaysian government.

Air-India Express will soon start services to Abudhabi and also planing to connect Trichy with KualaLampur. The Trichy-Abudhabi sector is cleared while the Trichy-KualaLampur is yet to be approved by the Malaysian government.

Malaysian government hesitation in granting AIE to operate Trichy-Kuala Lumpur route, perhaps, could be due to the fact of Malaysian airlines yet to be operated, with their planned operation for this sector too. Well, hope to resolve the current situations between both parties soon, in which case, it will be a win-win situations for all.:banana:

The company has launched its clinics on May 19, 2007 in Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Mettupalayam, Pudukottai, Tenkasi and Erode.

http://www.domain-b.com/finance/insurance/2007/20070521_set_up.html

Malaysian government hesitation in granting AIE to operate Trichy-Kuala Lumpur route, perhaps, could be due to the fact of Malaysian airlines yet to be operated, with their planned operation for this sector too. Well, hope to resolve the current situations between both parties soon, in which case, it will be a win-win situations for all.:banana:

MIA had planed to connect Trichy in 2005 and even opened GSA office in Trichy, they dumped the plan due to loss by Malaysian Airlines at that time. But the reason they gave was that the extended runway at Trichy airport was not commissioned.

If MIA is not interested in the route, then what prevents them from giving permission to AIE? or Did they just realize the potential of Trichy airport after the huge success of AIE flights to Dubai and Singapore??

I think government should consider setting up an SEZ for the Boiler industry in Trichy. There are over 5 to 6 major Boiler manufacturers and over 400 fabrication units together caters 70% of the boiler industry in the country. Also some manufacturers are shaping themselves into Windmill equipment technology which is seen as the next boom in energy sector.


A Special Economic Zone need to be set up for the boiler industry, on the lines of the fabrication industry in Tiruchirapalli, S. Rajarethinam, Special Commissioner and Secretary, Public Works Department, said on Friday.

Addressing the inaugural function of `Boilers 2007', a three-day exhibition at Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, the official said boiler design and engineering should be given special attention.

"We should introduce newer and efficient technologies. Tamil Nadu should demonstrate to the world that we can excel in the field of boilers as we have done in the auto, textile and software industries," Mr. Rajarethinam said.

Encouraged by the manufacturing skill, quality consciousness and delivery commitments, many western countries were looking at India, particularly Tamil Nadu, for outsourcing engineering, manufacturing and other services connected with boilers, Mr. Rajarethinam said.

"All the boiler companies (in Tamil Nadu) are pleasantly overbooked and are launching expansion programmes," he remarked. The government was taking steps to train rural manpower, available in abundance, to direct them to the boiler industry, the PWD Secretary said.

R.N. Mishra, Executive Director, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, said he quantum of power generation was not enough to meet demand. He said the country would need 2 lakh MW by 2012. "We have to add aother 70,000 MW of power supply to meet the requirements by that year," Mr. Mishra said.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/12/stories/2007051215480500.htm

According to Southern Railway sources, once the new BG line is ready for passenger traffic, train services will be introduced between Rameswaram and Chennai via Madurai and Tiruchi. Meanwhile, the gauge conversion from Manamadurai to Karaikudi is going on in full swing.

Through trains to Chennai from Rameswaram via Karaikudi and Tiruchi would be operated after completing the gauge conversion work, the sources added.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/22/stories/2007052214660600.htm

Mr. N.Srikanth joint executive officer of TTD said that online darshan ticket counters will be opened with in couple of months in Srirangam, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

Mr. Srikanth told reporters that there was encouraging response to the sale of such tickets. Out of about 7,500 online tickets priced at Rs. 50 for Sudarshan Darshan, over 200 tickets are sold in Erode alone. Similarly, over 1,500 are sold at other centres.

“At present in Tirumala, the TTD has buildings to accommodate over 6,000 pilgrims a day. Following heavy rush additional rooms to accommodate 1,000 more pilgrims will be constructed and the work will be completed before 2009,” Mr. Srikanth said.

On the conduct of Thiru Kalaya Utsavam in rural areas by the Devasthanams, he said: “If people wanted to conduct it, the TTD is ready to arrange the Utsavam.”

He also said investigation was in progress in the case of missing jewels. All security arrangements in and around the temple had been strengthened.

Sri Vari Seva Trust managing trustee R. Umapathy said the trust had decided to construct a Mandapam in Erode to conduct atavism for Lord Venkateswara and an online counter would also be opened in the Mandapam.

Mr. Umapathy said a minimum of 200 devotees from Erode were visiting Tirupati every day. He appealed to the Andhra Pradesh State Transport Corporation and also Andhra Pradesh tourism department to operate more buses from the trust office to Tirumala. He said already representations had been made with the Railway Ministry to operate a daily train service either from Coimbatore or from Erode to Tirupati. TTD liaison officer Haridev Prasad, Trust secretary R. Mohanraj and others were also present.

Srilankan is considering 14 flights a week to Trichy from the current 10.
This means 3 flights a day between Trichy and Colombo as soon as Mihin starts its service.

Introducing two flights a day to Tiruchi is also being considered." The airline was growing by 10 per cent in both cargo and passenger traffic to India every year. Indians were the biggest tourist force to the island nation. The Sri Lankan Tourism Board was expecting 1.30 lakh tourists from India this calendar year.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052405720500.htm

The Railway Board has sanctioned Rs.3.19 crore for construction of new buildings to house medical wards for males, females and children in the Southern Railway Hospital at Ponmalai here.

Once the construction works are over, the wards will be shifted to the hospital's existing new block, which now houses surgical, orthopaedic and postoperative wards.

As per the plan, two floors will be constructed above the existing new block and on completion, the wards will shifted to the first floor of the new block.

The surgical, orthopaedic and postoperative wards functioning presently on the ground floor of the new block will be moved to the second floor, while the male medical ward will function on the ground floor.

The male medical ward is right now functioning in an old building of the over 75-year-old hospital with tile roofing, while the female and children wards are situated adjacent to the operation theatre. The sanctioned bed strength of the male ward is 50, while the bed strength for the female and children wards is 40 and 16 respectively.

The Chief Medical Superintendent, Railway Hospital, Ponmalai, G. Lokanadham, on Wednesday said that tenders had been called for and the construction was expected to begin in a couple of months.

The three wards would come under one roof once the construction was over, besides making it easier for maintenance, he said.

The Railway Board had sanctioned over Rs.40 lakh to the hospital for procuring sophisticated medical equipment.

Dr. Lokanadham said a facelift would be given to the Outpatient Department of the hospital at a cost of Rs.10 lakh and another Rs.10 lakh had been sanctioned under phase-II programme for remodelling the operation theatre.

Ward 1 of the male medical ward with 10 beds would be converted into a semi-intensive care unit, he said, adding that the works were currently under way.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052416410300.htm

The company has placed an order of Rs 36 crore with Cethar Vessels Pvt Ltd Trichy for boilers, Rs 14 crore to Qingdao Jieneng Power Station Engineering Co Ltd, China, and Associated Power Team Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, for Turbine and Rs eight crore to Thermax Ltd (Pune) for ESP.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Steel/Surana_Industries_finalises_Rs_58_crore_contract/articleshow/2034513.cms

The 78-year-old Central Railway Workshop at Goldenrock (GOC) near here would undergo a modernisation and development programme at an outlay of Rs 95 crore.


Addressing a function here today, Chief Workshop Manager S Rangarajan said the Railway Ministry has sanctioned Rs 75 crore this year for the modernisation process.


The project would comprise creating Engine Block Reclammation Centre at a cost of Rs 30 crore which needs import of sophisticated machinery and equipment, establishment of a Training Facility Centre and a state-of-the-art Technology Centre to undertake processor design and development activities for modern version locomotives.


After the three-year modernisation process, the workshop would have an increased installed capacity to impart periodic overhauling of 120 locomotives to 160 per annum.


Similarly the overhauling and maintenance capacity of air-conditioned passenger coaches would be enhanced from 120 to 160 units.


Annual production of wagons would be increased from 600 to 1,000 pieces.


The detailed estimate documents are getting ready and by July, the requisite civil works, tender processing for procurement of machinery and gadgets etc would commence, added Rangarajan.


At the function held today, four refurbished locomotives were flagged off for Mozambique Railways. Rangarajan said GOC had already exported 97 locomotives to African and Asian countries. In a couple of months, GOC will corss the '100 unit mark' as an order for five more locomotives to Mozambique was being processed.


It was also likely to get the orders from Myanmar railways which had to be executed over a period of two years.


At the function, R P Misra, Chief Motive Power Engineer, Southern Railways, announced a cash award of Rs 5,000 to GOC workmen in recognition of the speedy execution of the export orders for Mozambique Railways.

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B28801E62-02C4-45C3-B8CD-EB7EF06C6714%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Tamil+Nadu

The three schools being set up by Sri Ahobila Mutt was in addition to the two schools inaugurated yesterday at Selaiyur near Chennai and at Srirangam, Jeer Swami, head of the Mutt, said at a function at Srirangam in this district.


http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BCE9B9BA1-9C7A-477E-8CAE-758033056E73%7D&CATEGORYNAME=TAMNA

Railway stations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala such as Madurai, Tiruchi, Kannur and Shoranur, among others, will get such machines in another two months, he added

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BDF64FCE4-4F23-43EB-B4B0-6305C0773C38%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Chennai

Kaveri Engg on the bypass road was once a competant manufacturer of Chemical plant equipments like heat exchangers, pressure vessels etc. like L&T. Are they still functioning?

Here is the related article from Tamil Murasu

http://i7.tinypic.com/4vd5bom.jpg

http://i17.tinypic.com/62qz7zq.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/6czwx3o.jpg

The FM channel — Ragam — now available exclusively on Prasar Bharati's DTH platform, is being broadcast from Tiruchi.
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/air-launches-%60ragam-for-dth-audience-/283105

The expediting of various projects including Tindivanum-Trichy, Trichy-Madurai, Trichy-Tanjavur,Trichy-Dindugal and Trichy-Karur would be really great for the development of Trichy and give a major push to the IT Park as major IT companies are planing to start opertaions .

All the National Highways development projects in the State would be completed by August 2008, assured Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu.


http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20070522042345&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0

The IAF is zeroing on three places Thanjavur , Sulur and Tiruchirapalli for its possible deployment highlighting the new strategic concerns in Indian establishment 's regarding country's security, particularly with the growing importance of Indian Ocean region and the maritime security.

Sources in IAF said that Tiruchirapalli could be the place for possible deployment of Tejas, which are expected to replace the MIG-21 aircraft, which have been phased out.


LCA Tejas in Tiruchirapalli? I thought Tanjavur has an airforce base.

http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3239

In Tamil Nadu alone, the company runs two outlets – one each at Chennai and Madurai. The third franchised store in the state at Trichy on May 30.

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=286007&tab=r

We are expanding our operations in two locations. First is in Trichy, a satellite town near Chennai, and secondly we are looking at expanding our operations in Manilla. These are the two organic initiatives that we have undertaken this year. As for our acquisitions plans, we have few deals on the table, which we will be evaluating. We want to fully utilise this Rs 80 crore in addition to internal accruals for acquisitions.

http://www.indiaearnings.com/sub_india/compnews.php?autono=281026

Southern Railway has sanctioned additional works for the improvement of passenger amenities at the Tiruchi Junction and Thanjavur railway stations.

The Tiruchi Railway Division has been sanctioned Rs.3.5 crore to take up additional works at these stations, which are expected to be completed before the end of the current financial year.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/03/stories/2007060310640100.htm

http://i11.tinypic.com/5yjtszp.jpg

May 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's low cost airline - Mihin Lanka - will include two additional destinations to India by the end of this month.

The airline is awaiting the final route clearance from India, and with its newly acquired A321 aircraft, the airline will begin flights to Trivandrum and Trichy, sources said.

This aircraft can accommodate 194 passengers and would be used to fly to both new destinations. With these additional routes to India, Mihin Lanka would have additional traffic from Indian expatriate workers based in the United Arab Emirates. These workers can take connections from Dubai to Colombo and then fly out to Trivandrum or Trichy.


http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/May18120318JV.html


As usual due to various reasons Mihin has delayed the start of flights to Trichy. Latest news based on Dinakaran, the flights would start by June 10th.

http://i13.tinypic.com/66kd1s0.jpg

This bridge is part of the Tindivanam-Trichy 4 laning project.The bridge across Cauvery river would be made into 6 lane from 4 lane considering huge traffic and future expansion.

http://i11.tinypic.com/628ubk6.jpg

Are they still planing to start the services???

Are they still planing to start the services???

Think, since, kingfisher joining hands with air deccan, there could be some strategic marketing changes. Maybe, kingfisher will be utilised for international routes,whilst, air deccan will be concentrating on domestic schedules.Well, lets see the developments taking shape in the very near future.

In addition, whatever happens, Trichy could be one of the Indian hubs for kingfisher's international operations, based on the informed sources from Trichy airport and travel agents in general, in the recent past. Let's hope to be true.

Think, since, kingfisher joining hands with air deccan, there could be some strategic marketing changes. Maybe, kingfisher will be utilised for international routes,whilst, air deccan will be concentrating on domestic schedules.Well, lets see the developments taking shape in the very near future.

In addition, whatever happens, Trichy could be one of the Indian hubs for kingfisher's international operations, based on the informed sources from Trichy airport and travel agents in general, in the recent past. Let's hope to be true.

I thought too there would be some strategic changes after Kingfisher's stake in Air Deccan. Anyway, Kingfisher has long way for international operations but may use Air Deccan instead. Lets wait and watch.

Any news on Jetlite starting service??

http://i11.tinypic.com/5yjtszp.jpg

Whyyyyyyyy? its time to move the Bus Stand somewhere else.Well i had lived in Trichy for a year and I feel that its soo small for such a big city.

After Chennai and Madurai MRI scan is to installed in Trichy government college hospital shortly. New building is coming up at cost of Rs.90 lakhs for this purpose.

http://i17.tinypic.com/66yq7ww.jpg

Whyyyyyyyy? its time to move the Bus Stand somewhere else.Well i had lived in Trichy for a year and I feel that its soo small for such a big city.



Hope this is temporary and this is going to have additional 46 bays. The new integrated bustand near chennai bye-pass road(near cauveri river) approved by Trichy corporation is yet to be approved by state government.Meanwhile people are opposing it as they feel it is a low lying area and would be flooded.

Hope it takes off quickly.

While work on the expansion of the Central Bus Stand is apace, the Corporation has requested the district administration to provide land for laying a new link road to the bus stand to ease traffic congestion.

The new road is planned between V.O.C. Road, which runs along the bus stand, and Periamilaguparai Road that leads to the Dindigul National Highway. According to official sources, the Corporation has sought 4750 square metres of government land for the road that will run close to the ESI Hospital situated on Periamilaguparai Road. The two-wheeler parking lot on VOC Road will be shifted inside the expanded bus stand.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060713480100.htm

With regard to the works in the Villupuram - Tiruchi section, he said the electrification between Villupuram and Vriddhachalam would be completed by September and up to Ariyalur in January. The works up to Tiruchi were targeted for completion by April next year. As part of the project, sub-stations would be set up at Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur and Tiruchi.



http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060815320100.htm

http://i12.tinypic.com/66mvjv6.jpg

Southern Railway Headquarters has sanctioned Rs. 52 crore to the Tiruchi Railway Division to carry out various types of development works.It would be utilised to carry out 157 works. A sum of Rs. 13 crore is proposed to be spent to convert unmanned level crossings into manned ones besides construction of limited use subways in lieu of unmanned gates and laying of approach road to the adjacent manned / unmanned gates to enable the closure of the poorly used unmanned gates.

A Southern Railway press release here said Rs. 6 crore would be spent for improvements to track on the chord line. Parcel offices at Kumbakonam, Pondicherry, Mayiladuturai and Tiruvarur will be improved at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh. Stationmaster rooms on chord line will also be improved.

Two new Railway Protection Force (RPF) outposts have been planned at Villupuram and Chidambaram at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh.Improvements to running room at Tiruchi where Loco Pilots, Assistant Loco Pilots and Guards take rest after completion of duty has also been planned at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh.

Concrete surfacing of goods yards at Ariyalur, Ichchangadu and Vriddhachalam was being undertaken to facilitate free movement of lorry traffic inside the shed.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060820640300.htm

Cleaning buses will hereafter be an easy task, courtesy low-cost automatic bus washing machines commissioned by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.

Till now they were washed manually, taking at least half an hour for cleaning windscreens of a bus. Now with the new facility, the electrically operated nylon brushes, one on each side of the bus, uniformly spray water supplied from a tank.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/11/stories/2007061109660100.htm

UniverCell is all set to expand with more branches across South India during this fiscal and all India presence by 2009. According to its founder Sathish Babu, the company has earmarked a turnover of Rs 150 crore during this financial year. As of now, it has sixteen showrooms in Chennai including the recently opened branches at Avadi, Perambur, Purasawalkam and City Centre. Stretching its wings to districts, the company has opened two showrooms at Salem and add three more in Coimbatore. It has ambitious plans to move further to Madurai, Trichy and Puducherry. UniverCell has EMI schemes with zero per cent interest tie-ups with leading credit cards. The company sells leading brands like Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, LG, Samsung. Also, it offers special exchange offers with free talktime and validity on handsets.

http://newstodaynet.com/06may/bu7.htm


UniverCell opened its store last friday.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/09/stories/2007060906860200.htm

Trichy City Police are installing cameras at various places in Trichy city to monitor traffic violations.Cantonment area roads will be where the cameras will be installed initially.

Bharathidasan Salai, Cantonment
http://i12.tinypic.com/4zbw8au.jpg

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd on Wednesday said it has bagged orders worth Rs 430 crore from Indian Oil Corporation Ltd to supply steam generators from IOC's Vadodara project.

BHEL will supply two Heat Recovery Steam Generators and design, engineering, manufacture, commissioning of six gas turbines for IOC's oil residue upgradation and quality improvement projects at the Gujarat refinery, a release said here today.

The release said commissioning schedule would be about two years.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200706140325.htm

http://i12.tinypic.com/66mvjv6.jpg

The acquisition of land for the link road has started and the collector says there wont be any problem with the acquisition as most of them are government land and some inside the court complex. Hope things move faster and work on laying the road starts.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/17/stories/2007061756520300.htm

The two most important focus areas for Autodesk are to expand its channel presence and penetration in new territories. The cities in focus are Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Indore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Vishakapatnam, Trichy, Kochi, Pune, Nashik, Lucknow and Jalandhar. According to Hasan, these territories are growing in terms of animation, gaming and design visualization, he said.

http://www.channeltimes.com/India/News/Autodesk_to_Expand_VAR_Network/551-81678-741.html

As usual due to various reasons Mihin has delayed the start of flights to Trichy. Latest news based on Dinakaran, the flights would start by June 10th.

http://i13.tinypic.com/66kd1s0.jpg


Mihin Lanka is still waiting approval from Indian authorities to launch flights to two cities in southern India, Tiruvanandapuram and Trichy.

http://www.ameinfo.com/123545.html


Mihin Lanka office in Trichy said they hope to start the service by end of this month or early next month.

As per Mr K.N. Nehru, the Trichy IT park works will be inagurated soon by the chief minister.This is really good news for Trichy and surrounding places. Hope the work starts soon


http://www.dinamalar.com/2007june18/district/trichy.asp

This flyover is part of the Trichy-Madurai 4 laning. The flyover pass through K.K.Nagar road, Defence ground and then join Panjapur in Madurai road.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/1662007/DN_160607_E1_03_Try_PHO.jpg

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=143088&code=20006

The sem-ring road to connect Karur, Dindugal, Madurai, Pudukkotai and Tanjavur roads. It would have been better if Tanjavur road was connected to the Karur road via Chennai bye-pass road as long distance and heavy vechiles can use the link road and avoid traffic congestion in the city.

I guess this work will also be inagurated by chief minister

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=144065&code=18136

The widening of Trichy-Karur highway to be completed by december end. A new overpass is coming up at the Lalapettai railway cross which is really good as this railway cross is really the bottleneck and causes traffic congestion on the trichy karur highway.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epapertamilmurasu/showxml.aspx?id=76812&code=18052

Mihin Lanka is still waiting approval from Indian authorities to launch flights to two cities in southern India, Tiruvanandapuram and Trichy.

http://www.ameinfo.com/123545.html


Mihin Lanka office in Trichy said they hope to start the service by end of this month or early next month.

Well, hope so. Meanwhile, any news on Air-India Express, which I thought, they were planning for Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur service from Trichy as well. Also, believe AIE planned for additional frequencies between Singapore - Trichy. Are these plans still being worked out and will be effected soon?

Mihin Lanka is still waiting approval from Indian authorities to launch flights to two cities in southern India, Tiruvanandapuram and Trichy.

http://www.ameinfo.com/123545.html


Mihin Lanka office in Trichy said they hope to start the service by end of this month or early next month.


Mihin Lanka will start the service from July 1st. This is really good news and hope other carriers too start services from Trichy.

Here is the schedule http://www.mihinlanka.com/FlightSchedule.asp

Well, hope so. Meanwhile, any news on Air-India Express, which I thought, they were planning for Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur service from Trichy as well. Also, believe AIE planned for additional frequencies between Singapore - Trichy. Are these plans still being worked out and will be effected soon?

People have been saying AIE starting services to Abu dhabi, Kuala Lumpur and even Doha, but havent heard anything further. Maybe AIE is waiting for the construction work to be completed at Trichy airport.

Auto ancillary major, Rane Group is investing Rs 100 crore to set up two plants in Tiruchirapalli, a top company official said today.


A Valve plant would be set up by the end of the year and another brake lining plant would come up by early next year, L Ganesh, Chairman told a press conference here today.

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID={83ADFC29-3576-46A4-895D-74FB9C55DA95}&CATEGORYNAME=CHN

This has been long pending demand and its good finally its taking shape. This would enable to start new trains and also decrease the travel time to chennai and onward.

http://www.dinamalar.com/2007june19/general_imp2.asp

Heard the news of Madurai airport 4,000 crores planned expansion. Is it meant as Madurai airport be converted to a major international airport, and form as a gateway to the south, instead of Trichy International Airport?

I had the impression that the Trichy International Airport is poised to become a major international airport, next to Chennai. I'm confused. Can someone enlighten this situation.

First Trichy and Madurai airports should become profit making airports then they can go for expansions. It looks AAI doesn't have any vision.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/22/stories/2006032201171900.htm

Traffic through Coimbatore airport increased by 34.4 per cent to 4.15 lakh, Tiruchi had a 12.5 per cent increase in traffic to 1.41 lakh passengers and Madurai had a 9.41 per cent increase to 1.30 lakh passengers.

Madurai and Tiruchi airports are loss making while Coimbatore airport is profit making, he said.

First Trichy and Madurai airports should become profit making airports then they can go for expansions. It looks AAI doesn't have any vision.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/22/stories/2006032201171900.htm

Traffic through Coimbatore airport increased by 34.4 per cent to 4.15 lakh, Tiruchi had a 12.5 per cent increase in traffic to 1.41 lakh passengers and Madurai had a 9.41 per cent increase to 1.30 lakh passengers.

Madurai and Tiruchi airports are loss making while Coimbatore airport is profit making, he said.

Trichy airport is making loss because it didnt see any major development for the past 4 years due to delay in completion of the runway expansion to 8000 ft. The work started in Mid 2003 and was completed in March 2007 only.During this period only airdeccan introduced new flight while others were waiting for the expanded runway to be completed. Anyway, now Kingfisher has introduced flights, Indian has increased frequencies and started new service, Air-India Express started new services and Mihin Lanka is starting new services from July 1.Many operators are waiting to start new services after the Apron work is completed.

Also, AAI had said couple of months before that Trichy airport is turning around and would be making profit anytime soon.

Heard the news of Madurai airport 4,000 crores planned expansion. Is it meant as Madurai airport be converted to a major international airport, and form as a gateway to the south, instead of Trichy International Airport?

I had the impression that the Trichy International Airport is poised to become a major international airport, next to Chennai. I'm confused. Can someone enlighten this situation.

This is a news to me. Madurai always has political support. Definitely they would develop Madurai airport, but not sure if it would be for Rs 4000 crores.

Lets Hope AAI start the 1000 acres expansion work at trichy airport soon. I know acquiring land for the expansion has already begun.

Finally after years a new office for Trichy city police is to come up at cost of Rs 3 crore on the Trichy-Pudukottai road. I know the exisitng office in Khaja Nagar in Mannarpuram is rented. It is really sick to see projects are delayed too much in Trichy and not in other corporations.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epapertamilmurasu/2162007/2006dkn1.jpg

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epapertamilmurasu/showxml.aspx?id=77294&code=17848

After opening ATM at Trichy Airport couple of days before, Canara bank will be installing ATMs in railway stations under Trichy Division. Indian bank and SBI have already ATMs installed in Trichy.

The bank’s Circle Office, here, will set up the ATMs at Tiruchi Fort, Tiruchi Town, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Adhiramapattinam, Aduthurai, Neyveli and Panruti railway stations. The bank has paid a sum of Rs.6.60 lakh as licence fee to the Railway authorities towards establishment of ATMs.

The eight ATMs would become functional before the end of the current financial year, the bank’s Deputy General Manager, S. Nagarajan said.

The bank has also planned to set up ATMs at Tiruchi Junction, Puducherry, Tiruvannamalai and Salem Town railway stations.

Mr. Nagarajan said that the facility at the Tiruchi Junction would become operational in a month’s time.

The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 2.3 billion for development of roads and bridges in the state, said Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin. He was in Trichy district to lay the foundation stone for various development works.
The minister for rural development has already inspected the key plan of road projects proposed for Trichy district.
Stalin also inaugurated a river bridge in Virudhaachalam which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 50 million on Cuddalore-Tiruchi highway. In addition, he inaugurated a school, a new market complex and a hospital.

Any update on the Trichy IT Park? Surprisingly, Tirunelveli IT park work was inagurated last week.

Corporation hopes to get Rs.31 crore

From Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme





TIRUCHI: The Corporation’s efforts to get the city included under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) appears to have made little headway. The civic body is now pinning its hopes on getting funds from the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) this year.

Though the elected representatives of the Corporation, especially the Mayor, Sarubala R. Tondaiman, have been trying to include Tiruchi under the JNNURM, official sources concede that the chances are slim as the Urban Development Ministry has put a freeze on the cities taken up for development under the project.

Tiruchi failed to qualify as it did not meet the minimum population requirement of 10 lakhs.

However, Ms.Tondaiman has been arguing that Tiruchi’s floating population, especially the devotees thronging Srirangam, should be taken into account. Currently, the population is just over eight lakhs. She had been taken up the issue with the State and Central Ministers.

“No foresightedness”

A senior district official observed that the Corporation had failed to act with foresightedness on the issue. Several parts in the outskirts of the city, especially the Tiruverambur/ Thuvakudi region which includes BHEL Township, could have been brought under the Corporation.

Tiruverambur, till recently a town panchayat, was just upgraded into a Grade III Municipality. If only the Corporation had pushed through a proposal a couple of years ago, it would have easily qualified for the JNNURM project, he said.

Meanwhile, the proposals forwarded by the Corporation seeking about Rs.31 crore under the UIDSSMT, did not get through in time last year and are likely to be cleared this year.

Solid waste management programmes, construction of stormwater drains, strengthening of roads, creation of parking lots, development of heritage centres and repairs to water sources are some of the works planned to be taken up utilising the funds.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/24/stories/2007062461350300.htm

AIE is planing daily flights from Trichy to Dubai. Currently it is operating 3 flights a week.The new schedule would start from July 7th. This will really give a big push for the development of Trichy airport.

http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/showxml.aspx?id=2011510&code=3470

Corporation hopes to get Rs.31 crore

From Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme





TIRUCHI: The Corporation’s efforts to get the city included under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) appears to have made little headway. The civic body is now pinning its hopes on getting funds from the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) this year.

Though the elected representatives of the Corporation, especially the Mayor, Sarubala R. Tondaiman, have been trying to include Tiruchi under the JNNURM, official sources concede that the chances are slim as the Urban Development Ministry has put a freeze on the cities taken up for development under the project.

Tiruchi failed to qualify as it did not meet the minimum population requirement of 10 lakhs.

However, Ms.Tondaiman has been arguing that Tiruchi’s floating population, especially the devotees thronging Srirangam, should be taken into account. Currently, the population is just over eight lakhs. She had been taken up the issue with the State and Central Ministers.

“No foresightedness”

A senior district official observed that the Corporation had failed to act with foresightedness on the issue. Several parts in the outskirts of the city, especially the Tiruverambur/ Thuvakudi region which includes BHEL Township, could have been brought under the Corporation.

Tiruverambur, till recently a town panchayat, was just upgraded into a Grade III Municipality. If only the Corporation had pushed through a proposal a couple of years ago, it would have easily qualified for the JNNURM project, he said.

Meanwhile, the proposals forwarded by the Corporation seeking about Rs.31 crore under the UIDSSMT, did not get through in time last year and are likely to be cleared this year.

Solid waste management programmes, construction of stormwater drains, strengthening of roads, creation of parking lots, development of heritage centres and repairs to water sources are some of the works planned to be taken up utilising the funds.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/24/stories/2007062461350300.htm


It is sad that Trichy is not part of JNNURM though it has a population of around 9 lacs only. But,as said in the article,Trichy has more floating population.Apart from visiting Srirangam and Rockfort, due to its geographical position, more people use Trichy to travel to other places in the state. Also many people visit Trichy for Medical needs as it has larger number of good hosiptals.

Kattur,Triverambur and Thuvakudi easily will have around 2-3 lacs population.Hope atleast now they add these areas to the corporation.

Also, if the 3 representatives from Trichy area ( including Mr Raja IT minister) work to gether, Trichy can be added to the JNNURM project and easily develop it into a model city.

In south India over the next six months, The MobileStore will extend its presence to key cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Warangal, Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Manipal, Belgaum, Davangere, Hubli - Dharwad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode.


http://www.chennaionline.com/events/Business/2007/06news52.asp

Tamil Nadu is set to become the second state in the country after Gujarat, to have evening courts, with the first batch of 11 to be inaugurated on July three.


While Chennai will have four, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli will have two each. Salem, Madurai and Tiruchi will have one each. They would function between 6 pm and 8 pm on all working days.

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B7D27C0D2-9EB0-4621-8EDB-DD97A2425999%7D&CATEGORYNAME=CHN

AIE is planing daily flights from Trichy to Dubai. Currently it is operating 3 flights a week.The new schedule would start from July 7th. This will really give a big push for the development of Trichy airport.

http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/showxml.aspx?id=2011510&code=3470

Does this follows the same for Singapore as well, since, the demand is equally overwhelming too.

Does this follows the same for Singapore as well, since, the demand is equally overwhelming too.

It makes sense if it was singapore too, as they use the same aircraft for both dubai and singapore.

I still dont see the daily flights to dubai scheduled in AIE website.

It makes sense if it was singapore too, as they use the same aircraft for both dubai and singapore.

I still dont see the daily flights to dubai scheduled in AIE website.


AIE is still waiting to get clearance from DGCA for daily flights to dubai and singapore.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=148030&code=16273

Trichy corporation has approved Rs 7 crore water theme park in Trichy city. The same project was rejected in the last meeting as the councilors felt that it should be on built on BOT basis and also Anna nagar didnt have enough space for this project.

Personally, I feel disgusting when funds are badly needed for infrastructure works.The drainage work has been happening for years now, new roads are needed which were damaged by the drainage work and flooding couple of years before.

Trichy will remain same as long as we have bunch of jokers in the corporation.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=148096&code=18359

AIE is still waiting to get clearance from DGCA for daily flights to dubai and singapore.

http://www.dinakaran.co.in/epaperdinakaran/showxml.aspx?id=148030&code=16273

Is it daily services to Dubai/Singapore or 6 days/week? Moreover, is Trichy airport ready to handle an increased aircraft and passenger movements?, since, require enough infrastructure and manpower to handle, which, I believe, the existing terminal is too small and cram, in coping with the high passenger load per aircraft movement, currently being experienced.

Perhaps, an indication that AAI should expedite asap all current and proposed developments at Trichy airport, in order to cater to the high potential growth of passenger and cargo movements at Trichy airport.