Being a unique territory, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) deserves its own thread. Please post all projects and developments related to Pondicherry (Puducherry) City, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam in this thread.

The Government of the Union Territory of Puducherry has formally approved the construction of a multilevel parking lot within the old Central Prison complex on Jawaharlal Nehru Street. The old prison was shifted to the New Jail Complex at Kalapet in October 2008. The parking facility will decongest the market area and ease traffic movement on Rangapillai Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road and Mission Street.

The local administration and public works departments are executing the project. The local administration department is in the process of preparing the detailed project report, an official told Projectmonitor. The LAD plans to execute the project through public-private partnership, he said, adding that expressions of interest would be invited once the DPR and other approvals were received, hopefully, by end of this month.

The public works and town and country planning departments have carried out two separate surveys to asses the viability of the project. A PWD spokesperson said that the prison complex had a built-up area of 10,000 sq. ft and the parking structure was designed for three-four floors accommodating some 5,000 two-wheelers and 1,500 four-wheelers. The authorities are working out other modern facilities. He added that the estimated project cost of Rs 35 crore would be shared by the Puducherry administration and the private agency building the parking lot.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/NEWPROJECTS/multi-car-park-to-replace-old-prison-in-puducherry

Rs.9-crore proposal sent to government

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/07/images/2009020761000401.jpg
Improvement in store: The Palar River causeway beyond Kalpakkam is among the facilities that would be strengthened. —

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Road Development Company has proposed to strengthen several old bridges and culverts on the 113-km-long East Coast Road from Chennai to Puducherry.

A proposal about the works, estimated to cost Rs.9 crore, has been sent to the State government for approval. The company has sought funds from the government as the facilities have been in existence much before the road was laid.

A senior official of the TNRDC told The Hindu that the facilities were old and had undergone considerable wear and tear. The bridges at Muttukadu and Thenpakkam are nearly 40 years old and need to be reinforced. Expansion joints would be replaced, epoxy mortar filling would have to be done to cover the gaps and protective paint coating given. Both the bridges have been constructed over the backwaters. The bridge at Muttukadu is 320 mts long and the one at Thenpakkam is 394 mts long.

The Palar river causeway beyond Kalpakkam would also be strengthened as part of the proposal. The official added that 15 moderately distressed bridges that are not so old and 15 culverts would also be renovated. The pipe culverts would be replaced with box culverts.

On its plans to four-lane the ECR, the official said the project consultant had recently submitted a report to them and that it was being studied. The project proposes inclusion of service lanes, utility corridor and construction of medians. It would also involve some land acquisition.

“We are planning to go about it in stages. We are thinking of geometric correction of bends. There are 22 bends and we want to increase the radius of curves to reduce the number of accidents. We are extracting the details from the consultant’s report and studying that,” he added. The ECR road has been existence since 1998 and it became a toll road in 2002.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/07/stories/2009020761000400.htm

A quarter century or so ago there existed no broad road in Pondicherry. All roads were quite narrow and invariably took the people to the sea. The roads continue to be so, in spite of the government’s attempt to broaden them so as to do away with the present traffic pollution. Perhaps the only exception, if at all we would consider that as worthy of exception, was the Cours Chabrol, now known as Goubert Avenue, and popularly known to the local people as the Beach road. But when the mammoth project of Connecting India through roads came into being, Pondicherry began to enjoy a very broad road, its breadth measuring one hundred feet, thereby making heavy vehicle navigation a dream come reality.

When Anglo-French Textiles, a leading cotton spinning mill in Pondicherry, brought down its shutters and rendered several thousands of its workers jobless and that was in 1983, the people in Mudaliarpet and Olandai-Keerapalayam areas began to sell their fertile lands for any decent amount so as to stop their family members from going hungry or go a begging in streets. The Kashmir to Kanyakumari road that was coming up enhanced the value of these fertile lands and brought its sellers more than the expected money. These arable lands that once sported green carpets for most part of the year later sold as plots transformed themselves into concrete jungles of today.

Streams and rivulets once swished through the reeds here. Varieties of fish gamboled and frolicked in crystal clear water here. Trees of different shapes and hues stood sentinels to this ever green land. And Birds of different feathers had their homes here. And we as children spent most part of our leisure hours here playing country cricket and flying kites or simply sat with friends on the banks of Oyinderi and Kombakkam lakes and watched the sunset with awe.

By the time the AFT Mills after several serious thoughts pushed up its shutters and that was in 1986 the mounds of mud were all leveled and the hundred feet road came into existence. The road meant to be only a connecting link or a highway starts from Marapalam, a deviation from Cuddalore road and goes via Indira Gandhi statue, Rajiv Gandhi statue and almost comes to a close at the place where the veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan is honoured with a statue. The road then takes another deviation to join the Chennai highways.

Today the hundred feet road running to 4.5 kms has become a very major business centre. With plying buses and other heavy vehicles the road hums with activity round the clock. From decent hotels to unhygienic fast food joints, from sellers of hardware to vendors of software, from two wheeler display rooms to posh four wheeler showrooms, from higher secondary schools to job-oriented colleges, from arrack shops to bars, from furniture marts to huge shopping malls, from tea stalls to pakoda shops…wow! Name any of your needs and you are sure to get them there.

The Hundred Feet road is a living witness for the growth of the city, Pondicherry. It shows signs of developing into a new city and the day is not far when the Pondicherry town proper will be known as Old Town.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/14/stories/2009021454690500.htm

CHENNAI: The railway station at Mahe, an enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry in Kerala, would be renovated and upgraded to a model railway station status soon, PMK MP M. Ramadoss said on Thursday. In a release here, he said the Railway Ministry had drawn up an action plan and the work would commence in the next two months. All facilities, including construction of retiring rooms, enquiry counters, ATM facilities and telephone facilities, would form part of the amenities to be provided under the programme.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022055810300.htm

Pondichery GDP was close to Chandigarh during 98-99 now in a decade Chandigarh went up 300% but Pondichery is very stable right at the same level. Is there any govt functioning there.

I don't see any development news except resting on the decades old laurels like JIPMER, Whirlpool, and some electronic manufacturing units(2 or 3).

Pondichery GDP was close to Chandigarh during 98-99 now in a decade Chandigarh went up 300% but Pondichery is very stable right at the same level. Is there any govt functioning there.

I don't see any development news except resting on the decades old laurels like JIPMER, Whirlpool, and some electronic manufacturing units(2 or 3).


Good point…

Those times you might seen many PY registered (cars, bus, trucks) over whole south India. Due to less TAX neighbouring state people use to buy from pondicherry. That time Pondicherry use have about 7 maruti dealers and few ford dealers.

Then all states introduced entry tax. So, Pondicherry motor sales slumped immediately.

Nearby towns like (Tindivanam, villumpuram , cuddalore and neiveli all around villages) use to buy electronics and home appliances from pondicherry. After the introduction of VAT that’s gone.

Same story for building materials…

Now they got only liquor, tourism and other hardware industries.

And obviously visionless government

That’s reason for low GDP

Being a small state it is easy to develop.
Also they can fight for one IIT , IIM etc for their growth.

What a criminal laziness the govt is showing and also the people are not fighting for their rights.

An upcoming project by TVH

Puducherry - Marakkanam, (Near Auroville) - Integrated Township - 500 acres

Site:http://www.tvh.in/home.html

Karaikal port to get its first vessel today

http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/15/stories/2009041550040100.htm

It is being built by Karaikal Port Private Limited

Two of the nine berths planned are ready

CHENNAI: The privately built the Karaikal port will receive its first vessel on Wednesday when M.V.Beluga Fan Fare, a “project cargo specialist vessel,” docks at the newly built berth in the morning.

The deep sea, all-weather port is being built by Karaikal Port Private Limited (KPPL), at Vanjore near Karaikal, on a Build-Own-Transfer (BOT) basis.

Of the nine berths planned to be built on 600 acres leased from the Puducherry government, two were ready, company officials said.

Phase-I of the project was complete, they said, and the completed berths were being opened for commercial use, they said.

The first phase was completed in a record time of 18 months, a senior government official said. The first two berths, each 213-metre-long, were complete and dredging has been completed to a depth of 9 metre, he said.

M.V. Beluga Fan Fare, a 40-metre-long cargo vessel, would be the first commercial vessel docking at the port, and would carry two Liebherr Harbour mobile cranes of approximately 400 tonnes each as cargo.

Link Shipping South, the company representing Beluga Carriers, said the cranes had a lifting capacity of 104 tonnes.

The Karaikal port, with a total project cost of Rs. 1,400 crore, is intended to primarily handle cement and coal to serve the hinterland in Ariyalur, Perambalur and Tiruchi. The port is also expected to provide an alternative to the Chennai and Tuticorin ports, which are the major ports in the coastline but are separated by long distance.

While the port has been opened for commercial exploitation, the railway line work to connect Nagore to Karaikal was progressing and the port could receive rail connectivity by July, the government official said.

Friday, 17 Apr, 2009

Karaikal Port Ltd, a subsidiary of Marg Construction, has announced the commencement of the Phase II of Karaikal port project in Tamil Nadu. During this Phase around Rs.1,600 crore will be invested based on the debt-equity ratio of 73:27.

In Phase II, the company intends to mechanise the port and increase the draft to 16.5 mtrs. On completion of this phase, the port capacity will rise from 4 million tonne to 25 million tonne.

Meanwhile, the Rs. 450 crore Phase I is nearing completion. In this phase, space has been created for two ships to berth. At present, the port has a draft (depth) of 9.5 mtrs, which will be raised to 14.5 mtrs by July 2009.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?smid=24&nid=25925

Hello friends, when will the NIT in Puducherry be Inagurated? It has spread as a rumour for around 3 years. The central govt is ready with the cash/fund. Then what is the reason for delay.

Friday, 17 Apr, 2009

Karaikal Port Ltd, a subsidiary of Marg Construction, has announced the commencement of the Phase II of Karaikal port project in Tamil Nadu. During this Phase around Rs.1,600 crore will be invested based on the debt-equity ratio of 73:27.

In Phase II, the company intends to mechanise the port and increase the draft to 16.5 mtrs. On completion of this phase, the port capacity will rise from 4 million tonne to 25 million tonne.

Meanwhile, the Rs. 450 crore Phase I is nearing completion. In this phase, space has been created for two ships to berth. At present, the port has a draft (depth) of 9.5 mtrs, which will be raised to 14.5 mtrs by July 2009.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?smid=24&nid=25925


Thats an awesome news... So we have 4th major port in the making for TN. Good way to go..

Hello friends, when will the NIT in Puducherry be Inagurated? It has spread as a rumour for around 3 years. The central govt is ready with the cash/fund. Then what is the reason for delay.

I really find it indigestable to imagine an NIT here. Already the no of engg colleges is so high considering its population. Instead convert PEC into a central university and develop it on the lines of NITs. The govt must also request the TN govt to include Pondicherry as a part of TN while applying for Engineering colleges at Anna University and other Universities.

Good point…

Those times you might seen many PY registered (cars, bus, trucks) over whole south India. Due to less TAX neighbouring state people use to buy from pondicherry. That time Pondicherry use have about 7 maruti dealers and few ford dealers.

Then all states introduced entry tax. So, Pondicherry motor sales slumped immediately.

Nearby towns like (Tindivanam, villumpuram , cuddalore and neiveli all around villages) use to buy electronics and home appliances from pondicherry. After the introduction of VAT that’s gone.

Same story for building materials…

Now they got only liquor, tourism and other hardware industries.

And obviously visionless government

That’s reason for low GDP

This is what happens when people get easy money.

As you pointed out, the whole of South India made a bee line to Pondicherry to buy their vehicles, chassis and other goods such as liquor and high end items. Even one of the CM of the state (if not others) was in liquor business and made crores of rupees. Without having to do any marketing for their destination or products, they raked in moolah. Slowly but surely, everyone realized their folly and changed their tax systems and now Pondy has been left high and dry.

Governments should foresee what is happening and if they are not in a position to prevent it, they should atleast look for alternatives to keep their economy going (unless you are Delhi). But, then it would be too much to expect from local politicians.

I heard some rumors that NIT in Puducherry will be functioning from the next academic year. Even my friends say that PEC Principal also told the same thing.

" I am a resident of Puducherry. We are suffering a lot without proper train connectivity to important destinations. I am explaining them one by one.

Will there be a track between Puducherry and Cuddalore? If yes, roughly at which year the track will be open to the traffic? I think there are two stations in Cuddalor:one station connecting Chidambaram/Sirkali/Mayavaram/Kumbakonam/Thanjavur and the other to Virdachalam.

Can i know the track proposal? How will the track be and to which station the track from Puducherry will be connected? We have to take a lot of risks by taking the roadway to cuddalore, that much traffic in road. I request you to complete this project as soon as possible and extend the north to Tindivanam, so that the time taken to chennai trip will be reduced and also all the people travelling in the morning to Cuddalore and Tindivanam be comfort and happy. The people travelling in this line are taking a lot of risks.

Will the track from Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Puducherry-Cuddalore be completed? I heard some rumors that the project is a drop out project?

After the completion of the Villupuram-Kathpadi line, i request you to check the feasibility for the following new Services via VM-TVM-KPD:
Puducherry-Banglore City Junction normal express/superfast express.
Puducherry-Coimbatore/Ernakulam/Mahe.

The most econmical and profitable one for the SBC Train woud be Friday night from SBC to PDY and Sunday night from PDY to SBC. A weekly/bi-weekly service, especially on Fridays and Sundays will be more then enough.

Also i request you to check the feasibility for increasing the no of coaches and the no of servies of the 6115/6116 MS-PDY-MS Express.

I am eagerly waiting for your reply and a positive response for atleast one of my demands. Puducherry is facing a lot of demands in the transport sector, especially railways. I am putting foreward the demands in my town on behalf of the people of Puducherry. "


This is the mail i sent to the SR officials... What do you think of it...Please respond to it

dr thalapathy welcum to ssc

We canget a clear picture of Mamta's intentions tomorrow. Wait till then.

Hello friends, another big problem.

Now there is a problem in license agreement between the states of Puducherry and Karnataka. So, KSRTC and PRTC buses connectivity are not proper. KSRTC buses stops at the border of Puducherry and even starts from there. PRTC buses stops at Hosur. So there is a big problem for all the travellers to banglore/puducherry. SETC and TNSTC-Villupurm buses are the only proper connector to both the cities other than the private travelles buses. So there is a big problem especially on fridays and sundays. So someone please take necessary action to make the existing yeswantpur-puducherry train permenant. The train was announced on previous budget and even till now the train is not made permenant. What is the state/central govt doing?

Recently a PRTC bus met with an accident. That was known to all. When the bus was checked, the road tax has not been paid by any PRTC interstate bus from March 2008. I also got a information that it has been running in continueous loss from the month of Oct 2007. If this continueous till the end of next year, it may be closed or the stakes may be sold to TNSTC/SETC or it may be privatised. I dont know if it is true.

Proposals for establishment of new airport at Chakan, Shirdi & Solapur in Maharashtra, Kushinagar, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Ludhiana in Punjab, Karaikal in Puducherry, Cheitu in Nagarland & Paladi in Rajasthan have been received. A proposal for setting up of a Cargo airport at Jhajhar in Harayana has been received.

source: http://indiaaviation.aero/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28065&newsId=2340

Is there any progress is puducherry airport ? Puducherry govt asked land from tamil nadu govt last year for runway expansion. is there any new update.

Is there any progress is puducherry airport ? Puducherry govt asked land from tamil nadu govt last year for runway expansion. is there any new update.

Pondicherry airport will not expand for the following reasons.

1. The eastern end of the runway cannot be lengthened as it would need to intrude into Tamilnadu. T.N has not agreed to part with any land. The western end is blocked by fully built up residential areas. Runway length and orientation is determined also by the wind factor & the average temperature. Since Pondy's ave temp is high , it needs a longer runway to give sufficient air volume to the aircraft wings.

2. The airport is 3 Km from the international city of Auroville and its greenbelt. Auroville working committee which in turn in guided by the Human resources ministry has strongly objected to any expansion.

3. Market studies conducted in 2001 - 2002 revealed that there was not enough passengers for domestic flights while international operators will not want to duplicate their chennai operations. In other words there isn't sufficient Aircraft Activity Volume.

4. Chennai airport is 2.5 hours away even at the worst traffic situation and passengers prefer to drive to Chennai rather than take a hop on flight from Pondy.

5. Creating a maintenance hub for aircrafts & running a full fledged flying school and recreational flying club was mooted several times but received no govt attention.

For these reasons and the fact that Pondicherry is in India , it will never have a functional airport.

Hi to all, we all heard that a flyover will come in the Indra Gandhi and Rajiv Gandi signal junctions. Will that be implemented? It must come as these two signals have become the most important junctions of Puducherry. Heavey traffic occurs at these junctions.

^^^^

Good news…:banana:
Both Gandhi’s junctions are complete mess.
Hope they complete in time. Do Pondy govt got money for these projects?

Cabinet Decision

The Union Cabinet today approved setting up of new National Institutes of Technology (NITs). These new NITs will be established in Manipur; Meghalaya; Mizoram; Nagaland; Goa (which will also cater to UTs of Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Lakshdweep); Pudducherry (which will also cater to Andaman & Nicobar Islands); Sikkim; Delhi (which will also cater to Chandigarh) and Uttrakhand.

The process for setting up of these new NITs will start in 2009-10 with formation of their respective societies, constitution of their Board of Governors, appointment of Directors, etc. The admissions in these new NITs will be made from the academic session 2010-11 and NITs will start classes either in campuses taken on lease or temporarily in mentor NITs. Work for construction of campuses for these new NITs will also be initiated subject to the land being provided free of cost by the concerned States/UTs. The process of setting up will be completed over a period of five year.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=52692

About the new NIT in Puducherry, will PEC be converted into an NIT or new NIT will be established?

About the new NIT in Puducherry, will PEC be converted into an NIT or new NIT will be established?

The Union Government is likely to set up 10 new National Institutes of Technology (NITs), to facilitate quality technical and engineering education in the region.

The new NITs are to come up in Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa, Delhi, Puducherry and Uttarakhand.

The total cost of setting up these institutions is expected to be Rs 2,600 crore. While the NITs at Delhi and Uttarakhand will cost the government Rs 300 crore each, the rest of them are to be built at an expenditure of Rs 250 crore each.

The new institutes are expected to be completed over a period of five years.

source (http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?nid=27952)

This is for developing auxiliary facilities

KARAIKAL: The government has drawn up a master plan on the proposal to involve private participation in the development of auxiliary facilities in airports, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said here on Saturday.

While the functioning of the airports would still remain under the control of the Airports Authority of India, public-private participation (PPP) was envisaged in the development of subsidiary facilities.

“Land that is not meant for aeronautical use will be identified for airport development through private parties and we are working at it.”

Upgrading Puducherry airport

On the proposal for upgrading the Puducherry airport, he said consultations on land identification were progressing with Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments. The proposed land for extending the runway touched Tamil Nadu.

As for the proposed merchant airport at Karaikal, he said that the Centre would provide all necessary support in the form of clearances.

“We are aware of private interest in developing an airport here. Considering its religious tourism and infrastructure in the form of port and power stations, an airport at Karaikal will accentuate the development of the entire region.”

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/20/stories/2009092059090700.htm

What is the need for Airport now in the towns of Puducherry and Karaikal. The ministers must look in satisfying the other transport demands inside the town and for the inter state. There are lot of demands for trains in Puducherry. But the demand is not completely satisfied, even in roadways.

I heard that the NIT in Puducherry is about to come up near Mettupalayam.

^^^^
Thanks Dr. Thapalathy.

Is there enough land for NIT?
As Mettupalayam got PEPDIC industrial estate?

oI2g1CSuLdw


Pogo Land

Sampourna Amusement Park - POGO LAND in Ousteri is Puducherry’s first amusement park, has a lot to offer to the entire family. You can swim, go dizzy, take a ride on a train, let the waves wash over you, have a shower in the Kuttralam falls. The ideal place for a day-long holiday outing, it has everything in water related entertainment including the Water shoot, Slide swimming pool, Pumber Boat, Pigeon Multi-rider, Columbus Rider and also Dashing Car, Thirullanium Theatre, Rail Star World. The park also has separate facilities for toddlers at the indoor park, baby swimming pool and babies air balloon. The swimming pool, with locker facility to keep your valuables, is open to those who want to keep fit.


Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/01/stories/2009100150980200.htm

After cashing on its rich spiritual and colonial heritage, Puducherry is fast becoming one of the prominent tourist destinations of adventure and entertainment. The tiny coastal town located 160 kms from Chennai has always been a popular hang out destination for people who wish to spend a rejuvenating time away from workload.

The union territory has also become popular among international tourists over the recent years and the inflow of tourists across India and worldwide has almost doubled over the decade. In the year 1999, the inflow of tourists was 4,72,412 (4,49,429 domestic tourists and 22,983 foreign tourists) and in 2008, the total number of tourists was 8,88,108 (8,27,799 domestic tourists and 60,309 foreign tourists).

In order to make the tourists enjoy their best ever vacation, the Puducherry government and tourism department has undertaken various expansion projects for about Rs 400 crore. These projects include a special tourism zone at Manapet village that will comprise of a golf course, health resorts, zoo, sculpture park, etc over 35 hectares of land.

The Puducherry government is also planning to develop Thirunallar, a place famous across the world dedicated to Lord Saneeswarar near Karaikal as a temple town by creating the required infrastructure. The temple attracts about 50,000 people on normal weekends and over a million people annually.

Beautification of the Puducherry beach front is also under process where trees are being planted on either sides of the beachside walkway and the state government plans to develop high jet fountains on the beach front as a part of the beautification process.

The land bank scheme started by the Puducherry tourism department plans to acquire lands for implementation of various tourism projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. A five star hotel is being planned on the riverfront in Puducherry under the PPP model.

In order to increase the tourist potential to the other regions of Puducherry, the government has also proposed two family entertainment centres at Karaikal and Mahe regions.


Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/01/stories/2009100152060300.htm

^^^^
Thanks Dr. Thapalathy.

Is there enough land for NIT?
As Mettupalayam got PEPDIC industrial estate?

Thanks. This is the information i got from my press friends. But for sure we will see a NIT functioning in Puducherry from 2010-11.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/01/stories/2009100152060300.htm

Oh, what a nice information too see and read. I feel really happy as Govt is taking measures to make puducherry a tourism rich place. I expect it to be a top tourism spot in the near future.

But Govt needs to take control on the increasing traffic density and must control it.:ohno: There are lot of congestions and the conditions of the road are too poor in some areas.

:)

One good news: The extension in the breadth of the Puducherry-Cuddalore road has been sanctioned and a deadline has been fixed till next year december. This was mainly due to pressure and force from Media especially Dinamalar. Thanks to them.


Please post your replies and expectations

Puducherry is one of the most preferred destinations where you can make the best out of your weekends. Boat rides in backwaters, exquisite exhibitions of art works, music that sets your foot tapping and food that makes your taste buds turn watery-you get to experience all these and much more during your stay here.

If you are the kind who would prefer enjoying live music instead of listening to CDs, then Sec-Sat is the place to head for. Sec Sat is a live musical concert which happens at the second Saturdays of every month at Seagulls Restaurant, Puducherry. At Sec Sat, the musicians play hip-hop, hindustani, rap and jazz before an audience that includes foreigners, tourists from Chennai and Bangalore and people from the beach, who are regulars at the programmes. You get to listen to it free of cost at Sec Sat which has been attracting bands from Africa and Goa.

“Kalanjiyam” at Chunnambar Boat House is another attraction for weekend visitors. A culture-based tourism initiative, “Kalanjiyam” showcases various traditional, modern and contemporary art forms of Puducherry like street plays, folk dances etc. For those of you who love to hit the dance floor, Asian House Club near the beach is a must –visit. This is a place where you can spend your Saturday nights dancing to the tunes of eminent DJ’s from countries like Europe and UK who play an eclectic mix of sophisticated music.

Puducherry is also a place where artists and art galleries abound and there exists a vibrant art scene. The “Made In Gallery” on Labourdonnais Street is one of the best art galleries in town. Started by Eva Laberibe-Maridas, an art historian born at New Caledonia, the gallery showcases works of both local artists and those from elsewhere. Also, photo exhibitions of artists from France are a regular feature at Alliance Francaise’ Maison Colombani. And that’s not just all-you also get to savor an array of foods including those from the kitchens of the Nawabs and the Mughals, Mediterranean and Italian delicacies, exotic sea food and traditional Karaikudi preparations at food festivals.


Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/01/stories/2009100151540300.htm

I heard that PRTC is going to buy 50 new buses in it's operation. It includes 10 VOLVO buses, 30 buses operating in and around the towns of Puducherry, karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Out of these, 20 are for Puducherry and they are CNG buses. A CNG station is to be set up in Kalapet.

One small doubt i have for long time: is PRTC operating under Profit or loss? I heard that the town buses are operating in profit. Is it true?

Express News Service
First Published : 07 Oct 2009 03:04:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 07 Oct 2009 07:18:06 AM IST

PUDUCHERRY: The proposed National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Puducherry has suffered a jerk, as the Union Territory cannot meet the requirement of 300 acres of land for its establishment.

Education Minister M O H F Shahjehan said on Tuesday that he along with the Chief Minister would meet Union Education Minister Kapil Sibal and Minister of State for Human Resource Purandeswari, after Deepavali and give representation to reduce 300-acre land into a lesser area.

Plans are afoot to introduce foreign languages like French, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, he said, adding that there are also proposals for tie-up with foreign unive*rsities for student exchange programmes. “Once the NIT starts functioning, we can demand 50 per cent of seats for Puducherry students.”

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Space+crunch+hits+NIT&artid=Ye6X75DbPnI=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=

Puducherry is about to get a SEZ especially for IT and ITES in Lawspet. A 10 acre land has been identified..

I think the NIT for Puducherry UT is to come up in Karaikal. Since there is no land of around 300 acre available in Pondicherry, Karaikal has been identified for it and the second reason is the development of Karailkal region of Puducherry UT. This is what i read in the paper

PRTC is going to recruit drivers. The initial salary is Rs 200 per day + extra allowances. After they are confirmed as permenant drivers, the salary may increase.

Puducherry keen to rediscover Roman connection at Arikamedu

GOVT SEEKS CENTRAL AID TO CONVERT IT INTO A HERITAGE
B Aravind Kumar | TNN

Chennai: Puducherry, about 170 kms from Chennai, attracts hordes of tourists drawn by its quaint French flavour. But what is little known is the town’s two-century-old Roman connection. Flanked by a picturesque river and a fishing hamlet, ‘Arikan-medu or Poduke,’ (eroding mound), located about 4 km from Puducherry, was once an ancient Tamil port town. Over the years, several archaeologists have dug up evidences to prove that a settlement of the ‘Yavanas’ (people of Greco-Roman origin) once existed here.

Today, the Puducherry g ove r n - ment is
pushing aggressively on a plan to further excavate the world famous archaeological site with a rich history dating back to 200 BC and dig up innumerable treasures buried underneath. And facilitating the plan to develop the site into a heritage tourist destination is son of the soil, V Narayanasamy, who is now Union minister of state for culture.

Narayanasamy told TOI that the government was very keen to begin excavations and further research to promote the site as heritage tourism
spot. “We are serious this time to promote the ancient connections.” Initially, Rs 5 crore will be funded for the dream project. The Puducherry government has already acquired about eight acres of land around the ASI site, where three excavations have been undertaken till now, and have fenced off the area to prevent further disturbance and encroachments. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco) has a plan ready to develop the site and set up a museum, an amphitheatre for sound and light show, a boat deck and viewing tower, restaurants and a leisure zone. According to sources, the territorial government has been trying hard to roll out the plan for nearly seven years. But it made very little progress as the site was under ASI control. “Arikamedu is a rare site. We have acquired land, fenced it and now we are awaiting ASI nod,” said Mathew Samuel, director of tourism, Puducherry. The government has requested ASI to use remote sensing and other technologies to ascertain what lies beneath the soil.

Sources say that the Italian government was willing to extend an init i a l grant of Rs 10 crore for excavations and expansion of the site. M o r i m e r Wheeler was the first to excavate at Arikamedu in 1945 and confirm that the fishing village was once a major Chola port that flourished for centuries by trading with the Romans. Later, Frenchman JM Casal (1947) and Vimala Begley of the University of Pennsylvania (1989-1992) conducted excavations. Archaeologist P Ravichandran, who was part of Begley’s team, has warned against further excavations. Unlike archaeological sites like Harappa where architectural ruins draw people, Arikamedu is an “artefact’’ site with ancient treasures like beads and pieces of terracotta strewn across it. “This could disappoint tourists,” he pointed out.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2009/11/12/6/Img/Pc0061100.jpg
Preserving A Slice Of History
In a bid to showcase its two-century-old Roman connection, the Puducherry government has presented a plan to the Archaeological Survey of India for developing the famous Arikamedu site on the outskirts of Puducherry into a heritage tourist spot
TOI

The location of NIT for Puducherry UT has been identified. It is in the revenue village of Poovam and Thiruvetakudy of Karaikal. 200 acres of promboke land has been locked by the Govt out of which 10 acres will be given to NIT immediately to start the construction of building to start functioning from 2010-11.

Aiming for a larger play in the domestic skies, Paramount Airways plans to increase its fleet fourfold by 2011 to 20 aircraft by inducting mid-sized airplanes.

The Chennai-based carrier is also set to launch on-board mobile phone usage by passengers within two months, subject to approval from regulatory authorities.

"We will have 20 aircraft by the middle of 2011, up from five at present. We are looking at Embraer and turboprop aircraft for scaling up our fleet," Paramount Airways Managing Director M Thiagarajan told PTI.

Embraer and turboprops are smaller jets with a seating capacity of up to 70-75 passengers, suitable for landing on shorter runways.

On the carrier's plan to become the first carrier to provide on-board mobile phone facility in India, he said: "We hope to launch it in two months."

He said the airline is seeking regulatory approvals for allowing usage of cellphones even during take-off and landing of airplanes, a service hitherto not offered by any carrier.

On the fleet expansion programme, Thiagarajan said turboprop aircraft would be required by the carrier as it is looking at tapping market for tourist destinations like Agatti (Lakshadweep) and Podicherry.



Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/paramount-to-expand-fleet-launch-on-board-mobile-service/79097/on

KARAIKAL: Geographical contiguity is not a necessary condition for statehood and statehood for Puducherry would include all the four regions of Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam and Puducherry, said Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture V. Narayanasamy here on Saturday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the foundation-laying of Nalankulam revitalisation project of the Thirunallar Temple Town Development Project, Mr. Narayanasamy said that the Prime Minister had given an assurance to convene a parliamentary advisory committee to look into the statehood demand.

Earlier, Iqbal Singh, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, along with Mr. Narayanasamy and Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam inaugurated the Fisheries Training Institute at Kalikuppam.

The institute will provide free training for fisher folk on value-added fisheries products.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/29/stories/2009112952390300.htm

Nowadays, in Puducherry, traffic congestion is very high. Two wheelers have increased to a lot extent and the 4 wheelers are keeping on increasing. Signals are there for every 100-500 meters. Roads are of poor quality. Govt is taking no action to regulate the traffic in this town.

There are no proper Public Transport system connectivity in Puducherry, when compared to the population, whivh is increasing at a rapid rate in Puducherry.

Govt must take action in this measure to regulate these.

In the UT of Puducherry, two of 5 Muncipalities namely, Puducherry Municipality and Oulgaret Municapility has registered for Corporation Status. It is waiting for approval by Govt of India.

Soon, Puducherry will become a city. Nice to see it developing.

Hi, anyone has an idea on whether a mossiful bus stand is coming up near Moolakulam busstand near Puducherry or not? It was mentioned by the govt of Puduherry some years back, but there is no information or progress regarding it.

The Kamaraj Government Medical College, will be inagurated next year and will be open for admission of students from next year. The construction was stopped for around 3 years, as it was hit by lack of funds.

The developement cost, has been bought down by around 50 crores, by pausing the technological developement, which will be completed as it is progressing.

The Kamaraj Govt Medical College for the Puducherry UT will start functioning from the next academic year (2009-10). Along with it, the GH section for women and children also will be opend.

22 Industries in Puducherry got award for energy conservation. The prizes were distibuted by Honerable CM Mr V.Vaithialingam.

The GH for Women and Children build up at ellaipillaichavady will be functional from March 2010. All the heavy and important works are completed. Only other finishing touches, electrical lining, inner roads are to be completed.

Work of repairing the sewer line in the extended portion of the runway at Puducherry Airport has started, Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam said here on Saturday. Civil work at the airport was stopped in March after sewer line burst in the extended portion.

Talking to reporters at the Assembly, he said the government had allocated Rs. 8 crore to construct the sewer. “We are hopeful of speedy completion of the work. We are planning to start services from the airport from the beginning of 2010,” he said.

Giving an overview of the performance of his government, he said the government was “successful” in starting works, which were kept pending owing to lack of funds, during last year.

Works orders were given to re-start projects such as the government medical college, women and child hospital, construction of government school buildings and several roads and bridges. More than 250 new classrooms would be constructed before March, he said, adding that the government would incur expenditure of Rs. 22 crore.

Mr. Vaithilingam said that the long pending beach beautification project was taken up at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. The work would be completed shortly, he added.

The government was able to reimburse tuition fee for an entire batch of students sponsored by the Centralised Admission Committee in private medical colleges. As regards reimbursement of tuition fee for engineering college students, he said it was only given to first year batch. The government incurred an expenditure of Rs. 16 crore, the Mr. Vaithilingam said.

The Puducherry-Mangalore via Mahe weekly train service will be inaugurated on January 11 or 12. Union Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed will inaugurate the train from Puducherry, Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture V. Narayanasamy said here on Friday. The train would leave Mangalore at 4.30 p.m on Monday and reach Puducherry the next day by 8 a.m. It would make its return journey on Tuesday from Puducherry at 4 p.m and reach Mangalore the next day. The train would pass through Virudhachalam, Salem, Shoranur, Palakkad and Mahe, he said.

The train would connect Puducherry and its enclave Mahe, which was a long-pending demand, he said, adding that the government had approached the Union Ministry of Railways to provide train services linking Karaikal and Yanam with the Puducherry region.

The Union Minestry for Information Technology would provide the UT RS 100 crore to develop the Infrastructure for the proposed SEZ at Kalapet, in the identified 10 acre land.

The Puducherry-Mangalore via Mahe weekly train service will be inaugurated on January 11 or 12. Union Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed will inaugurate the train from Puducherry, Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture V. Narayanasamy said here on Friday. The train would leave Mangalore at 4.30 p.m on Monday and reach Puducherry the next day by 8 a.m. It would make its return journey on Tuesday from Puducherry at 4 p.m and reach Mangalore the next day. The train would pass through Virudhachalam, Salem, Shoranur, Palakkad and Mahe, he said.

dr_thapalathy,

Can you give source for this?

It is nice to see that the train will go via Vridhachalam, Salem. But TT was telling it will be via Chennai Egmore, Katpadi, Salem.

Via Vridhachalam is a welcome move, then it should pass via Coimbatore also instead of going via Podanur

The Puducherry-Mangalore via Mahe weekly train service will be inaugurated on January 11 or 12. Union Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed will inaugurate the train from Puducherry, Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture V. Narayanasamy said here on Friday. The train would leave Mangalore at 4.30 p.m on Monday and reach Puducherry the next day by 8 a.m. It would make its return journey on Tuesday from Puducherry at 4 p.m and reach Mangalore the next day. The train would pass through Virudhachalam, Salem, Shoranur, Palakkad and Mahe, he said.

dr_thapalathy,

Can you give source for this?

It is nice to see that the train will go via Vridhachalam, Salem. But TT was telling it will be via Chennai Egmore, Katpadi, Salem.

Via Vridhachalam is a welcome move, then it should pass via Coimbatore also instead of going via Podanur


All the dailys published it on the new year day. If it is to be going via Chennai Egmore, then it should have been inagurated when the Chennai-Mangalore train for six days a week was inagurated.

Shri V. Vaithilingam, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Puducherry will flag off the inaugural special between Mahe and Puducherry at at function to be held at Mahe railway station at 16.00 hrs. on 11.1.2010. Shri E. Ahamed, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Railways, Shri V. Narayanasamy, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Planning & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri E. Valsaraj, Hon'ble Minister for Home, Govt. of Puducherry, Shri A. V. Sreedharan, Hon'ble Deputy Speaker, Puducherry Legislative Assembly, Hon'ble MP, MLA and other dignitaries will participate in the function.
The inaugural special, T.No. 06044 will leave Mahe at 16.45 hrs. on 11.1.2010 and arrive Puducherry at 06.30 hrs. the next day. The composition of the train will be 1 AC 2-tier, 1 AC 3-tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class and 2 luggage-cum-brake van coaches. The train will stop at Vadakara, Kozhikkode, Tirur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem Jn., Salem Town, Attur, Chinnasalem, Vriddhachalam and Villupuram.
T.No.2795/2796 Mangalore – Puducherry – Mangalore Weekly Superfast Expresses are renumbered as T.No.6044/6043 Mangalore – Puducherry – Mangalore Weekly Express.
The regular service will commence from Puducherry on 12.1.2010 and from Mangalore on 18.1.2010. T.No.6044 Mangalore – Puducherry Weekly Express will leave Mangalore at 16.00 hrs. on Mondays and arrive Puducherry at 08.00 hrs. on Tuesdays. T.No.6043 Puducherry – Mangalore Weekly Express will leave Puducherry at 16.35 hrs. on Tuesdays and arrive Mangalore at 09.05 hrs. on Wednesdays. The composition of the trains will be 1 First AC cum AC 2-tier, 1 AC 2-tier, 1 AC 3-tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class and 2 luggage-cum-brake van coaches. The trains will stop at Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Kannur, Thalassery, mahe, Vadakara, Kozhikkode, Tirur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem Jn., Salem Town, Attur, Chinnasalem, Vriddhachalam and Villupuram.
Advance reservation for the above trains will commence on 10.1.2010.

As a permanent solution to Puducherry’s garbage disposal problem, the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC) has proposed the implementation of the Japanese model of solid waste management in the town.

According to the Action Plan proposed, available on the PPCC website, the model involves a different kind of source segregation of garbage, into three kinds: kitchen waste, incinerable waste and inert waste.

“Japan’s high life expectancy has a lot to do with the basic concept of waste management: the objective is to simply remove garbage that could contain pathogens that cause diseases like malaria, filariasis, cholera and typhoid,” environmental engineer N. Ramesh of PPCC explained. In Japan, waste is segregated into eight categories, but Puducherry can adopt a simplified approach, he added.

The town generates around 350 tonnes of garbage a day. According to the proposal, segregation of waste into these three categories would take place at the household level. Kitchen waste, which have the tendency to rot and produce odour, would be collected everyday, and directed to a composite plant, in which composting can be facilitated.

Incinerable waste, such as paper scraps, cloth and plastic cups, would be collected once a week and directed to an incinerator, while inert waste, such as broken ceramic, glass and metal scraps, collected once a month would be taken to a landfill site.

Proper incineration at 1,200 degrees and more, as opposed to open-air burning of garbage, does not release noxious gases, and the ash can be directed to the landfill site, along with inert waste. This way, only 10 per cent of the entire garbage generated will find its way to the landfill site, unlike now, when almost all the garbage goes to the dump, Mr. Ramesh said.

Another salient point in the proposal is the setting up of transition collection points. “One of the problems faced today is that our garbage collection trucks having to travel long distances to dump large amounts of garbage. Instead, the trucks could come to the transition point and transfer the garbage into a compacter, a closed vehicle with the capacity of five trucks, and from thereon, the compacter could go to the destination — be it the composite plant, incinerator or landfill,” Mr. Ramesh said.

The estimated cost of the entire project is Rs.50 crore, and the initial expenditure on awareness handbooks and five public dustbins, each a set of three, would come to around Rs. 1 crore.

The solution would be a permanent one and is bound to make Puducherry a clean, green place, Mr. Ramesh said.

Shri V. Vaithilingam, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Puducherry will flag off the inaugural special between Mahe and Puducherry at at function to be held at Mahe railway station at 16.00 hrs. on 11.1.2010. Shri E. Ahamed, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Railways, Shri V. Narayanasamy, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Planning & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri E. Valsaraj, Hon'ble Minister for Home, Govt. of Puducherry, Shri A. V. Sreedharan, Hon'ble Deputy Speaker, Puducherry Legislative Assembly, Hon'ble MP, MLA and other dignitaries will participate in the function.
The inaugural special, T.No. 06044 will leave Mahe at 16.45 hrs. on 11.1.2010 and arrive Puducherry at 06.30 hrs. the next day. The composition of the train will be 1 AC 2-tier, 1 AC 3-tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class and 2 luggage-cum-brake van coaches. The train will stop at Vadakara, Kozhikkode, Tirur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem Jn., Salem Town, Attur, Chinnasalem, Vriddhachalam and Villupuram.
T.No.2795/2796 Mangalore – Puducherry – Mangalore Weekly Superfast Expresses are renumbered as T.No.6044/6043 Mangalore – Puducherry – Mangalore Weekly Express.
The regular service will commence from Puducherry on 12.1.2010 and from Mangalore on 18.1.2010. T.No.6044 Mangalore – Puducherry Weekly Express will leave Mangalore at 16.00 hrs. on Mondays and arrive Puducherry at 08.00 hrs. on Tuesdays. T.No.6043 Puducherry – Mangalore Weekly Express will leave Puducherry at 16.35 hrs. on Tuesdays and arrive Mangalore at 09.05 hrs. on Wednesdays. The composition of the trains will be 1 First AC cum AC 2-tier, 1 AC 2-tier, 1 AC 3-tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class and 2 luggage-cum-brake van coaches. The trains will stop at Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Kannur, Thalassery, mahe, Vadakara, Kozhikkode, Tirur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem Jn., Salem Town, Attur, Chinnasalem, Vriddhachalam and Villupuram.
Advance reservation for the above trains will commence on 10.1.2010.


Good. now the train is taking the correct route instead of Egmore as announced earlier.

First time, Podanur,Tirupur,Erode are getting connected with Viruthachalam (by short route) and Pondichery. It will help Neyveli passengers also.

Hope it will run via CBE when CBE-Irugur doubling is over.

I am sure it will get good patronage so that it will be daily soon

Good. now the train is taking the correct route instead of Egmore as announced earlier.

First time, Podanur,Tirupur,Erode are getting connected with Viruthachalam (by short route) and Pondichery. It will help Neyveli passengers also.

Hope it will run via CBE when CBE-Irugur doubling is over.

I am sure it will get good patronage so that it will be daily soon

Daily train can be worthy to Mumbai via same route and diverting via Cuddalore and there by giving Pondy/Villupuram/Cuddalore/Neyveli daily night connection to Western TN.

Gud eve to all. I attended the inaguration function of the much awaited PDY-MAQ Express. It is my first visit to a train inaguration function. I am sharing that experience in this forum.

I think that the Kerala people were really very happy with the inaguration of this train, as the Kerala People's asociation in Puducherry, distibuted sweets and snacks to everyone who came to the station. Even the traditional Kerala music and dance were exhibited. The last minute bookings were atleast 50/70 in SL and all the UR compartments were full in PDY itself. The 3 AC and 2 AC were full.

Almost all the ministers from PDY were present during the inaguration function. The were speaking for around 2 hrs and the train which was suppose to leave at 4:35 pm, left at 5 pm. For the first time in Puducherry RS, mic announcements were done (according to my knowledge, i suppose i am not wrong). I have never seen such a crowd in Puducherry RS. The crowd composition consisted of the travellers of the train, Police Officers and Security Guards, other visitors, and workers arranging the function. Cakes were cut and were distibuted to all those who were present in the station. When the train started, crackers were burst and i had a doubt of whether it was a train inaguration function or some VIP's family function.

All those who spoke on the stage, just spoke about PDY-MAHE connectivity, the difficulties faced by commuters travelling to PDY-MAHE etc. Even before the inaguration of the train, everyone spoke about making of the train bi/tri weekly and one of them stressed it to make a daily train. The rest of the time, they just talked about various railways projects for PDY and KIK in the near future.

Finally the Malayales Assocation of Puducherry thanked Hon'ble Minister of Railways, Mr Narayanaswamy, Puducherry CM Mr Vaithialingam. Finally they all inagurated the train. After the official confirmation from a TPJ division official, the train started and he gave a vote of thanks and National anthem was played.

This is the complete description of the function. Please share your experience.

India builds own version of Eiffel Tower (http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/11/india.tower/index.html)

New Delhi, India (CNN)) -- India's British past stands imposing in some of its most splendid buildings. But the country is erecting a tribute to its French connection to attract tourists.

A former French colony tucked along India's southeastern coast is building its own Eiffel Tower, a small version of the massive Paris monument.

The former colony of Pondicherry, also called Puducherry, has already completed half of the four-phased construction of the Yanam Tower, named after one of the four coastal enclaves of the federally-controlled territory.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of November, Pondicherry's revenue minister Malladi Krishna Rao said.

The three-legged, 333-foot monument will be a concrete structure for the first 90 feet, and the rest will be metal, he said.

Being built on sprawling 20 acres, the Yanam Tower will have a restaurant overlooking the sea.

More than half the cost of the $10 million project is being shouldered by a large private Indian company. The rest is being pooled by the federal and local administrations, according to Rao.

"There's a lot of French culture in Puducherry. We also have French pensioners," he said.

Tree-lined boulevards, quaint colonnaded buildings, tall statues and a tiny Tamil French community define Pondicherry. Unlike the rest of India's uneasy accounts of its British history, Pondicherry displays its French past nostalgically.

"It's a trip down France as one crosses symmetrically-designed streets in Puducherry," says the official Web site of its tourism department. It also praises French governors for their administration and has listed the statue of one of them -- Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix -- as a heritage site for tourists.

India gained independence from the British in 1947. But the French stayed longer, at least until 1954 when their possessions in Pondicherry were de facto transferred to the new government in New Delhi after 280 years of rule. Officially, though, Pondicherry didn't become part of India until 1963 when the French parliament ratified its treaty with India.

More than 55,000 foreign tourists visited Pondicherry in 2007, according to the latest statistics from the tourism department. Authorities hope their own mini Eiffel Tower will attract more.

"It will give boost to tourism," said Rao.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infotech/hardware/Lenovo-to-shut-down-Baddi-plant-/articleshow/5489570.cms

NEW DELHI: PC maker Lenovo will shut down its Baddi plant with a view to rationalise its operations in the country.

The plant, set up in 2007, has production capacity of about a million units and employed about 20 people.

"With demand slowing down, it was decided that it is best to shut the operations at our Baddi unit and build capacity at our unit in Pondicherry," Lenovo India Managing Director Amar Babu told reporters here.

The Baddi unit started ramping down production in March last year and the company is carrying out legal processes like tax payment, government clearance etc, he added.

The company has a manufacturing unit in Pondicherry with a capacity of three million units of desktops and laptops, and has a staff of over 100 people.

"Eventually, we would look at increasing capacity at the Pondicherry unit as demand picks up," Babu said.

Lenovo has a 7.3 per cent share in the Indian PC market, as per the IDC report for the quarter of July-September 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another instance of a company (like Samsung) moving its plant operations from low-tax states to South.:cheers: This shows the manufacturing competetiveness of TN and South.

Oh, nice to see that. It will be good if still more companies move their operations.

The Puducherry govt has started the operation of 40 new buses, started with the aim of servicing students of schools and colleges. The specialty about these buses is that they charge only 1 Re per student per trip.

It was inaugurated yesterday by Central Minister Mr Narayanaswamy.

Socio-economic indicators for 2008-09 revealed that the per capita income of the Union Territory stood at Rs. 84,625 and Rs. 58,755 at current and constant prices respectively.

The quick estimate of the Gross State Domestic Product for the period has been worked out at Rs. 11,77,357 at current prices. The socio-economic indicators published in the annual report of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics showed that infant mortality rate stood at 25 per 1,000 live births.

According to Sample Registration System, the birth rate as in 2008 in the Union Territory, was 16.4 while the death rate was 7.5. Based on decennial growth rate 20.62 during 1991-2001 census, the projected population as on March 2009 was 11, 30,921, the reports said.

The report, “Puducherry at a Glance-2009,” was released on Thursday by Public Health Minister A. Namassivayam at a two-day workshop on Compilation of Comparable State Level Index of Industrial Production here.

Other vital statistics available in the report showed that total area under cultivation during the period was 32,768 hectares. There were 73 large-scale, 176 medium-scale and 7,947 small-scale industries in the Union Territory.

While under the revenue account, the total expenditure incurred during 2007-08 was Rs. 2, 20,059.30, it was Rs. 3,15,198.21 during 2008-09.

Shortly after releasing the report, Mr. Namassivayam addressed officers of Central Statistical Organisation and State Directorates of Economics and Statistics of Southern States.

He said that statistics provided by the officers was a crucial factor in planning and implementing various programmes of the government.

Appealing to the officers to provide accurate data on industrial production, he said that they should widen the ambit of getting information. “You should not rely just on information provided by authorities of various private firms. The officials should also depend on industrial workers, especially when collecting statistics from private firms. They would know the actual volume of production,” he said.

It assumed a great importance in gathering production details of private industries in the Union Territory as the Union government had directed the territorial administration to augment resource collection for its plan and non-plan expenditure. The statistics collected from industries would help the government to find out whether there had been any sales tax evasion by the firms, Mr. Namassivayam, who also holds the portfolio of Economics and Statistics, said.

Others who spoke at the inaugural of the workshop included Additional Director General, Central Statistical Organisation, New Delhi, Ashish Kumar, Deputy Director General, CSO, Kolkata, B.K. Giri, Director of Economics and Statistics Department, Government of Puducherry, S. Vaittianadane, and Joint Director of Statistics, R. Ramakrishnan.

The Pondicherry University will establish School of Medical Sciences to offer non-clinical courses in collaboration with affiliated medical institutions from July 2010, according to Vice-Chancellor J.A.K. Tareen.

The university, at its academic council meeting held on Thursday, has decided to start the new school. It is considering about 10 non-clinical courses such as M.Sc. in anatomy, physiology, pathology, medical microbiology, clinical psychology and biochemistry to be offered on public private partnership model with medical colleges, Mr. Tareen told reporters.

“There are three affiliated medical colleges. We will hold discussions with the colleges and sign Memorandum of Understanding. We can utilise their infrastructure and faculty, while we have our own strengths in laboratory and faculty. These will be self-financing courses and will have fixed fees,” he said.

Besides the School of Medical Sciences, the university is establishing Madanjeet Singh School of Green Energy Technology comprising the Centre for Green Energy Technology and Centre for Nano Sciences and Technology, School of Media and Communication consisting of Centre for Electronic Media and Department of Mass Communication from July, Mr. Tareen said.

The Centre for Green Energy Technology would offer M. Tech in green energy technology, while the Centre for Nano Sciences and Technology would offer M. Tech in nanotechnology and, the Department of Electronics Engineering M.Tech in electronics from the next academic session. New programmes in M.Sc. microbiology and M.Tech in exploration geoscience would be launched with 20 seats each.

Madanjeet Singh, founder of South Asia Foundation, is donating $1.5 million as seed money towards establishing the school of green energy technology and running cost. “As a prelude to this, we will be conducting an international conference on green technologies from March 23 to 25. The conference and the institute will be inaugurated by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah,” he said.

The university would submit a proposal to the Ministry seeking Rs. 75 crore to Rs. 80 crore for the school, he said. “We will also draw up short-term programmes to cater to the needs of industries. Besides this, we will develop a research centre with a strong research group in collaboration with overseas institutions such as Harvard University,” he said.

Noting that the country was expected to produce 20 per cent of energy through green means such as solar, tidal, wind energies and biofuel by 2025, he said India required strong human resource support and strong research backup for sustenance of the industry.

In line with the silver jubilee celebrations, the university has decided to provide free education to all physically challenged applicants based on merit selection. This would come into immediate effect in the forthcoming academic year.

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/DM/DINAMALAR/2010/02/06/Article//009/06_02_2010_009_002.jpg

Dinamalar

An Ayurveda medical college is likely to be established in the Union Territory. The proposal has been agreed in-principle and the modalities will be discussed during a meeting in New Delhi, according to Home Minister E. Valsaraj.

Shortly after inaugurating the 9th Annual Conference of the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Association of Plastic Surgeons on Saturday, Mr. Valsaraj, who also holds the Health portfolio, said Ayurveda was widely practised in Kerala, with a good number of people seeking treatment under this system.

Considering the situation, a meeting was held recently and a decision taken to restructure the courses with the help of the Pondicherry University, he said. It has been suggested that the Ayurveda medical college could be started in the space available at the arts college, officials said. He announced that the government medical college will start functioning in the forthcoming academic year with a total of 150 seats.

The Minister laid emphasis on the need to introduce courses keeping in line with present-day needs. Director of Health Dilip Kumar Baliga and organising chairman S. Mohan Kumar spoke.

The Puducherry State University Bill has been sent for the approval of President Pratibha Patil. After the President gives her assent, the territorial administration will initiate steps to set up the university. “With the Bill being passed in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly, we had sent it to the Union Ministry for Human Resource Development for clearance. The Bill is now waiting for the President’s assent,” Public Works Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, who also holds the Collegiate Education portfolio, told The Hindu.

As soon as the university gets the necessary clearance, the Minister said the first round of work would include selection and appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. “We have already appointed a search committee to look into the selection of the Vice-Chancellor. Soon after appointing a Vice-Chancellor, we will be recruiting other officials, including the Registrar,” Mr. Shahjahan added.

The Directorate of School Education has proposed to implement the uniform system of school education in Standard I and VI in 2010-2011 following the Tamil Nadu government’s blueprint.

“We have submitted a file to the government to implement the uniform system of school education in classes I and VI of government and private schools in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions. We are awaiting the government’s decision. We will mostly be following the Tamil Nadu government’s pattern to implement the system,” a senior official of the directorate said.

This proposal comes after Tamil Nadu issued a gazette notification in November 2009 for bringing a uniform system of school education. The aim is to evolve a uniform system of school education to ensure social justice and provide quality education in the schools, the official said, citing the notification.

“Tamil Nadu has four streams of school education - State board, matriculation, oriental and anglo-indian schools. Puducherry has State board and matriculation streams. Thus, the schools have separate curriculum and the standard of education is not uniform,” he explained.

Under the uniform system of school education, the directorate plans to introduce uniform syllabus and textbooks for all subjects for the two classes in government and matriculation schools, excluding CBSE schools, according to official sources.

“The system will be implemented in a phased manner. This will cover both Tamil and English medium schools in the government sector in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions,” the official said.

Once the government gives its approval, the directorate would place orders for textbooks with the Tamil Nadu government. “The Tamil Nadu board is prescribing the textbooks and syllabus under this system. They have already started to print the textbooks for the classes. However, we are not planning to have a common examination under this system,” he added.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?smid=24&nid=29906


GAIL is conducting a survey to lay LPG pipeline between Puducherry and Karaikal for gas supply to consumers in both the regions.

As per sources, once the pipeline is operationalised, GAIL has agreed to supply additional gas to the power station at Karaikal. This is likely to help increase power generation from 32 to 112 MW.

The government has set in process the revival of Puducherry Road Transport Corporation by replacing a large number of existing buses plying on inter-state routes and increasing its fleet strength to start operations on new routes. The government had promised to extend loan facility to the Corporation to purchase the buses, a senior official in PRTC told The Hindu.

More than 80 per cent of its buses operating on inter-State routes have been in service for the last five years and have done seven to eight lakh km. All the 42 buses would be replaced, and those that could be repaired would be put on mofussil and local routes. Besides, 16 more buses would be purchased to ply on new routes. The purchase of new buses would cost Rs. 11.61 crore, the official further said.

In order to provide commuter-friendly information and preparation of Management Information Reports, the PRTC proposes to capture online movement of inter-State buses and transfer GPS generated positional details to the control rooms for online vehicle tracking and operation control. Apart from this, the PRTC proposed to introduce e-ticketing and also computerise its operational details.

The e-ticketing facility was to stop pilferage in revenue through ticket collection, the official said.

The Corporation had also worked out a plan to increase its operations in the urban and rural area. The Union Surface Transport Ministry had sanctioned 50 buses as part of its National Urban Transport policy to the Union Territory. The Centre would share 80 per cent of funds towards purchase of the buses and remaining had to be incurred by the territorial administration, he said.

The total expenditure involved in the purchase of 50 buses would come to Rs 16.15 crore.

Out of the total sanctioned buses, the Corporation planned to buy 40 semi-low floor and remaining were air conditioned low floor buses, the official added.

A detailed project report would be soon be sent send to the Ministry for release of Centre’s share of funds. Similarly the Corporation was considering several measures to make it profitable by introducing cost cutting measures, employee discipline and looking for new avenues in business.

Hi friends, these are the projects currently undertaken by the Puducherry Tourism in the town of Puducherry.

1. Family Entertainment Complex in puducherry - Approx. project cost – Rs.35 crores.
2. Five Start Resort in puducherry - Approx. project cost – Rs.10 crores.

Hi friends, these are the upcoming projects in Puducherry which will be undertaken by the Puducherry Tourism Corporation after the completion of the above projects.

1. Special Tourism Development Zone at Manapet, puducherry
2. Development of Chunnambar Water Front.
3. Development of Laser Show Complex.
4. Development of Heritage Tourism Products in and around Arikamedu.
5. Development and beautification of Botanical Garden.
6. Development of International Convention Centre
7. Development of Star Category Resorts/Hotels.
8. Development of Theme Parks & Amusement Parks.
9. Development of Film City
10. Development of Oceanarium.
11. Development of lagoons.
12. Development of Yacht Marina
13. Development of Handicraft Bazar near Gandhi Thidal in puducherry.

These are the same in Yanam as of above.

1. Further development of Gowtami river front.
2. Development of Eco Tourism islands.
3. Development of Laser Show Complex.

and this is for Mahe

1. Development of River Side walk way and beautification of Mahe beach.
2. Development of Star Category Resorts/Hotels.
3. Development of Laser Show Complex.

Hi friends, please share this news with all of your friends in Pondicherry UT. I am desperate to spread this news to all.

It is regarding the PRTC bus local trips.

Each and every PRTC bus, while making a local trip, just starts 2/3 mins after a private bus and the driver and conductor of the PRTC bus gets around Rs 30/40 for just going behind the private bus throughout the trip, thus all the crowd going to the private bus. But when i actually inquired the local bus timings in PRTC office, a private bus starts in the slated timing given by PRTC and the PRTC bus starts just after 2/3 mins. This happens especially in Puducherry where there is lot of public movement from the neighbouring places throughout the day.

So, friends please spread this news to all of your friends and family members and let them know about this incident happening, though it is a open secret.

An Ayurveda Medical College would be set up at Mahe, and the Central Government has allotted Rs.10 crore for the project.

A health insurance scheme and an ambulance-at-call facility on lines of the similar welfare schemes of Tamil Nadu are under perusal and the ambulance facility is proposed to begin functioning from April 1. Process of recruiting drivers is under way.

The health mela conceived as a component of the National Rural Health Mission(NHRM) was jointly organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Puducherry and the District Health Mission, Karaikal.

Over 30 specialists and surgeons participated in the three day health mela that concluded on Sunday.

A.M.H.Najim, Leader of Opposition, Puducherry, N.Vasantha Kumar, Collector and Chairperson of District Health Mission, Dilip Kumar Baliga, Director of Health and Family Welfare, were among those present.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sSkjT4GqGwc/S5UGIca-3XI/AAAAAAAADwc/JAjQeyRNCIo/s640/DSC02683.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sSkjT4GqGwc/S5UGQ9t8zlI/AAAAAAAADwg/frDNgJXKTog/s640/DSC02684.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sSkjT4GqGwc/S5UGzUWzoKI/AAAAAAAADw8/2HKfnKTLtbY/s640/DSC02692.JPG

Nice Mr Keeran. These are the pics of Auroville Golbal Village.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/pondy-get-new-assembly-building-061

March 25: Puducherry chief minister V. Vaithilingam presented a Rs 4,430 crore tax-free Budget for 2010-11 on Thursday, with sops for the urban poor and incentives for farmers and fishermen. Mr Vaithilingam, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the gross estimate of Rs 4,430 crore comprised plan expenditure of Rs 2,500 crore and non-plan expenditure of Rs 1,906.50 crore besides Rs 23.50 crore under central schemes.
“My government will honour its election and give free colour TVs in 2010-11. The government will also disburse 30 per cent of arrears under the Sixth Pay Commission,” he said.
The Centre has accorded administrative and expenditure sanction for the Rs 18.85 crore Yanam fishing harbour and work will commence on the project in April, the CM said, adding that his government proposed to provide Rs 2,000 in cash to fishermen in the Union Territory instead of 100 kg of rice and Rs 750 during the fishing ban period. Mr Vaithilingam said Puducherry had recently been included under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) to improve infrastructure in government high schools.
The government has approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India to jointly construct a world class cricket stadium in Puducherry.
Mr Vaithilingam also announced the setting up of new polytechnic colleges at Sultanpet and Yanam and the construction of a new Assembly complex. He said a minorities commission will be established in Puducherry and a separate minorities welfare department created. The government has proposed to provide reservations for Muslims, fishermen and backward tribes of Pondy and Karaikal regions.

What is the necessity for distibution of free Color TVs in Pondy? Everyone owns a TV and no one is so poor such that they even cant buy a color TV.

Moreover, in the previous budget, a flyover at IG and RG statue was proposed and as if it was completed, now in this year they are proposing a flyover from Kokku park to Marapalam Junction. What an idiotic budget presentation. All the money are being eaten away by the Ministers and MLAs.

One of the worst govts in India. It should be sacked and President rule should be made.

PRTC, which operates 12 buses in the Pondy-Chennai route, will scrap some of it's 6 old buses and replace it with 6 VOLVOs. So, PRTC is also going to introduce VOLVOs in PONDY-CHENNAI route after TNSTC.

Of the 10 new VOLVOs to be bought by PRTC, 6 VOLVOs are tp ply in Pondy-Chennai route. Two Volvos for Bangalore-Pondy service, as the existing one is repair and the repair cost is too high such that a new one can be bought, and i dont have idea about the remaining 2 VOLVOs.


PRTC is also going to buy 20 CNG buses for mofussil and city services. CNG Station is t come up at Kalapet.

Is any railyway project proposed for Puducherry-Chennai via East Coat Road.

Nice Mr Keeran. These are the pics of Auroville Golbal Village.

Any latest development in Auroville? I heard local people are going to evacuate from the place for development. Is it correct.

Any latest development in Auroville? I heard local people are going to evacuate from the place for development. Is it correct.

I ll confirm and tell you.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/msa.30789/Downloads#

Is any railyway project proposed for Puducherry-Chennai via East Coat Road.

Is any railyway project proposed for Puducherry-Chennai via East Coat Road.

Is any railyway project proposed for Puducherry-Chennai via East Coat Road.

Cross Posting from Chennai IT Corrider Thread

Homes near offices will cut congestion

TIMES NEWS NETWORK


It’s a long road to workplaces. To lessen the strain of employees who currently travel 40 km to and from work, the IT expressway should have adequate housing, schools, hospitals and other social infrastructure, say experts.

“Employees usually stick with a company for a fairly long period of time. So most of them stay in Chennai and commute to their offices on OMR because there are more facilities for their families in Chennai,” says AN Sachithanandan, ex-president, Institute of Town Planners of India.

One sure way of addressing commuter woes is to expand the expressway and build facilities around it, say experts. “The expressway starts abruptly at Madhya Kailash and ends at Siruseri. Ideally it should extend till Puducherry or Cuddalore like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which runs for nearly 100 km,” says urban engineering expert KP Subramanian.

Company transportation is a temporary option, says Subramanian. “Company vehicles add to the traffic and sap the city’s resources, including roadspace. Also, commuting is not a desirable concept when you take into account the amount of fuel and time spent,” he says.

With optimal utilisation of land resources, authorities can also consider a dedicated bus corridor for the six-lane expressway. “Buses will move without any hindrance or cross-traffic,” says MG Devasahayam, former administrator of Chandigarh Capital Project.

For now, independent agencies are coming up with their own solutions. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation, which runs nearly 400 trips on this stretch daily, plans to augment the service by introducing more air-conditioned buses. Southern Railway is planning to lay a new line to connect Chennai with Puducherry and Cuddalore. The proposed line will connect Sholinganallur, Kovalam, Tiruporur and Mamallapuram till Cuddalore Fort.

Authorities should come up with some short-term solutions as well to ease the traffic flow, say commuters. “Many approach roads aren’t equipped to handle the same amount of traffic as the expressway,” says former IT professional V Ranganathan. The government should increase the green signal time at junctions at Vijayanagar in Velachery and Sholinganallur checkpost to avoid huge pile-up of vehicles, he says.

TImes of India.

Mamata flags off Aurobindo Express

STAFF REPORTER


Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday flagged off a Howrah-Puducherry Weekly Express from the Howrah station to commemorate the centenary year of Aurobindo's travel to the erstwhile French colony and establishing an ashram there for preaching ancient Indian philosophy and culture.

The “Aurobindo Express” was one of the several budget proposals of Ms. Banerjee this year.

“Puducherry is a seat of theological learning and Rishi Aurobindo is still loved by the people. The inaugural train will be received at the Puducherry station by members of the Auroville on April 10,” she said.

An interesting feature of the train is a special exhibition coach decorated with photographs of the life and times of Aurobindo and his philosophy.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article392137.ece

Any new project and development in Auroville.

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/DM/MADHURAI/2010/04/15/Article//002/15_04_2010_002_030.jpg

Puducherry Administration has drawn up a plan to set up a co-generation power plant on the premises of the Cooperative Sugar Mill at Lingareddipalayam near here at a cost of Rs 135 crore using the bagasse available from the mill.
..............

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/A-Rs-135-crore-power-generation-plant-to-come-up-in-Pondy/articleshow/5835453.cms

Puducherry UT will get 50 new buses. The buses are waiting in Villupuram. They will soon hit the roads of Puducherry. I heard that they need to pay some tax for it and they can collect the bus.


30 buses for Puducherry, 10 AC buses
20 buses for Karaikal

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051980200.htm

...
Hindusthan National Glass & Industries (HNGI) Ltd has entered into a 50:50 joint venture with the Belgium-based OMCO International NV to set up and operate two glass mould manufacturing facilities at Puducherry and Bahadurgarh (Uttar Pradesh).

Mr Mukul Somany, Joint Managing Director, HNGI, told a press conference here on Thursday that the Puducherry plant would be set up initially at an investment of Rs 35 crore, but the one at Bahadurgarh after two years.

“The joint venture will provide us quality and cost advantages in the long run,” he said.

Production capacity

The two factories would each have a monthly production capacity of 3,500 glass moulds and 5,000 neck rings in the final phase, Mr Somany said....

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/pondy-seek-tn-land-airport-expansion-148

May 12: Puducherry is seeking more land from neighbouring Tamil Nadu for the expansion of its airport, sources in the civil aviation ministry have said.

The Puducherry Chief Minister, Mr V. Vaithilingam, met the civil aviation secretary, Mr Madhavan Nambiar, on Wednesday to seek central financial assistance for the land acquisition.

Meanwhile, the civil aviation ministry has also approved a proposal of the Goa government for keeping the current Dabolim airport (in South Goa) open even after the construction of the Mopa airport (in North Goa) is completed.

A study conducted earlier by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had concluded that there was enough air traffic for both airports.

...

JnNURM now got PRTC as the latest addition to their bus suppliers list. There are currently 20 buses supplied for PRTC by JnNURM. They all are CNG engine and are Semi-Low Floor and are supposed to run in the local routes of Puducherry. Still 20 buses are to come in the next week, which will be done after disposing off some old and unwanted buses. The new buses have LED displays. Hope they become successful in Puducherry also.

Since, the buses are delux they will have slightly higher fare.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/msa.30789/PRTCBuses#

Hi friends, the above link shows some PRTC buses images with descriptions in some important images.

Hi friends,

As i mentioned earlier, PRTC got some new SLF buses under JnNURM. Now i clarified about the exact no of buses. They are Diesel buses with the following composition:

40 SLF Non-AC buses with BS-III emission standards.
10 SLF AC VOLVO buses with Euro-III emission standards.


Of those, 20 SLF Non-AC Buses arrived and 10 of those will be inaugurated on June 7th.

The government must focus on increasing the share of public transport to 70 per cent by increasing efficiency and affordability, so that dependence on private vehicles may be reduced, said Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh. He was speaking at the launch of 20 new buses in urban routes under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme.

Mr. Singh emphasised the need for an economical, safe, reliable and punctual public transport system.

Infrastructure, coupled with a quality urban public transport system was the key to the growth of any city. However, increased urbanisation was putting great pressure on the urban transport system. Migration and high tourist influx had resulted in increased traffic congestion for want of space and inadequate public transport facility, Mr. Singh said.

The biggest advantages of using a public transport system were reduced congestion on streets, quick movement and decrease in the impact on environment, Mr. Singh said. He appreciated the government in recognising the need for improved public transport.

Mr. Singh went on to cite the example of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) that had put in place a facility for real time passenger information system dissemination by using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for vehicle tracking and control, making it one of the few public sector road transport undertakings in Asia to make profits every year.

He urged the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation to adopt the same system over a period of time for increased efficiency and accountability.

As part of the first phase, 20 low-floor non air-conditioned buses were flagged off on existing routes. On receipt of the remaining funds, 20 more such buses would be operated on new routes. Ten air-conditioned buses would also be operated.

The whole initiative had been taken up under the JNNURM scheme at an estimated cost of Rs. 16.15 crore, of which Rs. 12.92 crore was Central share, and the remaining, State share.

“Eventually, all old buses of the PRTC will be phased out to be replaced by new buses on all routes,” Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam said. The system would thus be made more efficient, prove beneficial to the people and rake in profit, he said.

Work on the flyover from Kokku Park to Marapalam had already begun as a step to address traffic congestion, said Public Works Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, who also holds the transport portfolio. The PRTC would soon introduce new buses to rural areas and interstate buses for the benefit of the public, he added.

Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy was present.

Hi friends,

I recently heard a news from PRTC's driver:

Actually PRTC got 50 buses from JnNURM. Of that 20 buses were replaced by the old buses, plying in various routes in and around Puducherry. The other 30 buses were supposed to ply in the new routes. But the private operators, bribed PRTC's head and the Govt and made them un-allocate the new routes to PRTC bus, and 25 of the buses were returned back.

But another news told by another driver is that, there is no space to park the buses in the deppo, so a batch 25 new buses will be bought, the old and unwanted buses will be despatched, and some buses will be sent to Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, and then after the there is sufficient space to park the buses, another set of 25 buses will be bought.


Actually in the tender released by Puducherry Govt for claiming buses under JnNURM, buses will be procured in III phases. They are as follows:

Phase I: 20 SLF buses
Phase II: 20 SLF Buses
Phase III: 10 SLF AC VOLVO Buses


But i dont know which one is true.

Hi friends, as told earlier that, PRTC ll be getting 10 AC VOLVO buses under JnNURM, the route allocation for that buses are as follows:

1. Line / Inter-State buses: 5 buses in Pondy-Chennai and 1 bus in Pondy-Karaikal (most probably this may be the one, but 6 buses are allocated for Inter-State routes)

2. Local / City routes: 4 buses
i. Kanniyakovil - Pondy - PIMS
ii. Pondy - Madgadipet - Madukarai
iii. Pondy - Thirukannur
iv. Pondy - Bahoor

The territorial police have initiated the process to establish a separate unit to assist tourists. The proposed unit will be stationed at the building that housed the earlier office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (Law-and-Order) on Beach Road.

The beach is the most prominent place in Puducherry where tourists spend most part of their time. Hence, Beach Road has been identified as the suitable location to position the unit, Director-General of Police Alok Kumar Verma told The Hindu.

“The presence of the special police will add some sort of security to the tourists. The Police Department is working with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage to establish the unit,” Mr. Verma said.

To start with, a few personnel belonging to the traffic police would be stationed at the old SSP office to assist the tourists.

A full-fledged unit would be established after the ongoing recruitment for 650-odd vacancies is completed, he said.

Besides looking after the security needs of tourists, members of the unit would assist them in providing information regarding transportation and accommodation. The members of unit would also be deployed at other important places such as the railway station and the New Bus Stand, a senior officer said.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/puducherry-get-forensic-science-lab-862

Puducherry, July 6: The Puducherry police will soon have a regional forensic science laboratory (RFSL) to speed up investigation and help solve crime. The Union ministry of home affairs has sanctioned Rs 8 crore for a state-of-the-art lab proposed to be established at the Sedurapet police outpost on a five-acre site identified by the department.
“Construction of the lab will begin after the government gets the approval of the ministry of home affairs,” senior superintendent of police (headquarters) and nodal RFSL officer V.J. Chandran told Deccan Chronicle. “The territorial government has already inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for the establishment of the lab. The project is expected to be completed by March 2012.”
The department has been facing various difficulties in filing chargesheet due to the lack of a forensic lab. The Puducherry police presently depends on the forensic science laboratory in Chennai and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad, to conduct tests for investigations various cases including rape and murder.
With both centres overburdened with cases, it takes anywhere between six months and a year to get results. Once the lab in Puducherry goes on stream, it will take only 15 days to one month to get the results, Mr Chandran added.

...

Thanks Anand@dr_thapalathy for all the useful info about PRTC. Do post bus timings also. This will be useful for us. (esp interstate buses - chennai - pondy and pondy-karai.)

Private bus operators are spoiling Puducherry city. The various things they do are:

1. They bribe PRTC and make the officials schedule a PRTC bus in such a time that it goes exactly behind a private bus for the full trip. For eg: if to a destination, there are buses every 10 mins, then the gap between private and PRTC bus ll be just 2/3 mins. For destinations where there are buses only every 2 hrs, a PRTC bus operates exactly 10 mins after a private bus. The higher officials of the PRTC only have to be blamed for this activity.

2. The JnNURM buses in Puducherry are supposed to be run in new permits. But the private operators again bribed PRTC and made them run in the old permit. The new permit was never given to any of the new JnNURM PRTC buses and 25 of the JnNURM buses are returned back. Only 26 buses are there, 22 are plying with 2 buses in new permits, that to in Puducherry CMs area to two different locations, covering pondy. Now, in Karur, 35 buses are waiting for PRTC, including 10 AC VOLVO buses. I dont no when they ll be buying those buses and making them operate.

3. PRTC and Education Department introduced a new concept called Students Special Buses, which operates with the main aim of Re 1 ticket for the students anywhere. According to it, PRTC will be operating buses leased from Private operators in their own permit, but the profit will be going to PRTC. So, even here the private operators bribed PRTC and made the private operators operate the buses in PRTCs permit. So here the profit goes to the private operators.

4. If PRTC shows loss in the Mofussil / Intra - city routes, private operators will be giving a specific amount of bribe monthly to PRTC. This happens regularly.


My dream is to stop these kind of activities and bring it into the limelight of people. Is there any way, any where i can complaint it? Someone please reply me.

What can be done to stop private bus operators in Puducherry and make intra-state / city buses operation only by PRTC? Can anyone suggest a way?

Thanks Anand@dr_thapalathy for all the useful info about PRTC. Do post bus timings also. This will be useful for us. (esp interstate buses - chennai - pondy and pondy-karai.)

Some of the Inter-State timings i know, i have displayed. But i dont no all the timings in ECR and Pondy-Karai. If you want local routes also, then please notify me again.

Pondy - Chennai

ECR: 4:00 AM, 4:30 AM, 5:00 AM, 5:10 AM, 6:10 AM, 1:30 PM etc
By-Pass: 5:40, 6:30, 1:40, 2:30. Only 4 buses

Pondy - Karai

6:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:10 PM, 4:00 PM(VOLVO bus coming from Chennai), 5:00 PM, 11:30 PM.

CHENNAI: The east-coast railway line from Chennai to Puducherry just got a little closer to realisation as Southern Railway has okayed the final location survey to identify land use and cost.

Part of an ambitious plan to connect Chennai to towns along the East Coast all the way up to Kanyakumari, railway board has given the go ahead to build the line from Chennai to Cuddalore at a cost of Rs 523 crore. This, however, may go up to Rs 600 crore. The board has approved the new line by including it in the supplementary budget of September 2007. The last railway budget had allocated Rs 25 crore for initiating the project.

The railway line between Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and East Coast Road (ECR) will connect Sholinganallur, Kovalam, Tiruporur, Mamallapuram, Kalpakkam, Kuvathur, Cheyyur, Marakanam, Kunimedu, Kuiyilappalayam, Jipmer in Puducherry, Bahour, Varakalpattu, Tirupadipuliyur and Cuddalore Fort. The line will run close to the sea at Mamallapuram.

"We have awarded a contract to carry out a final location survey. It will also identify from where the line should take off - Perungudi or Chengelpet," said Southern Railway chief administrative officer R Ramanathan.

According to initial plans, the 180-km line will take off from Perungudi MRTS station. But, there is also a view that the line should start from Chengelpet so that it can be used for freight transport. "If it starts from MRTS, we cannot operate freight trains," he added.

Southern Railway would explain to the Board about the pros and cons of starting the line from Perungudi and Chengelpet. "The line can be linked to Perungudi and also Chengelpet," he said. If it is linked to Chengelpet, the coastal line can be connected to the main railway network through the Chennai Egmore-Kanyakumari southern trunk line.

Meanwhile, a Perungudi-Cuddalore line will enable passengers to board an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) to Mamallapuram and then switch to conventional trains to Puducherry or Cuddalore. Travellers will be able to reach Puducherry in two hours, as against the five hours via the current line through Chennai Egmore-Villupuram-Puducherry.

The survey, which is the final leg of procedures before a new line gets approval, will assess the land required and identify plots through which the line would pass. Surveys to identify passenger feasibility on the route have revealed that the line will be viable as more people travel? from Chennai to Puducherry and Cuddalore because of the recent developments along the OMR and ECR.

"After completing the final location survey, we will prepare an estimate and send it to the railway board for sanction of funds. The project may cost Rs 600 crore," said Ramanathan.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Survey-soon-for-Chennai-Pondy-Cuddalore-railway-line-/articleshow/6224883.cms

The Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India on Thursday formally communicated to the territorial administration its decision permitting Indira Gandhi Medical College and

Research Institute to admit 150 students for medical course during the current academic year.

Home Minister E. Valsaraj, who also holds the Health Portfolio, received the order copy at New Delhi from the Board of Governors, a press release issued by the Home Minister's office said.

The MCI had earlier rejected government's application seeking its approval to start admission during current year citing certain deficiencies and all those issues have been addressed, the release added.

With the government obtaining clearance from the MCI, the administration is gearing up the process to admit students, the press release added.

Friends, I heard the above from a PRTC driver for its future plan...

As JnNURM buses have arrived Puducherry, and replaced the old buses, the old buses can be sold or leased out for some amount. There is also plan to replace the existing 4 buses in running in Karaikal with JnNURM and lease them out too.

From the amount obtained with the lease, they are planning to replace the old long distance buses, especially Puducherry - Nagercoil, Puducherry - Mahe and Puducherry - Kumuli buses with push back seats (most probably SETC UD kind buses) and the existing money to replace the other fleet of old buses.

The AC Volvo buses supplied under JnNURM will be arriving within two months. Once drivers are recruited for those buses, they will start plying immediately. All the 10 buses will be running in local routes. Regarding the plying of buses in Inter-state, they can operate buses to 10 km into the other state. That means, they can operate Puducherry - Cuddalore bus and they are thinking of operate it.

The long term plan for recruiting drivers will be done next year and once permanent drivers for all the buses in schedule are recruited, all the buses will be plying regularly and the existing 24 Non-AC SLF buses in VM will be brought to PDY and will be running in new permits.

Is there any proposal for a mall in pondy?

In today's Dinamalar paper, i saw an news regarding PRTC:

PRTC has introduced Ladies special buses. Those are the 6 left out buses supplied from JnNURM. 4 buses were introduced and all are plying in important city routes. Except for the peak hours, the buses are plying empty. Waste of Diesel and money.

The news article also told that PRTC will be plying night time buses to facilitate tourists arriving Puducherry after 10 pm, connecting important places in puducherry. Moreover 14 old buses will be replaced. The greatest comedy made by the Transport Minister of Puducherry was, that people prefer PRTC's Sogusu Perundhu instead of the private buses.

Is there any proposal for a mall in pondy?

There are already 3 malls in Pondy... they are small sized malls... no mall is there which are as big in chennai....

There are already 3 malls in Pondy... they are small sized malls... no mall is there which are as big in chennai....

what are they ?

Cassablanca, Savitha Plaza and i dont remember the name of the other one.......

Cassablanca, Savitha Plaza and i dont remember the name of the other one.......

Casablance is a boutique and Savitha Plaza is a small shopping centre. They are not malls.

Casablance is a boutique and Savitha Plaza is a small shopping centre. They are not malls.

That means there are no malls in Puducherry and as far as i know there is no proposal for a mall in Puducherry. But lot of commercial buildings and small shopping centers like Savitha Plaza you were mentioning, are coming up.

Pondicherry needs the Bigger Shopping Malls..Also I dont think there is any Multiplex/any brand cine-operator in Pondy as of now

Pondicherry needs the Bigger Shopping Malls..Also I dont think there is any Multiplex/any brand cine-operator in Pondy as of now

If i am not wrong, you are asking about Multiplexes like Satyam Cinemas, Mayajaal etc.

As of now, there are nothing of this kind in Pondy. But, Big Cinemas (Reliance) has a theater complex (2 theaters, Jeeva, Rukmani)... (brand cine operator)

Also, Pyramid Saimira is constructing a small multiplex: 4 floors and 4 screens (in the 2nd and 3rd floor) with a terrace restaurant. I got this info from my friends circle and hope this news to be correct.

The bus stand for inter-city routes in Puducherry is to come up in the back side of Padmavathy Hospital, Arumbathapuram, near Villiyanur.

Also my friends in that area are telling that, the preliminary works for ROB for the railway crossings have started.

Moreover the land acquision process for the construction of track along the eastern coast to chennai, has started.


Happy to hear the above news, which were sanctioned some 4 years ago.

Thanks for info. Thalapathy.

Are they planning to move the current bus stand (near by mass hotel) or the new one will be additional bus stand for pondy?

Thanks for info. Thalapathy.

Are they planning to move the current bus stand (near by mass hotel) or the new one will be additional bus stand for pondy?

It is the concept of a new bus stand for mofussil routes in the outskirts of the city. The existing bus stand in Maraimalai adigal salai will be used only for Local buses like Pondy - PIMS, Pondy - kanniyakovil, Gorimedu, Villiyanur etc.

Buses to Cuddalore, villupuram, chennai and other cities will be moved there.

have they started construction of taj hotel?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/banking/finance/banking/For-NCR-Indias-turning-into-a-money-machine/articleshow/6998066.cms

ATM manufacturer NCR is seeing India develop into one of its biggest markets with the number of machines deployed by banks expected to cross 175,000 by 2015. The company is gearing up its manufacturing capacity in Puducherry to meet domestic requirements and also exports demand.

Speaking to ET, NCR Corporation India managing director Jalvinder Gill said: “In any developed country, there are close to 600-700 ATMs per million population. In India, there are only 51 ATMs per million. By 2015, this number will move to 1.75-lakh ATMs, which means that we will be adding close to double the number of installed ATMs in the next couple of years.”

India presently has close to 64,000 ATMs in the country compared with 210,000. However, in China, NCR’s marketshare is less than 25% and it will have to battle stiff competition to grow there. The secret of the ATM manufacturers’ success in the country, according to Mr Gill, has been its investment in service infrastructure and its ability to provide complete solutions, both for installations and maintenance.

India presents a large opportunity because many banks are only now ramping up their ATM networks. For instance, last year, NCR received one of its biggest orders in India from SBI, which ordered 3,800 ATMs. The ATM maker expects the demand for new ATMs to come from the large banks as the number of ATMs is expected to outstrip the 80,000-odd bank branches in a couple of years.

“Besides the large banks, we also see the demand from co-operative banks and regional rural banks as the focus shifts to extending services to smaller towns,” said Mr Gill. He pointed out that it was now possible for public sector banks to deploy ATMs in the remotest village because most of them have put in place their core banking solution that allows them to extend the anywhere, anytime banking service across the country.

For banks, ATMs are becoming increasingly cost effective. As against a few dozen transactions per day, the average number of transactions is close to 150 and that is taking into account all ATMs even those in small cities.

Secondly, the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to allow bank customers free access to all ATMs has increased pressure on banks to deploy more machines. “It is now in the interest of banks to deploy more ATMs because now there is a concern among banks that if I do not have enough machines, my customer will go to another bank and I will have to pay charges to that bank. Now their strategy is more to expand and retain their customers,” said Mr Gill.

Also helping the increased penetration is the progress in technology. Machines now cost around $7,000, which is a fraction of what they cost when they were first introduced by foreign banks. Also, instead of giant satellite dishes, ATMs can connect to the network through a GSM connection used for mobile phones . Machines have also become more efficient and can work on a single phase power connection.

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/ut%E2%80%99s-horticulture-scene-gets-a-fillip/226025.html

The horticulture sector in Puducherry has recorded a spurt in activity from last year, thanks to the setting up of the Pondicherry Horticulture Mission (PHM) and funds from the Centre. Now, over 800 farmers have stopped growing paddy and are into producing vegetables like brinjal, tomato, yam, lady’s finger and even flowers and fruits.

The PHM was formed in 2009 as an autonomous body under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM). Though the NHM was launched in 2005 for promoting horticulture, it did not have an impact in the Union Territory. On the contrary, the PHM proved quite successful.

It encouraged farmers to switch from paddy to other crops and also addressed issues of depleting water resources. Moreover, it provided sustainable source of income.

“Horticulture has been gaining popularity under the PHM in Puducherry. The Union Government has allocated Rs 1 crore as funds this year, while last year it was just Rs 35 lakh. More than two villages are into turmeric production this year as the spice is always in demand. Also, the government is giving a back-ended subsidy (amount given after cultivation of crops) of Rs 12,500 per hectare,” said S Kalyanasundaram, additional director of agriculture (horticulture).

This was much higher than the subsidy for vegetables that stood at Rs 10,000 per hectare, he added.

Besides subsidy, what prompted farmers to take up horticulture? According to Geetha Nathan, general secretary, Famers’ Association, reasons are many. “While many farmers are shifting to horticulture due to scarcity of water, lack of labour has been another deterrent. Paddy is a labour intensive crop. It also needs liberal use of fertilizers. But the prices of fertilizers have doubled this year, giving more problems to farmers.”

This year, 25 hectares of land have been converted for fruit cultivation. According to government officials, horticulture has proved much profitable than paddy as fruits and flowers always have good market.

Festivals and marriages contribute a lot to this demand.

According to R Sathyaseelan, director, agriculture, training programmes introduced over the years have begun to show results.

Education trips to Tamil Nadu where local farmers took classes on horticulture form part of these programme.

Now, after a few years of effort, Puducherry is meeting its demand for vegetables and is also transporting the excess to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/hll-life-to-build-multispecialty-hospitals/717308/0

HLL Life Care, a miniratna hospital products and birth control device maker, is planing to foray into vaccines and construction of multi-specialty hospitals. The Rs 500-crore company is now executing hospital projects for Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Pondicherry, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation and Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

“As a project management consultancy, we are involved in construction of major hospitals worth Rs 6,000 crore now,” HLL Lifecare CMD M Ayyappan told FE.

HLL is now about to build Rs 480-crore medical college for ESIC at Parippally in Kerala and has recently completed the construction of a super-specialty facility for Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, which is one of the 13 new hospitals planned under the pradhan mantra swasthya suraksha yojna. The first phase of Jipmer project, Rs 175-crore super specialty hospital, has been completed and construction of Rs 280 crore second phase is on.

The central public sector enterprise will be diversifying into vaccine production soon and is awaiting cabinet nod for the project, which would require an investment of Rs 570 crore, Ayyappan said. The company has got 100 acres of land allocated at Chengalpattu in Chennai. Construction for the vaccine unit will start soon and this business would later be incorporated as a subsidiary company. “By early 2012, we want to offer vaccines,” Ayyappan said.

HLL, which started as a birth control device maker four and a half decades ago, has now diversified into pharmaceuticals and healthcare for women, blood bags, hospital equipment, diagnostic kits and procurement consultancy.

The company is also planning to expand its recently started hospital chain Lifespring Hospitals for providing affordable maternal and child healthcare services, across the country. Lifespring Hospitals, a JV with Acumen Fund, has nine hospitals in Hyderabad, and 30 more hospitals will be added by next year. The target is to have 140 hospitals by 2012. These hospitals charge about ten times less than a private sector hospital for maternal and child healthcare. “Lifespring Hospitals guarantee a dignified stay and quality services at an affordable price. Still we make profits,” Ayyappan said.

have they started construction of taj hotel?

What? Taj Hotels in Pondy? Can you confirm about the news like some source of the news article and the location etc??

Its going to be a 60 room hotel under the vivanta brand, to be launched in 2013. Dunno about the location.

Inclusion of non-transport vehicles for compounding traffic offences, making space available inside the old prison complex for vehicle parking, expediting work to provide a bypass road from Armpathapuram, notification of stands for tourist taxis, load carriers and change in entry time for trucks plying into the town were some of the key decisions taken at the standing committee meeting on traffic regulations held on Thursday after a gap of more than three years.

It was decided to give the option of remitting fine to the traffic police on the spot for violations made by non-commercial vehicle users. This option was available so far only to commercial vehicle users.

At the meeting, traffic police put forth argument for including non-commercial vehicle users as case history reveals that more than 51 per cent of traffic violations were made by non-transport vehicles.

Cases pending

Moreover, a majority of cases booked by the traffic police are pending trial, a senior police officer told The Hindu.

The fine to be paid for violations involving non-commercial vehicles could be Rs. 50 or little more, he added.

Till the time of establishment of the proposed multi-level parking lot inside the old jail complex on Jawaharlal Nehru Street, it was decided to demolish the old complex and allow parking of two-wheelers and four- wheeler in the available space.

However, the compound wall of the jail complex would be retained.

It was also decided to collect parking fee from four-wheeler users who use the premises for more than three hours.

As per police estimates, there are as many as 348 shops on J.N. Street employing 4,000 workers. There are 110 four-wheelers owned by shop-owners, 1,026 motor cycles and 960 bicycles used by proprietors and staff. These vehicles occupy 75 per cent of the available space on J.N. Street and nearby areas for parking.

The work to provide a bypass road from Arumpathapuram would be expedited to decongest the stretch from Indira Gandhi Square to Madagadipet.

The government would issue a notification earmarking stands for tourist taxis, load carriers and contract carriages.

The Transport Department had sent a proposal to the government and it had gone to Law Department for vetting, it was learnt.

Another decision approved by the standing committee was change in timing for entry of trucks into the town.

As per the new timing, trucks would be allowed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Though issues such as making use of helmets compulsory, removal of shops from pavements on J.N. Street and Mahatma Gandhi Road, introduction of one-way system in the town and sub-urban routes, construction of sub-way in front of JIPMER and Women and Child Hospital, shifting of godowns from town and revision of tariff for autorickshaws were also on the agenda, no other major decision was taken on the subjects, it was learnt reliably.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, was attended by Home Minister E. Valsaraj, Minister for Public Works M.O.H. F Shahjahan, Revenue Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, Minister for Public Health A. Namassivayam and Members belonging to the Legislative Assembly.

Preliminary works for construction of railway stations at JIPMER and villages in the ourskirts of Pondy (near Marakannam) have started. The process of negotiating for acquision of land has started for construction of JIPMER, Kunimedu stations.
Moreover, there is sufficient land for expansion of Villianur as a junction. So, once, the funds are allocated, the process of expansion and construction of stations will be started.

Also, the constructions for 2 ROBs have started in the Villupuram - Pondy Highway.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/09/stories/2010120953390300.htm

Conceding to the long pending demand of residents in the town and vendors, the government has initiated steps to construct a building at Ginjee Salai to accommodate all vendors selling vegetables and fish.

Coming up in an area of 660 square metres at an open place where vendors operate from now, the building would have separate provision for selling vegetables and fish.

The contract for the work, estimated to cost Rs 1.07 crore, would be given by end of this month. The work would start by the middle of January next year, an official with Project Implementation Agency told TheHindu. Other facilities to be provided in the building included a wash area and garbage collection room. The building would be fully covered.

The PIA would also take up improvement of markets at Goubert, Chinnakadai, Mudliarpet and Saram under a World Bank funded programme, the official said.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/11/stories/2010121151020200.htm

The Deedi Group, a multi-domain conglomerate, launched the luxury beach resort ‘Le Pondy' at Nallavadu here on Friday.

Located at the estuary between Chunnambar River and the Bay of Bengal, Le Pondy is spread across a total area of 14 acres and carries historical heritage as part of its landscape.

Wide selection

The resort offers a wide selection of premium and super premium accommodation with over 70 rooms.

This includes eight presidential pool villas, eight luxury pool villas, 12 sea view rooms and 42 lake view rooms.

The resort also has an open, multi-cuisine restaurant, a coffee shop, poolside barbecue and private dining gazebos apart from an Ayurveda centre and conference facility to accommodate over 350 guests.

As a unique concept, grass roofing has been provided in the independent pool villas.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of Deedi Group said that Puducherry occupies a special place amongst the discerning tourists and is one of the most popular and attractive destinations in South India. “Being our first property in Puducherry, we look forward to provide world class experience to our customers,” he said.

The resort is located at No.3, Lake View Road, Pudukuppam, Nallavadu Post, Puducherry-605007.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9K3U24O0.htm

Air Products and Chemicals Inc., which sells specialty gases and equipment to industrial and commercial clients, said Tuesday that its joint-venture in India will build three air separation units and liquefiers and a fourth plant for long-term industrial gas supply.

The company's INOX Air Products Ltd. venture will build plants that produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Puducherry.

The venture also will build the industrial gas supply plant for Saint Gobain Glass India. The company said the investments strengthen the joint venture's presence in India and reinforce its supply positions.

Mini city worth 82 crore for Tsunami affected people


http://epaper.dinamani.com/epaperimages/212011/02012010-cni-mn-07/22835406.JPG

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/06/stories/2011010653940600.htm

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Tourism Kumari Selja on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the Mega Tourism Circuit, which includes a slew of projects to develop the Union Territory into a major tourist centre in the country.

The circuit will involve 13 important components in all the four regions such as Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.

According to Revenue Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, the projects in Puducherry under the circuit would comprise of the Arts and Crafts Village at Murungapakkam, beautification of riverside and beach at Chunnambar, development of urban forest, beautification and renovation of the botanical gardens and development of the Bahour Lake as tourist destination.

In Karaikal, the Nallambal Lake would be developed as a tourist destination.

The government would also take up the development of Heritage Precinct, the riversides and the beach at Mahe apart from the reuse of the collector's bungalow. At Yanam, projects such as lighting and landscaping in the walkway up to tidal lock, development of Botanical Park, construction of eco-friendly cottages and wooden jetties at Island 2 would be undertaken.

Entrance arches and information kiosks would be built in all the four regions of the Union Territory. Mr. Rao said that the projects would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 51.51 crore. The Union government had sanctioned Rs. 44 crore and Rs. 22 crore had been released as the first instalment. Later, Ms. Selja also inaugurated the beautification of beach promenade and Gandhi Thidal.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/appu-hotels-to-go-for-ipo-by-2012/421376/

Appu Hotels Ltd, which owns two five-star hotels -- Hotel Le Royal Meridien in Chennai and Le Meridien in Coimbatore -- is planning for an initial public offering (IPO) to support its Rs 500-crore expansion plan. The company is planning to come out with an IPO by the end of next year.

Palani G Periasamy, chairman, Le Royal Meridien, said the company was planning to double its capacity in the five-star category from the current 500 rooms, with an outlay of around Rs 500 crore over the next two years. The company is planning to set up three more five-star hotels, including a second property in Chennai and two in other parts of the state.

Earlier, he told Business Standard that the company was working on launching a five-star hotel in Puducherry and a resort hotel with 100 rooms on the East Coast road near Chennai.

The proposed investment will be funded through debt, internal accruals and from the proceedings from the proposed IPO. "The value of the IPO will be finalised by merchant bankers soon," he said.

On the industry, he said future growth of hospitality sector would be in the Tier 2 cities in the state and the company plans to open two of its three upcoming projects in such areas. The company would cater to both foreign and domestic customers with international quality of services in these region, he added.

The company launched its second five-star hotel in Tamil Nadu under the brand Le Meridien, at Coimbatore on December 12, 2010. The hotel, with 255 rooms on an area of six acres, has been set up with an investment of Rs 350 crore.

With the industrial growth in Comibatore and nearby region, the company expects foreign and Indian businessmen to occupy space. Further, it is also designed as a resort to attract tourists for leisure activities, said Periasamy.

The Rs 1,250-crore Appu Hotels Ltd is a part of PGP group which has diversified business activities including property and infrastructure development, educational institutions and sugar and chemicals business.

^^^^
Oh no, not a hotel again.
I am fed up seeing lots and lots of hotel for Puducherry.
Almost 3/4 Hotel constructions are going on in Puducherry alone.
Please, we need something else.

are these coming up in new pondicherry or in the french district?

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/12/stories/2011011251050300.htm

The Pondicherry Central University on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Syiah Kuala University in Indonesia to promote educational and research cooperation between the two universities.

As per the MoU, the universities would exchange research materials and publications, organise joint academic activities and research programmes and exchange students, faculty members, staff and research scholars.

The universities would also seek the opportunity to develop joint training programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Addressing a press conference, Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University J.A.K. Tareen said that the MoU would provide an opportunity for students and teachers of the university to gain valuable to exposure to a big Asian country such as Indonesia. He said that pact would grant teachers of Pondicherry University a chance to go to Indonesia and teach for a couple of semesters. Though university was reluctant all these years to admit foreign students owing to lack of infrastructure, that deficiency had now been rectified and the target was to have at least 500 foreign students on the campus by the end of the current plan period, he said.

Terming the MoU a “prelude” for a better future, Rector of Syiah Kuala University, Darni M. Daud said that cooperation with Asian universities such as the Pondicherry University was more economical that those in the United States and Europe. He said that both the countries had a cultural relationship and social connect, which made cooperation easier.

The ties between the two universities would be comprehensive with a focus on areas such as engineering and certain fields of science. Mr. Daud hoped that the university to university relationship would pave the way for better cooperation between India and Indonesia.

are these coming up in new pondicherry or in the french district?

in the greater pondicherry. In French district, oly very few hotels r der..

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/17/stories/2011011755700500.htm

The government is likely to hand over as many as 1,431 houses constructed for fishermen living in the coastal villages north of Puducherry to beneficiaries on February 6. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who will be on an official visit here, is likely to hand over the houses, a senior official told The Hindu.

The houses meant for fishermen living in Ganapathichettikulam, Periyakalapet, Chinnakalapet and Pillaichavady, the worst hit villages in the 2004 tsunami, have been constructed at a cost of around Rs. 81 crore.

Constructed on the lines of a township on 26 hectares, the housing colony is self-sustaining in all major aspects. Each house has a built-up area of 325 square feet, a bedroom, hall, kitchen and toilet.

To provide uninterrupted power supply, a 350 KV sub station has been established with underground cable connection.

The township has been provided a sewerage treatment plant, two overhead water tanks each having a capacity of 2.5 lakh litres, sodium vapour lamps for the streets, four shopping centres, two community halls and three Anganwadis. The project, costing 4.5 lakh each for the Anganwadis, was taken up by the Women and Child Department, the official said.

The work taken up by the Project Implementation Agency (PIA), floated by the territorial administration for permanent rehabilitation, is one of the largest single housing projects in the country, officials in the PIA said.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/26/stories/2011012651670300.htm

The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has given the go ahead to the territorial administration for the reconstruction and modernisation of the fishing harbour at Puducherry.

The Ministry had given the clearance as per the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 with certain specific conditions. The clearance letter issued in the month of December last year said that the Project Implementation Agency (PIA) should obtain the “Consent for Establishment” from Puducherry Pollution Control Committee under the Air and Water Act and the copy of it should be submitted to the Ministry before commencing the work.

Another condition set by the Committee was that the construction work should be carried out strictly as per the provisions of CRZ notification.

There should not be any disposal of solid and liquid waste in the coastal area and a sewage treatment plant should be provided in accordance with the CRZ notification.

The treated sewage should be reused for flushing of toilets and horticulture product, said the clearance letter, the copy of which is available on the website.

The authorities should ensure that putrefied and discarded parts of fishes were removed from the area and disposed of in the approved landfill or used as manure.

Other conditions included mandatory use of fly ash for construction, non-establishment of ice plant in the area, setting up separate environmental management cell for effective implementation of safeguards and providing adequate road facility to transport fish.

The PIA, constituted by the territorial administration for mainly taking up rehabilitation programme for tsunami-affected fishermen, planned to take up works such as extending the quay and providing appropriate fender on the quay, modernisation of sloping yard, boat repair yard, dredging, mechanised workshop and construction of administrative building at an estimated cost of Rs. 31.20 crore.

Funds would be availed from the World Bank, an official in the PIA told The Hindu.

Sri Kumaran Stores has been opened in Puducherry.
In the line to follow are Pothys, The Chennai Silks as of now.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1144211.ece

The beauty of the town of Puducherry, with its captivating French flavour and complementing Tamil culture, is perhaps a known fact. But when this fact is affirmed by a movie director of the pedigree of Ang Lee, it is hard to disagree.

“Not to discredit our cinematographer, but I used to joke in the sets that you could drop your camera and hit the switch and everything would look beautiful; in a very special and modest way. I am sure that the writer of the book (Life of Pi), Yann Martel, had good reasons, of all India, in choosing this town,” he charmingly told a press conference on Monday, indicating an honest appraisal of a place that he had spent shooting in the last one month.

Winner of two Oscars and recognised as one of the best directors to emerge in the 20th century, Lee's handling of complex human emotions is world-acclaimed. Whether it was the homoerotic theme portrayed in the love between two Wyoming ranchers in ‘Brokeback Mountain', or the romantic drama ‘Sense and Sensibility', which weaved together tales of disappointment and the eventual triumph of love; Mr. Lee has held audiences spellbound with his creations.

Like many of his earlier adaptations, Mr. Lee said he had tried to make ‘Life of Pi' – the fictional tale of the son of a zoo-keeper from Puducherry who gets trapped in the Pacific Ocean with four animals – “as realistic as possible.” The book narrates the boy's ordeals and his indomitable spirit that helps him survive 227 days in the rough seas.

For the first time, Mr. Lee would be handling the 3D technology to take the book closer to the audience and recreate the drama which earned the writer a ‘Man Booker Prize' in 2002.

He said that with the “blessings of the writer,” he had added some characters to the story. The movie would feature artists Tabu and Irfan Khan, both of whom won the Padma Shri this year.
“Great actors”

Calling them “great actors”, Mr. Lee said the moment he decided to make the movie, Tabu and Irfan were obvious choices. For the role of the protagonist though, an extensive worldwide talent search was held and Suraj Sharma, a 17-year-old boy from Delhi was cast in the role.

“I wanted somebody fresh and not from the industry. Suraj is a true talent who is gathering his experience with this training and shooting. He is someone whom the camera likes. He is a real deal but we should wait to see how people take him,” he said.

The movie was shot in several places across the town including the Botanical gardens, Holy Rosary Church, Petit Seminaire and Calve College schools and several canals.

Mr. Lee said that almost one-third of the screen time will be occupied by shots from Puducherry. The scenes set in the ocean will be shot in Taiwan.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/01/stories/2011020152630300.htm

Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam on Monday launched the website of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Personnel Wing) of the Chief Secretariat. The website http://dpar.puducherry.gov.in will provide information about the functions and administrative activities of the Department to the employees and general public, a release from the government said. The Department deals with administrative and policy matters including issues related to Confidential and Cabinet. Apart from the subjects, the Department also deals with service matters of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Pondicherry Civil Service cadres and of the common category posts.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Puducherry-leads-pack-in-elementary-education/articleshow/7407641.cms

For the second year in a row, Puducherry is the number one state in terms of Educational Development Index (EDI) at the elementary level (class I to VII/VIII), followed by Lakshadweep and Kerala.

Kerala has made remarkable progress in primary education — moving up from ninth position in 2008-09 to third in 2009-10. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands has moved from seventh to fourth slot, while Tamil Nadu continues to hold on to its fifth position.

Chandigarh, too, is a success story — sixth in 2009-10 from 10th in 2008-09. Punjab is at number seven, and Delhi — for the second year in succession —is at eighth position. EDI is prepared by National University for Educational Planning & Administration.

Hindi heartland states — Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan —and West Bengal are at the bottom of the heap. Despite massive investment in elementary education, Bihar continues to bring out the rear. "The last five years were spent in overcoming the historical shortcomings. In the next few years, Bihar will catch up with performing states," an official said.

EDI is prepared after taking into account four components — access, infrastructure, teachers and outcomes. In case of access, the two important factors were looked into — availability of schools per 1,000 child population and ratio of primary to upper primary schools. Access-wise, northeast states are on top. Arunachal Pradesh holds number one position at primary level, and Mizoram at upper primary level. Jammu & Kashmir is number two at primary level, followed by Gujarat at upper primary level.

In case of infrastructure, four factors were looked into — schools with student-classroom ratio of more than 40, schools with drinking water facility, common toilet and girls toilet.

Punjab has the best infrastructure at the primary level, followed by Puducherry and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. At upper primary level, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands tops in terms of infrastructure. Punjab is at second position, followed by Sikkim.

Puducherry intermittent budget for 2241 crore

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/3189/31454718.jpg[/URL]

^^

Its a waste. Announcing the same things for more than 3 years....
The flyovers at three places were proposed and announced in 2006 itself..
Still even now they are announcing..

^^

Its a waste. Announcing the same things for more than 3 years....
The flyovers at three places were proposed and announced in 2006 itself..
Still even now they are announcing..
i think they could not allocate funds to it every year and hence they keep announcing:lol:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4889/04022011330005.jpg

i think they could not allocate funds to it every year and hence they keep announcing:lol:

Puducherry Govt employees ku sambalam kudukarathe centre la kadan vangi than. Appadi patta govt ithu.

Apart from Taxes that Puducherry Govt gets, there is no other income for the govt. All the Puducherry Govt's corporations and organizations run in loss. No use and need for a govt in Puducherry.

The development of master plan for Puducherry will be further delayed as the Puducherry Town and Planning Authority has now decided to float a fresh tender to select the consultant for preparing the plan. Though a consultant was selected through bidding a few months ago, the Authority found the agency lacking in several aspects, according to a senior government official.

“Hence we have decided to float a fresh expression of interest. This time, we have floated the expression of interest at the national level so that we get better candidates,” the official said.

The last master plan, which was developed in 1997 for an area of 41.91 square km, has almost become outmoded.

Taking into account the growth witnessed in the last decade, the Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Puducherry Town and Country Planning Act, 1969 plans to develop a Comprehensive Master Plan for the urban area of Puducherry for an area of 77.26 km.

The work to be entrusted to the consultant included preparation of scientific base map using satellite imagery, preparation of existing land use map/registers using the scientific map, collection of primary and secondary data, conducting surveys related to existing conditions and development uses and preparation of Comprehensive Development Plan and Zonal Development plan.

It would also be entrusted with the task to give a detailed report using satellite imagery for mapping the resource potential region, macro level study of port and major industries, macro level study of solid waste management, study on the general environment, identification of heritage buildings and potential for their preservation, the official added.

The consultancy would be selected in three months, the official said, adding that the agency would be given 10 months to prepare the report.

Source: Hindu

http://epaper.dinamani.com/epaperimages/1722011/17022011-cni-mn-06/32520921.JPG

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/18/stories/2011021851240300.htm

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, an autonomous scientific society of the Department of Information Technology, will launch the Bharat Operating Systems Solutions (BOSS) GNU/Linux desktop version and its support centre at Puducherry, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V. Narayanasamy said here on Thursday

Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Sachin Pilot was likely to launch the facility shortly, he said, addressing a gathering after laying the foundation for the sub-regional science centre and planetarium at Ponniamman Koil Street near Tagore Nagore at Lawspet.

Of the total project cost of Rs. 3.4 crore for the science centre and planetarium, Rs. 1.3 crore would be provided by the Centre, he said, urging the territorial administration to draw up a plan to establish a dinosaur park in the place proposed for the science centre. An additional amount of Rs. 1.6 crore could be provided towards constructing the park, he added.

Plans are afoot to develop Arikamedu into a major heritage tourist spot in the Union Territory. The Centre had already granted a sum of Rs. 51 crore for developing the archaeological site, Mr. Narayanasamy said.

Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam said the proposed science centre and planetarium would be of great benefit to children. Though it was first proposed during 1991-95 at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore, the administration could not take it up as the plan size was only around Rs. 100 crore.

The science centre and planetarium having a capacity to accommodate around 50 persons was coming up next to the Energy Park, for which work was progressing fast. There would be two exhibition halls in the science centre. While one would be a thematic gallery, the other would be fun-filled science gallery related to life science, director (headquarters) National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata, K.G. Kumar, said in his address.

Home Minister E. Valsaraj, Minister for Public Works M.O.H.F Shahjahan, Chief Secretary R. Chandramohan and Special Secretary G. Theva Neethi Dhas spoke.

Property prices are going through the roof in what was known as Ville Blanche or White Town in the former French colony of Pondicherry.

Puducherry's Grand Canal, that spans the length of the Boulevard Town, in hindsight, was an inadvertent mistake made by ambitious French engineers. Meant to sanitise the town, the Canal became central to its evolving landscape — a definite line demarcating the French quarters from the Tamil precincts. Today, the term ‘heritage architecture' is loosely presumed to apply only within the Boulevard Town, especially the French Precinct — making it exclusive, and in the last decade, massively expensive.

When Kanu Mistry, a building contractor and designer, bought a property there in 2003 the land was valued at Rs. 1,250 a square foot. The hype was just setting in, then. Going by the general norm in Puducherry, a heritage property is valued for the land alone with the built-up area considered only if restored. A property that was valued at around 30 lakhs in 2003, would now costs approximately upwards of two crores.

Attributing the increased interest in these properties to the opening up of the Indian psyche, he says, “Indians had the money, had travelled and had found the love for exclusivity.”

But this mindset took a long time coming, he says, while listing the various insecurities that let French properties lie dormant till the last decade.

“Initially the French mansions remained unoccupied because the Tamils in Puducherry were not interested in them. Compared to their intimate homes, they considered these huge mansions to be high maintenance, unsafe, associated with power and also impractical to live in.

Funds for restoration

"It is only after INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), and Ecole Francaise D' Extreme-Orient's (The French School of the Far-East) exhibition of heritage architecture in Puducherry in 1998, did funds for restoration start flowing. As the word spread, it got its identity as that little piece of France in South India,” he surmises. Much of this insecurity was driven out by the coming of money and change in attitudes.

“Most of the buyers are high net worth Indians, NRIs, followers of the Ashram and a few French expats. For buyers from the metros, these rates are very affordable. Many of them look at it as a retirement option,” says T. Annamalai, a promoter active in the French Town.

Two years back the rates were edging Rs 10,000 per square foot, today they fetch you anywhere between 15,000-18,000 rupees per square feet. And, the closer it is to the Ashram and the sea promenade, the higher the price, he adds.

Better preservation, the coming up of heritage hotels in the vicinity and the scarcity of non-litigated properties, have all contributed to the steep escalation in prices. Within the original Boulevard town, there exist around 6500 properties, of which only 650 odd fall within the French Town area.

Ajit Koujalgi, Architect and Co-convenor of INTACH feels that, “This low density meant lack of congestion, when compared to the Tamil precincts. Also the French properties remain untouched, thanks to their more discerning owners, who mostly did not divide the property among family members.”

Mr. Annamalai thinks that French properties aren't above familial divisions, either. “Property is rarely available and almost always under litigation. Only one or two properties come up for sale each year because tracing the owners is quite a task. Some have passed on the property to their children, who live in other countries. So it is only when the next generation wants to sell the property and settle the disputes, does the property even come on sale,” he says.

Also, the conversion of French houses into heritage hotels and guest houses has led to the increase in prices of other properties in the neighbourhood. In the last two years alone, seven such hotels have sprung up, with more on the anvil.

Graded heritage

The Puducherry Chapter of INTACH being one of the most active in the country, works in tandem with the Government of Puducherry and the public to conserve the architectural heritage and townscape.

Based on criteria from the Ministry of Urban Planning at the Centre, a set of guidelines, for restoration and conservation of heritage structures, have been developed by INTACH.

Their implementation is overseen by the Puducherry Planning Authority and the Puducherry Heritage Committee. The listed heritage buildings are divided into Grades I, II and III, with Grade I coming under stricter purview, while Grade II and III call for intelligent and less stringent practices of restoration.

Though unable to prevent the cropping up of apartment complexes within the White Town, INTACH does guide builders to add features like facades and retain the old windows; use the original materials in their restoration and respect the architectural language.

Preserving heritage

“Each building calls for its own solution despite the existence of guidelines,” says Mr. Koujalgi. “There is a Government proposal that is underway to prohibit demolition of heritage structures for building apartments and commercial buildings.We hope it comes through,” he adds.

If you are looking for privacy and have the money to maintain a French mansion, then why not, asks Kakoli Banerjee, who runs Gratitude, a boutique cum home stay on Rue Romain Rolland that took more than three years to restore.

“An old house is very high maintenance and with every season something small has to be replaced or repaired — you need to be prepared to take care of it.

"For instance, every room needs to be aired every single day and when it rains, the walls get coated with fungus. But do we regret buying it? Absolutely not!”

The French Quarter ( known as the Ville Blanche or White Town) is laid out in a geometric grid with straight roads intersecting at right angles. It retains some of the characteristics of a medieval French township with its buildings, churches, parks and monuments. A canal separates what was known as the Ville Noire (or Black Town) from the French Quarter.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-propertyplus/article1470147.ece

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/22/stories/2011022263861000.htm

The Centre has cleared transfer of 35 acres of government poromboke land for establishing a permanent campus for the National Institute of Technology – Puducherry at Karaikal, now functioning from the Arignar Anna Arts and Science College campus.

Efforts are underway for appointing members to the Board of Governors and formation of a Finance Committee.

According to official sources, last month, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) appointed Baldev Raj, Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, as the Governing Board Chairman.

The Building and Works Committee would be formed in a couple of days.

Master plan

A master plan would be chalked out, and the time frame to complete construction of classrooms, administrative block, laboratories, hostels and residential quarters will be decided at the first meeting of Committee, the Director In-Charge of NIT-Tiruchi (NIT-T), the mentoring institution for NIT-Puducherry, Sandeep Sanchetti told The Hindu.

Release of funds

Once the Board of Governors and the Finance Committee are in place in a couple of months, the Centre would be approached for release of funds, he said, expressing the hope that the work could be initiated by March-end. The process to transfer 260 acres of adjoining privately-owned land in the villages of Cooum and Tiruvettakudi will be completed in the meantime.

Dr.Sanchetti also hoped to get permanent faculty posted at the NIT-Puducherry by the start of the next academic year. The recruitment will be carried out by a selection committee appointed by the Board of Governors.

Nine faculty staff: one professor, three associate professors and five assistant professors are to be appointed to handle three programmes: Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering. The Building and Works Committee would be constituted with Civil and Electrical experts from the Central Public Works Department, Chief Engineer of State PWD, Chief Architect of State PWD, and Dean – Planning and Development of Mentoring Institute as members, G. Swaminathan, Coordinator for NIT-Puducherry at NIT-Tiruchi, said. The Committee chaired by the NIT-T Director will have the Registrar as the Member Secretary.

Official sources also indicated that a combined interview for choosing Directors for 18 NITs, including the ones in Tiruchi and Puducherry, would be conducted at Bangalore during the fourth week of this month.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/22/stories/2011022251690500.htm

Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh on Monday inaugurated a book shop and a new lecture hall complex at the Pondicherry University (PU) campus.

The book shop would initially offer 7000 titles across different subjects including, English literature, mathematics, physics, chemistry, management, history and several others.

According to Mr. Singh, the concept of a bookshop inside the university has been introduced for the first time at PU. This was a very useful addition to the already existing infrastructure. The bookshop would help students get all that was required academically at one place and would save a lot of time that would be spent on travel in search of such books.

He said that the university has witnessed an unprecedented growth of over 300 per cent on all fronts, making it the fastest growing central university in the country.

On the lecture hall that was inaugurated, Mr. Singh said that the state-of-the-art facilities provided there would enable the creation of a better learning environment.

Mr. Singh was also felicitated on the occasion for authoring the book titled “Reflections from the tranquil land and beyond,” a compilation of speeches that he delivered last year since he took office as the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/27/stories/2011022751380300.htm

Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology (IT) Sachin Pilot inaugurated the Puducherry State Database Centre (PYSDC) here on Saturday. It will host and manage e-governance applications of the territorial government and its constituent departments.

Set up at an estimated cost of Rs. 27 crore, the centre has been identified as one of the core infrastructure facilities for supporting e-governance initiatives of the National e-Governance Plan.

The PYSDC has been interfaced with the Puducherry State Wide Area Network through dedicated fibre interface with 8 Mbps bandwidth that would provide access to e-governance applications and services through the Intranet for government employees and through the Internet for the public.

Shortly after launching PYSDC, Mr. Pilot said the objective of the government was to ensure that development in the Information Technology (IT) sector reached remote parts of the country and make sure that “IT does not remain in the realm of the elite.”

Pointing out that India has emerged as an IT superpower even though only 8 per cent of the population in the country was using the Internet, he said the government would ensure high speed broadband facility in each village panchayat in the country by 2012. “This would bring a paradigm shift in the way the government and the public interact,” he said.

Puducherry Minister for Public Works M.O.H.F Shahjahan, who also holds IT portfolio, said that the territorial government would set up an “IT-SEZ” on a proposed area of 27.61 acres.

The SEZ would attract a projected income of Rs. 525.53 million and generate 45,000 direct and indirect jobs over a period of five years.

Earlier, Mr. Pilot launched the Linux DVD of Bharat Operating Systems Solutions (BOSS), its support centre and a lab at the Pondicherry Engineering College.

Union Minister of State V. Narayanasamy, Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh and Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam spoke.

Mr. Singh also launched the Information and Communications Technology Academy of Puducherry during the event.

Post offices

Later in the day, Mr. Pilot inaugurated post offices at Thirukannur and Villianur taken up for modernisation under the centrally sponsored Project Arrow programme.

He said the project was initiated to lay the foundation for the systematic transformation of post offices into a vibrant and responsive business organisation with a strong focus on social obligation.

All the post offices would be equipped with broadband connectivity to provide web-based services of the department such as eMoney order, Western Union Money Transfer, Instant Money order and e-post, he said, adding that the government would spend Rs. 1,800 crore for computerisation and modernisation of all 1.55 lakh post offices in the country.

Talking about Puducherry BSNL circle, he said it had been adding mobile subscribers at a rapid rate.

In the last one year, BSNL added nearly 42,000 subscribers.

There were a total of 103 GSM mobile base tower stations currently installed in the territory, he added.

Mr. Narayanasamy and Mr. Vaithilingam were present.

PRTC has introduced a new Ashok Leyland's Prakash built bus. It is a P 8000 model with BS III norms. It is just it's 4th day of run.

Here are the pics of the bus

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5493749455_661913a443.jpg

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CC: Myself

Here are some more pics of PRTCs JnNURM buses. These were taken before they were introduced.

Buses are parked in line. They are 26 in number. The one with green color you can spot in the middle of JnNURM buses is a Volvo bus that was running to Bangalore.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5494342558_fa347280f6.jpg

The stickering of Puducherry Road Transport Corporation in Tamil.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5494342484_d8878d4691.jpg


More closer Views.
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http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5493750037_d768389cf5.jpg

CC: Myself.

Here is the pic of the lone bus that is operated by PRTC. Though there is 1 more, it is not in operation. Dont no, why?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5493749973_20b6c17e3e.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5493749917_d585d34cb2.jpg

It runs from Tirunallar to Chennai in the night time. Starts from there at 10:30 (11 PM from karaikal) and reaches at 4 AM. It starts from Chennai in the afternoon 12:10 PM and reaches Karaikal at 7 PM. Fare is Rs 360 in the night time and Rs 250 in the day time.

nice pics thapalathy! do these jnnurm buses travel inter city or only within pondicherry?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Le-Cafe-launch-to-herald-heritage-effort-in-Pondy/articleshow/7623720.cms

A French organization, Vieilles Maisons Francaises (VMF), specialising in preserving French heritage mansions across the globe, will launch its Indian chapter French Heritage in India in Puducherry, a former French enclave.

Established in 1958 in France, VMF is presently the largest French heritage society with 20,000 members and 95 regional offices. The society, which strives hard to protect and preserve French architectural heritage, supports important heritage restoration projects with special awards. In the last 30 years, it has awarded 1,400 prizes extending 4.8 million Euros as prize money. It suggests guidelines to government and non-governmental organizations and individuals for protection of architectural heritage.

The new chapter with its base in Puducherry will work towards protecting existing French heritage structures all over the country. To start with, it will make an inventory of important heritage buildings in the country and involve a team of experts in respective regions, who will help in preserving the unique heritage structures.

VMF president Philippe Toussaint will formally launch the chapter in a function on March 4 at Le Cafe on the Beach Road. To mark the occasion, the society has also announced two special awards for the tourism department and a hotel giant for restoring heritage buildings Le Caf' on the Beach Road and Hotel Maison Perumal - to their past glory. Both the buildings are more than 150 years old.

The building which presently houses Le Cafe, a cafeteria run by the tourism department, is one of the distinctive French architectural structures in Puducherry while the other building, which is converted into a heritage hotel, is a typical Tamil architectural structure. Le Caf' was the old port office while the other structure housed the taluk office. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) helped the government and the hotel giant in the restoration of the buildings.

"The launch of Indian chapter of the French organization here will give the much-required impetus for protection and preservation of priceless heritage structures here," INTACH co-convenor Ashok Panda told The Times of India.

He was of the strong opinion that the presence of the French society in Puducherry will enlighten all sections of people about heritage monuments. "The chapter will undertake a series of programmes to sensitize the public, particularly the students, on heritage preservation. It will also train professionals in India on heritage conservation besides helping the local artisans in improving their skills and marketing their products," he said.

The VMF has also taken up environmental issues and has initiated a campaign against theft and sale of antiques.

nice pics thapalathy! do these jnnurm buses travel inter city or only within pondicherry?


only within pondy...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/sundaram-fasteners-to-spend-rs-200-cr-in-fy12/articleshow/7732964.cms

The company's CMD Suresh Krishna said Sundaram Fasteners (SFL) is tapping the know-how of two of its overseas arms to launch these products. While it would use the technology of its German subsidiary Peiner Umformtechnik GmbH to make wind turbine fasteners, its UK arm Cramlington Precision Forge will transfer technology for the manufacture of bevel gears.

The wind turbine fasteners facility, in which SFL plans to spend up to Rs 50 crore, would come up near Pondicherry by August. Both the products would be marketed for the local as well as export markets. Mr Krishna hinted at the favourable cost dynamics in India vis-a-vis Europe. "Wherever they cannot compete in the market, we want to bring their technology to India for making new products," he said.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/jobs-in-the-small-city/775406/0

The last fiscal year saw tier II and III cities recording a share of over 60% in total job creation in India, according to an Assocham study. The study also forecast that tier II and III cities are likely to generate 40% more jobs in the near future. While 17 tier II cities like Pune, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Surat cornered a 38.8% share in creating 253,702 jobs, 33 tier III cities like Allahabad, Udaipur, Agra, Ajmer, Kota and Meerut accounted for a 23% share with 150,391 new jobs in the past year.

In recent years, tier I cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore have emerged as the fastest job generators, but this trend is clearly changing. Among tier II cities, Pune has emerged as the lead employment provider with a share of 21.5%, followed by Lucknow and Pondicherry, with a share of 15.5% and 11.5%, respectively. Ranchi was the lead employment provider among tier III cities in FY 2010-11, with a share of 17.8%, followed by Mangalore, with a share of 13.9%. The five sectors that generated most employment in Ranchi were energy, construction, metals, electronics and telecommunications. In Pune, the sectors were IT, ITeS, banking, education and auto.

Here are some photos showing the work update of the ECR By-pass missing link in Puducherry.

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http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/15/stories/2011041552310300.htm

Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal has “accepted” the request for establishing an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Puducherry. This will be done in the 12th Five-Year Plan of the Union government, Union Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy said here on Thursday.

Inaugurating the new building for Subramania Bharati School of Tamil Language and Literature at the Pondicherry University, Mr. Narayanasamy said that subsequent to the establishment of an NIT at Karaikal, a request was made to get an IIM for Puducherry.

This was part of the efforts to make the Union Territory the “education hub” of South India, he said.

Vice-chancellor J.A.K Tareen said that the university had utilised the funds allotted for the 11th Five-Year Plan within three years and had requested the University Grants Commission to provide another Rs. 100 crore. If sanctioned, he said, the amount would be utilised to build an international cultural-cum-convention centre with a capacity to hold 3,000 persons. Also, a science, education and bio-diversity park would be established to inspire schoolchildren and teach them concepts of science, he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/15/stories/2011041552310300.htm
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal has “accepted” the request for establishing an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Puducherry. This will be done in the 12th Five-Year Plan of the Union government, Union Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy said here on Thursday.


He has been telling this for the past 2 years.

RathiMeena introduces a new AC Sleeper/ Semi-Sleeper bus in Chidambaram - Thiruvananthapuram line.

The route followed is: Chidambaram - Cuddalore - Pondy - Villupuram - Tiruchi - Madurai - Tirunelvely - Nagercoil - Thiruvananthapuram.

Timings from:
Chidambaram: 7:15 PM
Cuddalore: 8:30 PM
Pondy: 9:15 PM

Not sure of the inaugural date
__________________

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4982/03thculvert621447f.jpg
The box culvert constructed beneath runway to carry sewage pipe in Puducherry

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/03/stories/2011050354230300.htm

The Public Works Department has completed the work to provide a box culvert to accommodate a sewage line passing beneath the runway of Puducherry airport.

The civil works for expanding the 1,280 metre long runway by another 220 metre was suspended in March, 2009 after the sewer line got busted.

According to officials in the PWD, the work to restore the pipeline had been completed. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had now begun the process to fill the damaged portion with sand and laying of the runway, they said.

The culvert running to 171 metres had been designed to withstand the landing load of aircraft as big as Airbus, the official said adding two ductile pipes were fitted inside the culvert to carry sewage. An Electrically Overhead Travelling crane having capacity to lift 5 tonnes was provided near the culvert for removing the pipes during maintenance works.

Further, lighting arrangements have been provided inside the box and electric ventilators fitted to remove toxic gas for creating a safe environment to workers while performing maintenance work.

The culvert had been constructed at a cost of Rs. 9.85 crore. A part of the expenditure, which comes around Rs. 6.83 crore was met through funding from the Housing Urban Development Corporation and remaining amount by the territorial administration, officials said.

An engineer with AAI told TheHindu that more than 70 per cent of the work to lay the runway on the damaged portion had been completed. By end of the month, the entire runway expansion work would be completed.

The Electricity Department in Puducherry will be privatized before this year.
Already the Sewage / Garbage is privatised.. (Puducherry Municipal Services Private Limited)...

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/1527/24710843.jpg (http://img839.imageshack.us/i/24710843.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

AINRC (NR Congress)+ AIADMK alliance wins in Puducherry.
N.Rangaswamy, founder of AINRC will be the next CM of Puducherry.
AINRC has created a history by being the first regional party from Puducherry ruling Puducherry,

The 60 room Vivanta by Taj - Puducherry is to open in 2013.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/02/stories/2011060251520900.htm

The Rajiv Gandhi Women and Children Hospital, which was inaugurated by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in October 2010, is likely to become fully functional from June 8.

According to Director of Health Department Dilipkumar Baliga, all construction work have been completed by the respective agencies. Equipment required for running the hospital have also been installed and were ready for use. Mr. Baliga said starting June 8, patients would be admitted only in the new hospital and the maternity ward at the Government General Hospital would be closed.

First of its kind & futuristic one stop place for shopping, recreation and food court at PONDICHERRY's M.G.Road, door no.360, near saint Theresa street cutting " SOORYA ICON" (SHOPPING MALL) - space available for food court -food counter with shared dinning space.

100 members seating cine screen. beauty saloon and spa, cosmetics, fashion jwellers, swiss watches, children fun cnetre for kids, exclusive stores for females, kids.

vijay-9894343488

Puducherry New Delhi Express 22404 to commence operations from July 3 from New Delhi.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2133605.ece

Again, this train also runs from Puducherry during Wednesdays.

List of Ministers in Puducherry and Departments Controlled:

1. N.Rangaswamy – Chief Minister
a. Confidential and Cabinet
b. General Administrations
c. Home
d. Revenue and Excise
e. Public Works
f. Planning and Finance
g. Electricity
h. Co-operation
i. Health
j. Town and Country Planning
k. Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs
l. Science, Technology and Environment
m. All other subjects not allocated to any Minister

2. P.M.L. Kalyanasundaram – Transport Minister
a. Transport
b. Information Technology
c. Colligate and School Education
d. Sports and Youth Affairs
e. Arts and Culture
f. Government Automobile Workshop

3. M.Chandrakasu - Agricultire Minister
a. Agriculture
b. Animal Husbandry
c. Industries and Commerce
d. Economics and Statistics
e. Stationery and Printing
f. Port

4. P.Rajavelu – Welfare Minister
a. Social Welfare
b. Adi Dravidar Welfare
c. Women and Child Welfare
d. Backward Class Welfare
e. Labour and Employment
f. Tourism


5. N.G.Panneerselvam - Local Administration Minister
a. Local Administration Department
b. Community Department
c. DRDA;
d. Urban Basic Services
e. Fisheries
f. Housing
g. Fire Services

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/anandha-inn-convention-centre--suites-to-open-on-july-3-2011-in-puducherry-13861

Puducherry-based Anandha Inn Pvt Ltd, which currently operates 70-room Anandha Inn Pondicherry, will open Anandha Inn Convention Centre & Suites in the same vicinity on July 3, 2011. Targeting the MICE segment, the upcoming four-star hotel will have 59 rooms and a five level banquet space. The approximate investment for the project is Rs 40 crore.

Speaking exclusively with TravelBiz Monitor, Radja Radjane, Executive Director, Anandha Inn Pvt Ltd informed, “With the increase in demand for conferences and social functions in Puducherry, we decided to increase the room inventory and banquet facility next to the existing hotel.”

The hotel will have 48 premium rooms, four premium deluxe rooms, six club suites and one presidential suite. The banquet space can accommodate 400 guests at below ground level, 150 at ground level, 250 guests at first level and 750 guests each in the second and third level. The hotel will also have a business centre, two board rooms and three restaurants. Besides, it will have a coffee shop with 90 covers, a multi-cuisine restaurant with 80 covers and a speciality restaurant with 74 covers.

Govt to follow Gujarat’s path

Puducherry:The Union territory of Puducherry has proposed to take cue from Gujarat and adopt its industrial policy and model to revive the sagging industrial sector.
The government has decided to form special investment regions on the lines of successful model established in Gujarat and form regional-level development authorities comprising officials from various government departments and representatives of stakeholders to periodically monitor the industrial progress and to address the concerns of the industrial sector.
“Special investment regions are different from special economic zones. The policy and concept introduced by the Chinese government was successfully replicated by Gujarat government. We plan to establish such regions and form development authorities to ensure industrial progress. As the country is preparing for new tax regime, special economic zones will no longer benefit the industrial sector but the new model does,” E Vallavan, director (industries), government of Puducherry, told TOI.
Vallavan, who also holds additional charge as the managing director of Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation Limited (PIPDIC), recently led a team to Gujarat to study the policies adopted by the government there.
The regional authorities will ensure that representatives of the government and industrial sectors meet compulsorily to revive the progress periodically. Hitherto there are no compulsory interactions between the representatives of two sectors.
The government has also decided to revamp its industrial policy framed as early as 1997. The new policy apart from giving more emphasis on region-wise development will attempt to strengthen the single window clearance system.
“Delay in clearance of proposals through the single window is one of the major areas we need to strengthen. The new policy will ensure that the single window clearance system functions effectively. We propose to monitor the proceedings online,” Vallavan said.
The new sector-specific policy will identify the Puducherry’s priorities and resources after eliciting opinions from the representatives of the industry.
WOOING INC

• Puducherry government has decided to revamp the 1997 industrial policy

• It will focus on strengthening single window clearance system

• It will form regional-level development authorities comprising officials from various government departments

TOI (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/07/14&PageLabel=16&EntityId=Ar01604&ViewMode=HTML)

Sales tax holiday over, companies pack bags

uducherry, as an industrial hub particularly for IT hardware and FMCG companies, is now facing the heat.
Several big companies have either frozen their business plans or have pulled out altogether. Companies like Emami and Wipro have either closed down or have significantly reduced their presence. Just last month, French luxury goods giant Louis Vuitton sold its Indian back office subsidiary Les Ateliers De Pondicherry (LADP) to Chennai’s Leather Crafts India, bringing its five-year presence in the city to a close. Sources in the city’s industrial circuit say FMCG giant Marico may also be mulling a reduced presence in Puducherry though there’s no confirmation from the company on this.
Even those that are staying back are freezing expansion of capacity as they add investments in other factory locations. Take the case of HCL. The hardware giant has now started a bigger facility in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, although 80% of its business is still in Puducherry. The other hardware giants that call the city home include Acer and Lenovo.
Sources say Puducherry’s biggest problem is the expiry of its sales tax holiday. In the late 90s, several FMCG and IT companies shifted base to the city lured by a tax holiday and low cost of power. Besides, there was no history of labour unrest in sharp contrast to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
But with value added tax (VAT) and the proposed goods and services tax (GST), the central government has severely cut back on the practice of offering tax holidays to attract investment.
“Companies which do high value add find the tax exemption to be critical. For them the end of the tax holiday has been very difficult and many have moved to tax havens like Uttarakhand,” says a senior V-P with an IT major which runs a factory in Puducherry. “Also Tamil Nadu next door has been attracting big investments and Puducherry is losing to the competition in its backyard.”
“Industry came to Pondy because of the financial benefits and once it was over, there was no reason to stay as this is not a cheap place for labour or lifestyle,” says Dilip Kapur, president of Puducherrybased leather brand HiDesign.
Also, Puducherry’s reputation as an industrial haven has also taken a beating. In the past couple of years big companies like MRF and Berger Paints have seen labour unrest in their facilities. More recently when Louis Vuitton announced its decision to sell Les Ateliers de Pondicherry, it led to a fullscale sit-out from its 200-odd employees.
M Sivasankar, former president of the Chambre de Commerce, Pondicherry, says the industrial climate is showing up in the number of units that are shutting shop in the city. “Five years ago, Puducherry had around 9,500 companies, now it is down to around 1,750,” he says.
Kapur, for his part, says Puducherry’s future may be in services industries. “Tourism is growing as is retail. Smaller companies which find Puducherry’s cosmopolitan atmosphere appealing will stay as the city’s service industry grows,” he says.

TOI (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/07/14&PageLabel=16&EntityId=Ar01601&ViewMode=HTML)

Too bad for Pondy. I hope Pondy will raise again.

Puducherry,July 18 : The caste-based census for the union territory of Puducherry began at Muthialpet here today.

Puducherry Hosuing Secretary Deepak Kumar, who is the nodal officer for the work, launched the census work in the presence of senior officials.

Culture czar plans design museum in Auroville

Puducherry: Internationally acclaimed designer Rajeev Sethi, known for his work that showcases India’s cultural heritage through exhibitions and festivals, is now planning to set up a national museum of design. Sethi is looking to set up the museum in Auroville, the global township on the outskirts of Puducherry.

If it goes through, the museum will house Sethi’s 40,000-odd books and collectibles.

When contacted, Sethi told TOI: “Yes, I am looking to set up a national design museum in Puducherry. The city has tremendous international resonance and it may be a good place for my collection. However, it will all depend on the availability of land and how the land transacts itself. If those connected issues work out, then yes the museum will come up in Puducherry.”

Sethi’s choice of city for his museum is an indication of how Puducherry is quietly developing into a cultural and creative hub.

Writers, film directors, painters, dancers, musicians and singers have been flocking to the city for performances as well as to set up a creative base.

Recently, well-known Odissi dancer Rekha Tandon moved to Puducherry to set up her dance academy in Auroville.

That trend is welcomed by older Aurovillians like theatre person Veenapani Chawla who runs the performance research organization Adi Shakti and was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award last month.

Protégé of Pupul Jayakar, Sethi has spent years organizing festivals to promote India’s traditional design and culture across the world.

Awarded the Padma Bhushan two years ago and the Indira Gandhi Lifetime Achievement Award last year, Sethi has been rooting for a national culture policy for long.

Sethi has also spent years working in Paris with the likes of Pierre Cardin and Charles Earnes and was the first Asian artist to be chosen by Louis Vuitton last Diwali to do window installations across the world.

He has founded the Asian Heritage Foundation and has curated award winning exhibitions the world over.

TOI (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/08/12&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00800&ViewMode=HTML)

A private airlines will commence air services connecting Puducherry and Bangalore from October 10 this year, tourism minister P Rajavelu told the assembly on Saturday.

The airport expansion project remains a non-starter despite repeated assurances from successive governments in Union territory for the past 15 years that air services connecting Puducherry with other destinations will commence soon.

Replying to a query, Rajavelu revealed that Spice Jet Airlines will operate flights from Puducherry to Bangalore from October 10 this year. "The Spice Jet Airlines has got clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate flights from Puducherry to Bangalore from 10th October 2011," he said.

He added that Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfishers have convened the government that they will depute their technical teams to study the feasibility of operating flights from Puducherry to other destinations.

Rajavelu said the government entered into a memorandum of understanding with Airports Authority of India (AAI) in June, 2007 to expand the Puducherry airport in two phases.

The existing runway will be extended by another 260 metres to enabling landing of ATR (Italian-French aircraft manufacturer Aerei da Trasporto Regionale) aircrafts with ground support facilities under the first phase of expansion.

"The government acquired land to an extent of 19.92 hectares in Puducherry at a cost of Rs 18.95 crore and handed over it to AAI in July, 2007," he said. AAI has already completed the runway and night landing facilities, he said. The runway now has been extended to 1,482 metres. Earlier the runway length was 1222 meters.

Under the second phase, the runway will be further extended by 1,100 metres by acquiring 200 acres of land from the neighbouring Tamil Nadu state to facilitate operating large aircrafts.
"The new terminal building, which can handle 300 passengers, is under construction. It is expected that the AAI would complete all the works by December, 2011," he said.

Puducherry government has spent Rs.18.95 crore for land acquisition and another Rs.9.83 crore for construction of box culvert for the sewage pipe lines crossing the runway.

src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Air-service-connecting-Pondy-Bangalore-from-Oct-10-says-minister/articleshow/9854190.cms

Social Welfare Minister P. Rajavelu, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, informed the Assembly on Saturday that private airlines SpiceJet has agreed to start operations from the airport here on October 10. Initially, SpiceJet would operate ATR aircraft between Puducherry and Bangalore.

Replying to a question, Mr. Rajavelu said a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Puducherry government and the Airports Authority of India on June 16, 2007, for expanding the Puducherry airport in two phases.

In the first phase, the government had planned to extend the runway by 260m to enable ATR type of aircraft to land, along with ground support facilities. In the second phase, around 200 acres of land had to be acquired and the runway would be further expanded to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft. However, when The Hindu contacted SpiceJet authorities, they said the date has not yet been finalised. Spokesperson of SpiceJet, Priti Dey, said, “Puducherry is on our agenda but nothing has been finalised. Several operational details have to be fulfilled before taking any decision.”

Source: The Hindu

I am doubting whether to believe it or not.
The same hype was given previously in 2007, when a new Delhi based company launched flights. Now that company is bankrupt.
I am sure, there will be no takers for the flight.

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/companies/growth-datamatics-bets-publishing-vertical-753

KPO firm Datamatics Global Services is betting big on its publishing vertical for growth. The segment is growing at over 40 per cent year-over-year and most of the company’s expansions in the near future will be for the same, senior official said.

Rahul Kanodia, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Datamatics, said: “We have opened our fifth delivery centre in Puducherry to cater to the growing publishing vertical. The facility has a seating capacity for 700 people. This is our third centre in South India after Chennai and Bengaluru.” According to industry estimates, total offshoring of publishing services stood at about $780 million for 2008 and is expected to grow by about 35 per cent till 2012. The industry employs about 35,000 people. Chennai has become the hub for publishing and Pondicherry is emerging as a satellite destination to support operations in the city.

“The new centre will support the company’s continued expansion plans and increased focus on OPRS solutions. Our services range from digital publishing and online content services to IT-based content management, ebooks, web applications and analytics. We have spent close to Rs 7 crore for the centre so far. It will become operational next month,” Kanodia added. Datamatics reported standalone revenue of about Rs 154 crore with net profit of Rs 21.2 crore for 2010-11. Consolidated revenue and profit stood at Rs 292 crore and Rs 20 crore respectively. Datamatics offers solutions including engineering and embedded services, online retail solutions and billing and payment. It works with customers including Fortune 500 customers across USA, UK and Australia.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mou-inked-with-france-for-promotion-of-tourism-in-puducherry/923063.html

Department of Tourism of Puducherry government today inked a MOU with the Deputy Mayor of French region for the promotion of tourism in Puduchery. Lt Governor Dr Iqbal Singh, Chief Minister N.Rangasamy, the Tourism Minister P.Rajavelu were present on the occasion. Special Secretary to Tourism (Puducherry) department B R Babu signed on behalf of the Puducherry administration while the Deputy Mayor of the city of Villeneuve Sur Lot Marc Tranchard inked the MOU on behalf of the French regional administration. A release said that the MOU envisaged development of tourism, conservation of heritage and environment and urban development in the Union Territory of Puducherry, a former French colony. Heritage buildings here would be renovated besides establishment of a museum at Arikamedu, a historic site where in the first century BC trade links were in existence between Puducherry and Rome through exports of precious stones, gems and other commodities. The MOU also envisages promotion of environment upkeep activities within boulevard limits here.

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/a-crafts-bazaar-modelled-on-the-%E2%80%98dilli-haat/343152.html

The beach precinct is all set to undergo a sea of change with a craft bazaar modeled on the Dilli haat soon to become a reality. Drawing inspirations from historic city centres in India and Europe where pedestrians have the priority, it has been planned to be a city centre where one could spend hours in beautiful surroundings of a park or on the beach promenade enjoying the sea and also visit the crafts bazaar of activity.

The revitalisation of Bharathi Park is already over, while the beach beautification programme is currently underway. The construction of the crafts bazaar and renovation of Gandhi tidal has been taken up under destination development scheme by availing of Rs 2.67 crore from Ministry of Tourism.

The crafts bazaar, coming up on both sides of the Nehru statue, has been inspired by the oriental bazaar that existed in the corner of Romain Rolland Street and Saint Laurent Street and was pulled down in 1990 for construction of municipal offices. The crafts bazaar has been designed in the same French style with arches and in white granite, separated by a small open air corridor presenting a beautiful look. The basic idea is to make it into shoppers paradise for handicrafts and handlooms items. The shops with arches have no doors and have been planned in such a way that there are 28 shops on the southern side and 24 on the northern side of Nehru statue. The shops on the southern side are ready, while construction on the northern side is awaiting the shifting of a transformer. The basic idea of setting up this crafts bazaar was to promote the Indian handicrafts industry. Craftsmen from different corners of India could come over here to showcase their products. The shops and stalls are allotted to the sellers for a specified rate and time and is then rotated so that other sellers get an opportunity to exhibit and sell their products. This would give Puducherry artisans an opportunity to interact with other crafts persons. It was conceived during the Asia Urbs project on heritage conservation, which is becoming a reality, said Ajit Koujalgi, co-convenor INTACH, coordinators of the project being implemented by the Department of Tourism in association with Pondicherry Municipality and PWD.

Pl visit & Register

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=740108&page=14

Any news about the new proposed bypass road to Villianur, Puducherry.

Any Advancements or proposals in our city

Please visit this FB page on Puduvai, has updates/photos about Airport etc
https://www.facebook.com/Mypondicherry

Any Advancements or proposals in our city
The New Bridge work near Aariyankuppam is almost complete (this may probably help by-pass aariyankuppam) . probably it is waiting for official inauguration. and from the FB page in the link above , Pondicherry Airport is expected to be open August 2012.

Crossposting from the Airports thread.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=812834&page=29

New terminal under construction

http://i47.tinypic.com/29gnzhs.jpg


http://i47.tinypic.com/so0l0i.jpg


http://i48.tinypic.com/2qcqxl2.jpg

Finally, we have got the much needed and much awaited online cost price shop. Yippeee. :banana:
F&F Stores had launched the Pondicherry's first online shopping portal - FandFstores.com about 3 months back which i came to know through an article featured in Indian Express Supplementary.

I have placed an order once and i got it delivered on the same day and at my convenient time:banana:. Cost is also cheaper than MRP :cheers:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2yu0m0m&s=6

Puducherry Port: Rough weather?

http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/puducherry-port-rough-weather-259872

Commercial flight operation soon

Civil aviation security officials visit airport

The much awaited launch of commercial flight operation from Puducherry airport, which is expected to boost tourism and other sectors, is all set to start soon.

As a prelude to the launch, a team of top officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) visited the Puducherry airport on Thursday to put in place an effective security apparatus. It included physical barriers and structures, installation of requisite equipment, manpower requirements, the agency to be deployed for security and others. They held a lengthy discussion with the Puducherry airport authorities.

Though the airport, controlled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is classified as functioning airport, it is still now used only for operating charted flights. Besides the operation and handling of choppers, the airport is mainly used for movements of high profile VVIPs. Considering the immense potential for commercial operation, the Union Territory and the AAI had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007 for expansion of the airport in two phases. It was aimed at extending the runway up to 5,000 feet. Construction of passenger terminal, upgrading Air Traffic Control system, providing passenger amenities, night landing facilities, security friendly initiatives formed part of the plan.

A senior official of the Airport Authority of India told The Hindu that more than 90 per cent of the planned works had already been completed. The runway had been extended to 5,000 feet. “Hectic activities are on at the airport. Operation of commercial flights may become a reality within 3 months. All necessary works have been speeded up ,” the official said.

It was learnt that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had already given provisional clearance to operate flights from Puducherry airport.

Many airlines had completed study on economic viability of operating flight service from Puducherry to other destinations. Some of them had given green signal considering the domestic and international tourists to Puducherry .

Of them, sources added that Spicejet had almost finalised the plan to include Puducherry in its service coverage. It was initially expected to operate between Puducherry and Bangalore. The small aircraft with the seating capacity of 60 to 70 passengers was said to be fit for the route and the facilities available at Puducherry airport.



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

•Over 90 % of works completed

•Ministry of Civil Aviation has given provisional clearance to operate flights

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3899781.ece

^^

Pondy airport will become more sucess once the Chennai's development reach downwards and also sucessful implementation of petro complex at Cuddalore.

I hope spice Jet turns their eyes towards Salem Airport too. Salem Airport resumed the service when KF financial situation was bad!

Then Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tuticorin, Pondy and Salem, 7 airports will be in operation which will be 2nd highest after Gujarat which has Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Porbander and Diu as operational airport.

I have been hearing such news articles reg operation of commercial flight from Puducherry for the past 1 year. A project which was supposed to be completed in 3 years, is taking around 6 years to complete. Fuck off AAI.

Also, flight operations have been tried thrice from Puducherry and it was a big failure all the times. The third time, a new operator who operated flights to Chennai and Tirupathi, was forced to shut down his company. I have no faith in flight operartions becoming successful once again.

^^Pondi being an international tourist spot should've had an airport a long time ago.

Private airline services may take off soon (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/private-airline-services-may-take-off-soon/article4007853.ece)

Smart grid project inaugurated (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/smart-grid-project-inaugurated/article4015596.ece) :cheers:

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy inaugurating the Puducherry Smart Grid Project in Puducherry on Friday. —Photo: T. Singaravelou
The Smart Grid project evolved by the Power Ministry’s India Smart Grid Task force was on Friday inaugurated in Puducherry on a pilot basis. Chief Minister N Rangasamy in the presence of Power Minister T. Thiagrajan inaugurated the pilot project.

The main highlights of the project are installation of advance metering infrastructure in houses with a Control Data Centre in the Electricity Department, which would help consumers as well as the department. The installation of the advanced meters would help consumers monitor real-time power consumption data and at any point of time know the exact billing amount. Since consumers could know the billing on a real time basis, they could appropriately manage power usage, an official in the Electricity Department told The Hindu.

As far as the department was concerned, they would be able to monitor online energy usage patterns and detect malpractices, energy theft and thus enabling them to connect or disconnect supply online. This would help the department save power. Besides, the advance metering system would help the department to bill power tariff online and collection of dues online, said the official.

As a beginning, the department installed 150 meters in Saram and another 3000 meters would be installed in Marapalam area shortly, he added.

Smart grid may cut power bills (http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1307300.ece)

A French Heart

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-french-heart/1045823/

Life of Pi: On location in Pondicherry, India – in pictures

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2012/dec/20/life-of-pi-on-location-pondicherry

Upcoming fish market in Pondy by Pondy gvt

http://www.mukeshassociates.com/images/FISH-MARKET-PONDY.jpg

MA-Source

PRTCs Rebodied old buses that returned back from FC.

PY-01-AL-5365 (2005 Registered)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8305539553_daa614ebae.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8306585834_a88135a386.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8305539751_0b06d03542.jpg

PY-01-U-0478(2003 Registered)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8305537375_47b2a87361.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8305537041_26c1ccbdc8.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8306587484_3a2cd959e0.jpg

These two buses, apart from 6 other buses, that were registered around the same time, are being used in PRTCs Prime Route: Puducherry ECR Chennai. Do they look like an 7/8/10 year old bus?

Pics of Puducherry Airport

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8308439087_015947bb2e.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8308439825_f295551a14.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8308440745_628d6b980f.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8308442959_6257cbcd64.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8309495748_d27dcfd74a.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8309496764_9c56b601e7.jpg

Cross posting from Pondichery airports thread

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7709/screenshot2bpj.png
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5963/screenshot3de.png

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/airports-new-terminal-to-operate-from-next-month/article4247952.ece)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=98765660&postcount=34

Pondy-bengaluru flightson weekends
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/769_10151226480223406_55664626_n.jpg

X posting from PNY topic:
Flights b/w BLR-PNY-BLR starts Jan.18 : - 3x weekly, Only on weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/7924/71418955.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/71418955.png/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

^^ It's just 20 minutes gap b/w landing and take-off.

Source : http://www.spicejet.com/puducherry_landing.asp

is Tindivanam-Pondy 4 laning(by Maytas) completed?

is Tindivanam-Pondy 4 laning(by Maytas) completed?

Yes, a long time back .more than 2 years back i believe

Pics of Puducherry Airport

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8308439087_015947bb2e.jpg
]

Thanks for the update Dr.

SpiceJet to connect Mysore and Pondicherry with Mumbai, Delhi (http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/spicejet-to-connect-mysore-and-pondicherry-with-mumbai-delhi/article4276661.ece)

is Tindivanam-Pondy 4 laning(by Maytas) completed?

Yes.
Completed and Toll is operational.

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01327/11THBUSES_1327902f.jpg

The Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has now received 25 new buses to replace old ones. In addition, they have also received 14 new buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme.

They have planned to flag off all the new buses on January 18, a PRTC official said.

Under the JNNURM Scheme, the PRTC was due to receive a total of 40 buses. They received 26 buses in 2010, and the remaining 14 were received recently. Routes for these buses are still in the proposal stage. However, authorities are planning to operate two buses to the airport, two buses from Chinna Veerampattinam to the RTO, and two town buses for Karaikal.

The 25 buses acquired by the PRTC will be replacing old buses, including nine vehicles operating to Chennai on ECR, two buses to Chennai on the Tindivanam route, one bus from Puducherry to Karaikal, three buses from Karaikal to Chennai, two buses from Karaikal to Chidambaram, two buses from Karaikal to Neyveli and two buses from Karaikal to Mayiladuthurai, one bus from Puducherry to Velankanni. Three buses will be used as spare vehicles, the official said.

All buses have been obtained from Ashok Leyland, with the body building being done at TVR Coach factory in Karur.

The buses bought by the PRTC cost Rs. 22 lakh each, while buses under the JNNURM were booked earlier and cost of Rs. 23 lakh each.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy was expected to flag off the new buses, the official said.

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/new-buses-for-prtc-fleet/article4298005.ece)

X posting from PNY topic:

Stupids...
They should have tried connecting Chennai and Tirupathy.

Stupids...
They should have tried connecting Chennai and Tirupathy.
:nuts:
you need passengers right? how many takers will be there for Chennai and tirupathy, when they are very close

:nuts:
you need passengers right? how many takers will be there for Chennai and tirupathy, when they are very close

Infact, Puducherry - Chennai - Tirupathi would have been a better route for Spice Jet to start with for operations to Puducherry, rather than Bangalore, which has only weekend crowd.

Chennai / Tirupathi sector will be having daily moving crowds and many business people will be travelling frequently between Chennai and Puducherry.

del

Infact, Puducherry - Chennai - Tirupathi would have been a better route for Spice Jet to start with for operations to Puducherry, rather than Bangalore, which has only weekend crowd.

Chennai / Tirupathi sector will be having daily moving crowds and many business people will be travelling frequently between Chennai and Puducherry.

^^ Boss..Are you kidding ? Chennai-Tirupati is just 2 hrs drive by road and just 130 Kms..Who will prefer to wait at airport for 45 mins and then take the flight which will fly for just 30 mins of max..Anyhow, it'll take atleast 1 hr 30 mins by flight..People can hire a luxurious car and take their family to Tirupathi from Chennai & come back at the cost, trying a flight for just 130 Kms, oneway.

SG had idea for connecting TN tier-2 Cities Madurai and Coimbatore with Tirupati using Q400 but there's no sign of it yet. Also, important to note is that they stopped flying from Vizag to Tirupati..Right now, Tirupati doesn't have any tier-2 connections and connected only with HYDERABAD in Andhra.
PNY-TIR flight is an impossible option, as it must be operated only based on tourism demand, which can't be a constant factor to rely upon.

SG has done it perfectly now..PNY-MAA will not work out due to ECR & less distance..So, PNY-BLR is a perfect option to start with. Already, a Garib rath is running between PNY and BLR..So, SG may able to pull that crowd easily in timebeing..If BLR become successful, airlines will look at other options like PNY-BOM and PNY-DEL.

Infact, Puducherry - Chennai - Tirupathi would have been a better route for Spice Jet to start with for operations to Puducherry, rather than Bangalore, which has only weekend crowd.

Chennai / Tirupathi sector will be having daily moving crowds and many business people will be travelling frequently between Chennai and Puducherry.
Chennai Pondi can be done in an hour and a half by Road, and even the MTC Volvo does it in close to 2 hours.
For a flight, you need to report an hour in advance, and it takes 10 minutes to fly. Ascent, descent, taxiing, all put together, it'll take an hour +the extra hour.
Not a good alternative to the road or train.

^^ Boss..Are you kidding ? Chennai-Tirupati is just 2 hrs drive by road and just 130 Kms..Who will prefer to wait at airport for 45 mins and then take the flight which will fly for just 30 mins of max..Anyhow, it'll take atleast 1 hr 30 mins by flight..People can hire a luxurious car and take their family to Tirupathi from Chennai & come back at the cost, trying a flight for just 130 Kms, oneway.

SG had idea for connecting TN tier-2 Cities Madurai and Coimbatore with Tirupati using Q400 but there's no sign of it yet. Also, important to note is that they stopped flying from Vizag to Tirupati..Right now, Tirupati doesn't have any tier-2 connections and connected only with HYDERABAD in Andhra.
PNY-TIR flight is an impossible option, as it must be operated only based on tourism demand, which can't be a constant factor to rely upon.

SG has done it perfectly now..PNY-MAA will not work out due to ECR & less distance..So, PNY-BLR is a perfect option to start with. Already, a Garib rath is running between PNY and BLR..So, SG may able to pull that crowd easily in timebeing..If BLR become successful, airlines will look at other options like PNY-BOM and PNY-DEL.


Even now, Bangalore is 6.5 hrs to 7 hrs. Overall, the flight journey will take around 4 to 5 hours with a total cost of Rs 3200. There will almost no takers for this flight at the odd hours of Departure of 12:20 PM from Bangalore and 1:30 PM from Puducherry.

Most of the crowd travelling between Bangalore and Pondicherry is the working IT population, who travel almost every weekend by trains and buses, with a maximum cost of Rs 700 in Multi-axle Volvos.

The corporate workforce travel between Puducherry and Bangalore is too low, while it is high between Puducherry and Chennai, which takes 1 hrs 30 mins by road. So, is the reason, flight service to Chennai from Puducherry is a flop.

Chennai Pondi can be done in an hour and a half by Road, and even the MTC Volvo does it in close to 2 hours.
For a flight, you need to report an hour in advance, and it takes 10 minutes to fly. Ascent, descent, taxiing, all put together, it'll take an hour +the extra hour.
Not a good alternative to the road or train.

True... I would say not a good alternative to road. But the travel time by train is minimum 4 hours in SF Express...

Celluloid-inspired tourism (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/celluloidinspired-tourism/article4302171.ece)

Seeking to cash in on the worldwide popularity of the film Life of Pi, which has been shot in Puducherry and Munnar in Kerala, the Union Tourism Ministry has decided to launch a full-fledged campaign based on the Oscar nominated film to woo tourists.

The government is currently exploring options to bring in more airlines
http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01334/17JanPykke01-fi_18_1334122e.jpg
Looking upThe first flight landed at 1.10 pm on Thursday in Puducherry, amid much speculation and anticipation—


Seagulls will soon open a branch in the airport terminal along with a Tourism Department office, Welfare Minister P. Rajavelu, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, told The-Hindu .

In the next two to three days, all the stalls will be complete. For the time being, a Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation counter, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, has been set up. For the time being, they have arranged for a PTDC bus to drop passengers to nearby locations, Mr. Rajavelu said on the sidelines of the function for the arrival of the first flight to Puducherry.

The government is currently exploring options to bring in more airlines to the town and introduce further connections. It will take around a month’s time for the schedule to settle. At present, all the flights are booked full, and, if this trend continues, more companies will be interested in providing connections to the town.

The next step was the expansion of the airport, a step which will allow larger aircrafts to come in to the town. The government is exploring options to acquire land for this expansion, which will allow the landing of larger Boeing B737-800 and Airbus A320 aircrafts.

If the larger aircrafts came in, they would have to be provided with a refuelling station and other infrastructure modifications. The land for the airport must be provided free of cost to the Airports Authority of India according to the MoU. For the smaller flights that are currently being operated, there was no need for a refuelling station, said Mr. Rajavelu.

According to the MoU signed by the government with the AAI, the Puducherry government would provide security for the aerodrome for a period of five years, including peripheral security and security of the entire airport infrastructure. It will also provide the anti-hijacking squad for flight operations as per the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security requirements. At present, local policemen have been posted and the Assistant Commander, A.N. Singh, from the Indian Reserve Battalion, is in charge, police sources said.

After much speculation and anticipation, the first SpiceJet flight to Puducherry landed at 1.10 pm and took off at 1.40 pm.

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/development-work-to-continue-even-as-the-first-flight-touches-ground/article4318413.ece)

Did any airlines thought about connecting Pondy - Colombo?

^^ Considering the fact that PNY is still an infant airport, it has to grow to a decent level to get International flights.

So, giving necessary infra to prove the demand for flights is necessary, hence expanding runway to 7500 ft to enable bigger aircrafts landing and next few tough steps such as Customs status, Airlines' interest, Immigration infra creation, etc will be the predecessors to getting International flight to even Colombo.

They should try Pondy-Bombay and promote Pondicherry as the big daddy-for-holiday of Goa.

Please vote for Jan 26th R Day Banner

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1584279

Dear Friends,

Kindly Click on the Madurai banner at the top and rate it 5-star so that we can try coming in top 100 banners.

Please pass this message to your friends and our neighbourhood friends..:)

SG has done it perfectly now..PNY-MAA will not work out due to ECR & less distance..

Pondy Bus Stand till CMBT takes an average of 3.5 to 4 hours. Not 1.5 hours like some of you are saying. For that you need to be driving like a maniac. Even reaching Tambaram is 2.5 to 3 hours; Shollinganalur 2 to 2.5 hours.

Forget ECR, it is not even the more preferred route for cars (except maybe tourists) when an excellent 4 laned and only slightly longer route is available via Tindivanam.

Civil Aviation Minister hr Mr.Arjun Singh inagurated the new terminal at Puducherry Airport:
பசுமை விமான நிலையத் திட்டத்தின்கீழ், நாட்டில் 15 இடங்களில் குறைந்த செலவிலான விமான நிலையங்கள் அமைக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படுவதாக மத்திய விமான போக்குவரத்துத்துறை அமைச்சர் அஜித் சிங் கூறினார்.

புதுச்சேரி விமான நிலையத்தில் கட்டப்பட்ட புதிய பயணிகள் முனையத்தை சனிக்கிழமை நாட்டுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்து அவர் பேசியது:

புதுச்சேரி விமான நிலையத்தில் ஒரே நேரத்தில் 150 பயணிகளைக் கையாள முடியும். இங்கு 1,502 மீட்டர் நீள ஓடுதளம் இருக்கிறது. இதில் ஏடிஆர் 72 வகை விமானங்களை இயக்க முடியும். மேலும் தேவை ஏற்படும்போது இந்த விமான நிலையத்தை விரிவாக்கம் செய்வதற்கான வசதிகளும் இங்கு உள்ளன. விமான நிலைய விரிவாக்கத்துக்கு நிலம் அவசியம். அதை மாநில அரசு பெற்றுத்தரும் என்ற நம்பிக்கை இருக்கிறது.

மக்களின் வாழ்க்கைத்தரம் மாறி வருகிறது. பயணிகள் விமானங்கள் உள்பட பல்வேறு துறைகளில் கட்டமைப்பு வசதிகளை அரசு மேம்படுத்தி வருகிறது. சுற்றுலா, வெளிநாட்டுப் பயணிகள் வருகைக்காக மட்டுமின்றி, நாட்டின் பிற பகுதிகளை இணைக்க விமானங்களின் தேவையும் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது.

கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில், விமான பயணிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும் 15 விழுக்காடு அதிகரித்திருக்கிறது. ஆனால், சிறிய நகரங்களையும், புறநகர்ப் பகுதிகளையும் இணைக்கும் வகையில் எப்படி சேவை வழங்கப்போகிறோம் என்பதே தற்போதைய சவாலாக இருக்கிறது. இதற்காக, பசுமை விமான நிலையத் திட்டத்தின்கீழ் புதிதாக 15 விமான நிலையங்களை அமைக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுத்திருக்கிறோம். இதில் பெரும்பாலானவை கட்டி, இயக்கி, மாற்றுதல் முறையில் கட்டப்படுகின்றன. குறைந்த செலவிலான விமான நிலையங்களை மேம்படுத்தும்போதும், பல பகுதிகளை இணைக்கும்போது விமான போக்குவரத்தின் அடுத்த புரட்சியாக இருக்கும் என்றார் அஜித்சிங்.

மத்திய இணையமைச்சர் வி.நாராயணசாமி: புதுச்சேரி விமான நிலைய விரிவாக்கத்துக்குத் தேவைப்படும் 200 ஏக்கர் நிலமும் தமிழகப் பகுதியில் இருப்பதால், அதை கேட்டுப் பெற வேண்டும். புதுச்சேரி மக்கள் மீது தீராத அன்பு கொண்டிருந்த ராஜீவ்காந்தி பெயரை, இந்த விமான நிலையத்துக்குச் சூட்ட வேண்டும் என்றார்.

முதல்வர் என்.ரங்கசாமி: புதுச்சேரியில் உள்ள பழைமையான பிரெஞ்சு நாகரீக கட்டடங்களைப் பார்வையிட பலர் வருகின்றனர். நகரில் 31 பழைமையான கட்டடங்கள் கண்டறியப்பட்டு, அவை பாதுகாக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

விமான நிலைய விரிவாக்கத்துக்கு நிலம் தேவை. அதைப் பெற நிதி தேவை. தமிழக முதல்வரோடு பேசி நிலம் பெற நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். பல ஆண்டுகளாக இதுபற்றி பேசி வருகிறோம். நிலம் கிடைத்தால், புதுச்சேரி மக்களோடு, தமிழக மக்களும் பயனடைவார்கள். அந்த நிலத்தைப் பெறுவதற்குரிய நிதியை மத்திய அரசு வழங்க வேண்டும் என்றார்.

துணைநிலை ஆளுநர் இக்பால்சிங்: சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாகத் தரம் உயர புதுச்சேரி விமான நிலையத்துக்கு வாய்ப்பு இருக்கிறது. காரணம், 2020-ல் நாட்டின் விமான நிலையங்களில் 100 மில்லியன் பயணிகள் பயன்படுத்தப்போவதாகக் கணக்கெடுப்பு தெரிவிக்கிறது. அதில் 60 விழுக்காடு உள்நாட்டுப் பயணிகள். மேலும், 3.4 மில்லியன் டன்கள் சரக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும் கையாளப்படுமெனக் கூறப்படுகிறது. வளர்ச்சியின் வேகத்துக்கு ஏற்ப, விமான நிலையங்களின் தரத்தை உயர்த்த வேண்டியது அவசியம் என்றார்.

விமான போக்குவரத்துத்துறை இணையமைச்சர் கே.சி.வேணுகோபால் உள்ளிட்டோர் பங்கேற்றனர்.

http://dinamani.com/tamilnadu/article1457470.ece

Ariyankuppam Bridge to get approach road at last (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/ariyankuppam-bridge-to-get-approach-road-at-last/article4406408.ece)

:cheers:

Even though the Ariyankuppam Bridge was completed a year ago, it was rendered unusable because of 112 houses that were on the approach road to the bridge. On Sunday the encroachments have finally been removed and the work has started on the approach road.

On May 26, 2012, The Hindu had reported how encroachments had stalled the work on the bridge. The people living in the hutments had not received the subsidy from the Government to construct their houses at the new location.

The success of "Life of Pi" has cast a spotlight on this little known Indian enclave with a heavy French presence.


http://travel.cnn.com/pondicherry-indias-hottest-new-travel-destination-563381

India isn't known for being cool, calm and collected.

So wandering along the seaside promenade at Pondicherry, I'm enjoying the unexpectedly quiet dignity of the place.

The sea is lapping gently on my left, whilst on my right a set of aristocratic buildings line up along a road that has no traffic; amazingly, this seaside promenade is pedestrianized.


Though they left more than half a century ago, France's influence is still very much present in Pondicherry.
A family walks past, looking every inch like local Tamils, but my ear picks out something unusual: they're speaking French to each other.

And here’s a beachfront café, with a menu that includes croissant au beurre and poisson du jour.

Toward the end of the road is more evidence: a big Alliance Francaise, and across the way a grand old building with Hotel de Ville emblazoned above its arches; these days it's sadly neglected, but it was once the nerve center of what was once an outpost of France.

A seaside town in Tamil Nadu, three hours’ drive south of Chennai, Pondicherry also served as the setting for the award-winning book and movie "Life of Pi."

A day after the film directed by Ang Lee nabbed four Academy Awards, the local government tourist office announced plans to develop all 18 sites used in the movie into tourist attractions, according to a report in the Financial Express. Though no statistics are available on the number of tourists inspired by the film to visit Pondicherry, a surge in interest feels inevitable.

More on CNN: How movies boost tourism

Pondicherry was once a rare thing -- a French enclave on Indian shores.

And while the French may have left more than half a century ago, "Le Pondi" still has a distinct identity, the product of the collision of three different worlds.

French colonial enclave


Pondicherry’s French-built colonial quarter was a key shoot location in Ang Lee's "Life of Pi."

As a "Life of Pi" pilgrim, I’ve come to see the place where Yann Martell’s eponymous hero, Pi, started his extraordinary physical and spiritual journey.

Christened Piscine Molitor Patel, after a Parisian swimming pool, the hero rebranded himself "Pi" to escape his school nickname -- "Pissy Patel." He described Pondicherry as "one of the most beautiful places on earth."

It still has bags of elegance.

Many of the scenes from the movie were filmed in Pondicherry’s French-built seafront colonial quarter, in broad streets shaded by avenues of light-fingered neem trees, lined with shuttered houses, some of whose owners live partly here, and partly in France.

It's such a unique location that it's regularly used as a movie backdrop by Bollywood, Tollywood (Tamil Nadu) and Kollywood (Karnataka). Now it’s made it big in Hollywood.


Mini-railway at Pondicherry's Botanical Gardens.
This colonial district -- filled with the sound of birds, not motorbikes -- hosts small restaurants and unusual boutiques.

A couple of the former mansions have become heritage hotels, including the L’Orient, the Villa Helena and the Hotel du Parc.

The Botanical Gardens, where Pi’s parents had their zoo, was also founded by the French.

I enter by the main gate to be greeted by a sign warning me not to "enrage the honeybees."

Inside, the gardens seem run down and practically deserted, and the heavily advertised "Musical Dancing Fountain" turns out to be neither musical, nor dancing, nor a fountain. I can’t spot any honeybees, not even any slightly grumpy ones.

The trees, though, are superb.

Giant African mahogany, towering silk cottons with enormous roots, tangled peepuls and flaming jacarandas. Weaving between them travels a little blue train, with a handful of small boys dreaming of becoming engine drivers, and setting off, like Pi, into the outside world.

The Tamil town


Pondicherry's Sacred Heart Basilica, a Tamil town highlight.
The colonial district is divided from the Tamil town by what locals call the "canal," which is actually more of a storm drain than a permanent watercourse.

Cross that, though, and suddenly life speeds up, particularly along the main artery Rue Jawaharlal Nehru. Streets are narrower, gaudy temples spring up and houses have verandas out front where residents and passersby gather to chat.

One of these properties, the Maison Perumal, has been converted into an elegant boutique hotel.

The largest buildings here are the churches, particularly the Sacred Heart Basilica, where it's standing room only during Sunday services.

Occasionally, a herd of goats is driven through town, a reminder of how close the countryside is. The unlucky ones among them may be heading for the Grand Bazaar, a big covered food market just off Jawaharlal Nehru, where vendors sit behind their piles of fruit, fish and flowers -– and where Pi himself was filmed, pushing through the labyrinth of sights, sounds and smells, following the girl of his dreams.



The meditation zone


Matrimandir, the temple of the mother.

The third and final part of Pondicherry is actually on the northern outskirts of town, and it's the focus of another kind of spiritual journey.

The ashram of Auroville ("City of Dawn") dates back almost to the time of the French, when it was founded as a place where man could come to contemplate his position in the cosmos.

The drive into the multinational "experimental township" is up a sinuous rural road, and you know you’re getting near when the frequency of foreigners on motorbikes thickens into a steady stream.

Cars are excluded from the main center, so visitors have to park and walk the rest of the way into what feels like a university campus, albeit with some rather unusual architecture.

Around 300 people live here, but there are many more guesthouses lining the access roads, so there can be as many as 12,000 visitors on site on a busy day. Not that it feels like a crowd, because Auroville is widely spread and incorporates 14 farms.

Its focal points are its meditation centers. The one that everyone heads for is the Matrimandir, the temple of the mother, a huge golden globe which looks like something that has just landed from another planet.

Although Auroville is happy to receive drive-by visitors –- I was there for a couple of hours, nosing around, looking at the notices, people-watching, drinking tea in one of the cafés –- you don’t get to go inside the Matrimandir without committing to a couple of days on site.

PUDUCHERRY, MARCH 6:
The Puducherry Administration has drawn up plans to construct a ‘convention centre’ with a capacity to accommodate 3,000 spectators. The centre will be constructed under public private partnership mode.

The administration is working out the modalities in this regard and funds would be sought from the Centre, Welfare and Tourism Minister P. Rajavelu said, while addressing a joint meeting of the representatives of the Hotel Owners’ Association and officials of the Tourism Department here yesterday.

He said the tourism department is planning to restore the name of ‘Pondicherry’ in the place of ‘Puducherry’ in the slogan ‘Peaceful Puducherry — Give Time a break’ in response to the request of the tour operators abroad and hoteliers.

They contended that the name of ‘Pondicherry’ was more popular and would easily lure the tourists into the Union Territory.

Rajavelu said as a result of investment subsidy at the rate of Rs one crore per hotel given to entrepreneurs establishing star hotels in Puducherry, three new star hotels had come up here. A few more hotels were in the pipeline and the Government had earmarked an additional allocation of Rs 5.34 crore under this plan.

The Minister said the establishment of airport operating services to Bangalore from here had become a boon to attract tourists. The runway would be expanded by 1,000 feet and the acquisition of site for the extension was underway.

There was a plan to establish a ‘mega tourist circuit’ covering the southern States and the tourism department had also proposed to introduce a single point permit duty, he added.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/pondy-govt-plans-to-build-mega-convention-centre/article4481216.ece