Mayil thogai saree is about to make India proud by entering the Guinness book of records.
Silk sarees have the pride of South India, and now, the Tamil Nadu is taking a major leap, breaking all boundaries of this traditional craft.
Yesterday, an exclusive saree made from 500 grams of threads and 300 grams of zari, was unveiled by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi himself.
This exceptional piece worth Rs40000 is a collaboration of two weaving co-operatives, that flaunts a exquisite blend of 1,64,492 shades of threads, is expected to enter Guinness Book of Records.
The ‘pallu’ of this saree has intricate pattern of the world renowned ‘Madurai Meenakshi temple’.
The saree, which costs around Rs400,000, was designed and created in just 25 days by a group of 15 weavers of the Sirumugai Pudur Sri Ramalinga Sowdeswari Weavers Cooperative society in Coimbatore district.
The Tamilnadu Handloom Weavers' Co-operative Society, known
as Co-optex will be taking up orders for the purchase of the Mayil thogai saree, which was introduced in the market on December 22 by M Karunanidhi, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu.
A model saree would be kept for display from December 25 to 29.
Source: Fibre2fashion
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Expressway, short flyovers to decongest Coimbatore city roads
The Coimbatore Corporation is working on various options to decongest the city's main roads. Two major options being considered are expressways and short flyovers. The aim is to not only provide separate facilities for vehicles travelling short and long distances but also to eliminate delay at traffic signals.
In the backdrop of an earlier plan to widen Avanashi Road, the Corporation plans an expressway for vehicles bound for the airport, outskirts such as Kalapati and Chinniampalayam and also to Avanashi, Tirupur and Erode.
Delay at the signals in the city and time constraints leads to speeding and high accident rates on Avanashi Road. But, the Corporation feels that the expressway alone will not be sufficient.
Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran indicates that short flyovers may be built to eliminate delay at signals and the resultant speeding.
If these projects are implemented, Avanashi Road may have a three-tier traffic system - the existing road, the expressway and the short flyovers. For instance, a short flyover (over the expressway or below it) at the Lakshmi Mills Junction may help avoid holding up traffic for long at the signal.
Corporation sources say that the need for short flyovers is felt at the 100 Feet Road-Sathyamangalam Road Junction and at Dr. Nanjappa Road-Cross Cut Road-Bharathiar Road Junction.
With most of the junctions in the core city area becoming congested and witnessing frequent traffic snarls, the Corporation feels that flyovers may be the only way out.
The signal at the Avanashi Road-Headquarters Road Junction, popularly known as JM Signal or Uppilipalayam, is another chaotic traffic point. Traffic crawls towards the flyover at morning and evening. The expressway has been planned from the flyover itself. If built, a large number of long distance vehicles will not choke that point.
The City Development Plan (CDP) of the Corporation lists the following places as those identified for flyovers: Tiruchi Road-Nanjundapuram Road Junction, Singanallur Junction, Lakshmi Mills Junction, Gandhipuram Bus Stand, G.P. Hospital, Sowripalayam Junction, Nirmala College Junction at Sungam, Ukkadam, Thadagam Road-Marudamalai Road Junction and Dr. Nanjappa Road-Avanashi Road Junction.
The CDP has been prepared as part of the infrastructure improvement efforts under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The Corporation continues to study the requirements of the city in terms of traffic management. The Commissioner says elevated highways and flyovers have ensured smooth flow of traffic in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The Corporation is open to the idea of more flyovers than the ones planned, if the city requires these.
Source: The Hindu
In the backdrop of an earlier plan to widen Avanashi Road, the Corporation plans an expressway for vehicles bound for the airport, outskirts such as Kalapati and Chinniampalayam and also to Avanashi, Tirupur and Erode.
Delay at the signals in the city and time constraints leads to speeding and high accident rates on Avanashi Road. But, the Corporation feels that the expressway alone will not be sufficient.
Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran indicates that short flyovers may be built to eliminate delay at signals and the resultant speeding.
If these projects are implemented, Avanashi Road may have a three-tier traffic system - the existing road, the expressway and the short flyovers. For instance, a short flyover (over the expressway or below it) at the Lakshmi Mills Junction may help avoid holding up traffic for long at the signal.
Corporation sources say that the need for short flyovers is felt at the 100 Feet Road-Sathyamangalam Road Junction and at Dr. Nanjappa Road-Cross Cut Road-Bharathiar Road Junction.
With most of the junctions in the core city area becoming congested and witnessing frequent traffic snarls, the Corporation feels that flyovers may be the only way out.
The signal at the Avanashi Road-Headquarters Road Junction, popularly known as JM Signal or Uppilipalayam, is another chaotic traffic point. Traffic crawls towards the flyover at morning and evening. The expressway has been planned from the flyover itself. If built, a large number of long distance vehicles will not choke that point.
The City Development Plan (CDP) of the Corporation lists the following places as those identified for flyovers: Tiruchi Road-Nanjundapuram Road Junction, Singanallur Junction, Lakshmi Mills Junction, Gandhipuram Bus Stand, G.P. Hospital, Sowripalayam Junction, Nirmala College Junction at Sungam, Ukkadam, Thadagam Road-Marudamalai Road Junction and Dr. Nanjappa Road-Avanashi Road Junction.
The CDP has been prepared as part of the infrastructure improvement efforts under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The Corporation continues to study the requirements of the city in terms of traffic management. The Commissioner says elevated highways and flyovers have ensured smooth flow of traffic in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The Corporation is open to the idea of more flyovers than the ones planned, if the city requires these.
Source: The Hindu
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
ITC investment plans for Coimbatore
Diversified conglomerate ITC plans to invest Rs 1,540 crore in the next two years to expand production capacity for paperboards and specialty papers.
“We are creating two centres of board manufacturing in Bhadrachalam and Coimbatore units. In Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh), we will make an overall investment of Rs 1,100 crore by April 2008,” ITC Paperboards and Specialty Division chief executive Pradeep Dhobale said.
The company would invest Rs 440 crore by October 2008 in a plant near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, he added.
With the expansion, total paper production capacity at the Bhadrachalam plant would go up to four lakh tonnes per year by April 2008 from three lakh tonnes now, he said.
ITC has got clearance from the ministry of environment and forests for expansion of Bhadrachalam plant and was awaiting clearance for investment in Coimbatore plant, Dhobale added.
ITC’s Kovai unit in Coimbatore, which produces paper from recycled fibres, would increase its total annual capacity to 1.80 lakh tonnes by October 2008, from one lakh tonnes at present, he said.
Source: DNA India
“We are creating two centres of board manufacturing in Bhadrachalam and Coimbatore units. In Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh), we will make an overall investment of Rs 1,100 crore by April 2008,” ITC Paperboards and Specialty Division chief executive Pradeep Dhobale said.
The company would invest Rs 440 crore by October 2008 in a plant near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, he added.
With the expansion, total paper production capacity at the Bhadrachalam plant would go up to four lakh tonnes per year by April 2008 from three lakh tonnes now, he said.
ITC has got clearance from the ministry of environment and forests for expansion of Bhadrachalam plant and was awaiting clearance for investment in Coimbatore plant, Dhobale added.
ITC’s Kovai unit in Coimbatore, which produces paper from recycled fibres, would increase its total annual capacity to 1.80 lakh tonnes by October 2008, from one lakh tonnes at present, he said.
Source: DNA India
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Christmas tree for peace in Coimbatore
In order to promote peace and communal harmony, a 60-foot Christmas tree has been erected near the city airport.
The 'Peace Tree' has a five-foot high star on top, symbolising the need to work for peace, harmony and goodwill among human beings, Bishop William Moses, the chairman of Christmas Celebration for Peace and Communal Harmony, said today.
The tree, claimed to be the tallest in the region, has been made of steel and fitted with 2,000 lights, surrounded by 1,000 green leaves.
The lights were switched on by Mayor R Venkatachalam and the peace tree would be there for 17 days, up to January 6, Moses said.
Source: Chennai Online
The 'Peace Tree' has a five-foot high star on top, symbolising the need to work for peace, harmony and goodwill among human beings, Bishop William Moses, the chairman of Christmas Celebration for Peace and Communal Harmony, said today.
The tree, claimed to be the tallest in the region, has been made of steel and fitted with 2,000 lights, surrounded by 1,000 green leaves.
The lights were switched on by Mayor R Venkatachalam and the peace tree would be there for 17 days, up to January 6, Moses said.
Source: Chennai Online
Coimbatore cake exhibition a big hit ahead of Christmas
As the Christmas mood grips people across the country, especially in the metro, Coimbatore is drawing an unusual number of cake lovers through a 10-day cake exhibition.
On display are cakes that fascinate everyone's attention due to their various designs, sizes and flavours. Also on display is a baker's reconstruction of the Saint Mary Basilica, a chocolate Eiffel Tower, and a brownie Titanic.
Among other exhibited cakes, a special 13-feet twin towers of the erstwhile World Trade Centre in New York has drew maximum attention.
"The main piece of attraction this year is the World Trade Centre, which is 13-feet tall and has consumed 1 tonne of sugar. It has taken one month by four men to complete this work," said Bobby, a baker who has been organizing the exhibition for the past 12 years.
Bobby added the 2.5 feet wide cake has been displayed to put across the importance of world peace.
Other major draws include a cake displaying the famous traditional boat race of Kerala, and another one shaped like the Red Fort in Indian capital New Delhi.
The exhibition, in its 12th edition now, has become an annual event that locals look forward to every year as Christmas season sets in.
"This is the second time I am coming to this exhibition, to see some of these cakes, Last year I saw some good cakes. This year I saw many cakes shaped like a clock, an auto (auto rickshaw- indigenous local transport vehicle)," said Praveen, a 12-year-old visitor.
The traditional Christmas cake comes in an impressive and delectable array and this year and shoppers have a wider choice of "healthy" low calorie varieties in the market, apart from traditional plum cakes.
Though Hindus comprise majority of the country's population, the Christmas festivities, especially the tradition of giving and receiving gifts is catching on among all communities irrespective of religious belief.
On the Christmas eve, the Midnight Mass precedes the Christmas day and the churches resound with joyful singing of Christmas carols and thanksgiving.
Christians form less than three per cent of country's total population mainly concentrated in Kerala, Goa and the northeastern States.
source: Daily India
On display are cakes that fascinate everyone's attention due to their various designs, sizes and flavours. Also on display is a baker's reconstruction of the Saint Mary Basilica, a chocolate Eiffel Tower, and a brownie Titanic.
Among other exhibited cakes, a special 13-feet twin towers of the erstwhile World Trade Centre in New York has drew maximum attention.
"The main piece of attraction this year is the World Trade Centre, which is 13-feet tall and has consumed 1 tonne of sugar. It has taken one month by four men to complete this work," said Bobby, a baker who has been organizing the exhibition for the past 12 years.
Bobby added the 2.5 feet wide cake has been displayed to put across the importance of world peace.
Other major draws include a cake displaying the famous traditional boat race of Kerala, and another one shaped like the Red Fort in Indian capital New Delhi.
The exhibition, in its 12th edition now, has become an annual event that locals look forward to every year as Christmas season sets in.
"This is the second time I am coming to this exhibition, to see some of these cakes, Last year I saw some good cakes. This year I saw many cakes shaped like a clock, an auto (auto rickshaw- indigenous local transport vehicle)," said Praveen, a 12-year-old visitor.
The traditional Christmas cake comes in an impressive and delectable array and this year and shoppers have a wider choice of "healthy" low calorie varieties in the market, apart from traditional plum cakes.
Though Hindus comprise majority of the country's population, the Christmas festivities, especially the tradition of giving and receiving gifts is catching on among all communities irrespective of religious belief.
On the Christmas eve, the Midnight Mass precedes the Christmas day and the churches resound with joyful singing of Christmas carols and thanksgiving.
Christians form less than three per cent of country's total population mainly concentrated in Kerala, Goa and the northeastern States.
source: Daily India
Friday, December 22, 2006
'Tamil Osai' launches Coimbatore edition
The Coimbatore edition of the Tamil daily 'Tamil Osai' was launched at a function here today.
Participating in the function, S Ramadoss PMK leader and founder of the Pongu Tamizh Valarchi Trust, publishers of the daily, said the main aim of the daily was to promote Tamil and reading habit among Tamilians.
"There will not be any political tilt in the daily," he said.
A Shaktivel, president of the Tirupur Exporters' Association, released the paper and handed over the first copy to Mayor 'Colony' R Venkatachalam.
The publisher of the daily and PMK MLA, G K Mani, chief executive of PSG College of Technology, chairman of KG group, G Bakthavatsalam and heads of various religious organisations, were among those participated in the function.
The daily is now being published from Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.
Source: Chennaionline
Participating in the function, S Ramadoss PMK leader and founder of the Pongu Tamizh Valarchi Trust, publishers of the daily, said the main aim of the daily was to promote Tamil and reading habit among Tamilians.
"There will not be any political tilt in the daily," he said.
A Shaktivel, president of the Tirupur Exporters' Association, released the paper and handed over the first copy to Mayor 'Colony' R Venkatachalam.
The publisher of the daily and PMK MLA, G K Mani, chief executive of PSG College of Technology, chairman of KG group, G Bakthavatsalam and heads of various religious organisations, were among those participated in the function.
The daily is now being published from Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.
Source: Chennaionline
Coimbatore cynosure of all eyes for Chander Memorial Rally
The seventh Chander Memorial Rally for four wheelers and two-wheelers would be flagged off in coimbatore on December 24.
The one-day event, which would be run on time-speed-distance format, has so far attracted 60 participants, including students, Prithviraj, secretary of Coimbatore Auto Sports Club, told reporters here yesterday.
The rally would cover a distance of approximately 140 kms and the maximum average speed would be 45 km per hour and the minimum as low as 15 kmph, through crowded areas, he said.
Source: Zeenews
The one-day event, which would be run on time-speed-distance format, has so far attracted 60 participants, including students, Prithviraj, secretary of Coimbatore Auto Sports Club, told reporters here yesterday.
The rally would cover a distance of approximately 140 kms and the maximum average speed would be 45 km per hour and the minimum as low as 15 kmph, through crowded areas, he said.
Source: Zeenews
Master plan for Coimbatore Airport expansion on the cards
A master plan for the expansion of the Coimbatore Airport at a cost of Rs 57 crore in 18 months is under implementation, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) Chairman, K. Ramalingam, said on Thursday. Dr Ramalingam was here to review the performance of the airports in the southern region.
Dr. Ramalingam said a global technical advisor and an Indian financial consultant had been appointed for finalising the expansion project.
An integrated cargo complex, a parallel taxi way for ensuring faster handling of aircraft movements, increasing the runway length from 8,500 mt to 9,700 mt and an additional terminal building with aero bridges for handling international aircraft were also on the cards, he said.
The runway length was recently increased from 7,500 ft to 8,500 ft.
Land acquisition
With the process for acquisition of land underway, the AAI was getting ready to increase the length to 9,700 ft for handling wide-bodied international aircraft. Ultimately the plan was to increase the runway length to 12,500 ft in future with even a parallel runway for handling more aircraft at peak hours.
The AAI sources said the process was underway to remit Rs 12 crore for the 16 acres of land identified for acquisition to meet the immediate expansion requirements. The present cargo complex has a capacity to handle 40 tonnes.
Given the cargo potential to and from Coimbatore, the cargo complex capacity would be enhanced by 100 per cent under the integrated cargo complex project.
Parking bays
The Coimbatore airport at present has three parking bays besides one bay for handling aircraft with technical snag and security perceptions. In addition three more parking bays have been readied and would be thrown open shortly for the peak aircraft movements.
The AAI authorities at Coimbatore have forwarded a fresh and detailed letter to the district administration indicating the total requirement of 350 acres for the future expansion activities.
The sources also said the AAI was working on a time frame of 18 months for completing the expansion activities since the IT firms and more MNCs are likely to open shops in Coimbatore within the next two years.
Source: The Hindu
Dr. Ramalingam said a global technical advisor and an Indian financial consultant had been appointed for finalising the expansion project.
An integrated cargo complex, a parallel taxi way for ensuring faster handling of aircraft movements, increasing the runway length from 8,500 mt to 9,700 mt and an additional terminal building with aero bridges for handling international aircraft were also on the cards, he said.
The runway length was recently increased from 7,500 ft to 8,500 ft.
Land acquisition
With the process for acquisition of land underway, the AAI was getting ready to increase the length to 9,700 ft for handling wide-bodied international aircraft. Ultimately the plan was to increase the runway length to 12,500 ft in future with even a parallel runway for handling more aircraft at peak hours.
The AAI sources said the process was underway to remit Rs 12 crore for the 16 acres of land identified for acquisition to meet the immediate expansion requirements. The present cargo complex has a capacity to handle 40 tonnes.
Given the cargo potential to and from Coimbatore, the cargo complex capacity would be enhanced by 100 per cent under the integrated cargo complex project.
Parking bays
The Coimbatore airport at present has three parking bays besides one bay for handling aircraft with technical snag and security perceptions. In addition three more parking bays have been readied and would be thrown open shortly for the peak aircraft movements.
The AAI authorities at Coimbatore have forwarded a fresh and detailed letter to the district administration indicating the total requirement of 350 acres for the future expansion activities.
The sources also said the AAI was working on a time frame of 18 months for completing the expansion activities since the IT firms and more MNCs are likely to open shops in Coimbatore within the next two years.
Source: The Hindu
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Cognizant Becomes First Company to Achieve Maturity Level 5 of CMMI v1.2 Model of SCAMPI v1.2
Cognizant, a leading provider of IT services, announced today that the Company's software development and delivery center in Coimbatore, India has become the first in the world to be successfully appraised at Maturity Level 5 of the latest version 1.2 of Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI) through the latest version 1.2 of Standard CMMI Appraisal Methodology for Process Improvement (SCAMPI). The appraisal was conducted by an independent SEI Authorized High Maturity Lead Appraiser from KPMG between November 27 and December 8, 2006.
CMMI Maturity Level 5 is the highest level of process maturity that independently verifies an organization's capabilities to continuously enhance its processes through incremental and innovative process and technological improvements. CMMI Maturity Level 5 affirms the organization's ability to statistically manage the sub-processes in order to achieve process and business objectives.
"We are very proud of this achievement, as it further reinforces our commitment to continuous process maturity and innovation that enhances the value of solutions we provide to our customers," said R Chandrasekaran, Managing Director and President of Global Delivery, Cognizant. "This independent appraisal is a clear indication that Cognizant can deliver the highest levels of quality to customers through continuous process improvements in every location that we expand to globally. This new capability accentuates our customer-centric culture by providing greater transparency to our customers from project execution and enhanced structuring of the decision- making process to metrics management."
"Continuous improvement has become a way of life for Cognizant's Coimbatore Center," said Mr. V Sankaran, KPMG - SEI Authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraiser. "This center has consistently adapted to various quality initiatives and emerging industry best practices, keeping value addition to customers in mind. The leadership team at Cognizant has consistently demonstrated commitment towards superior process and quality. The greatest strength of the organization is the empowerment and opportunity to implement process improvement initiatives by associates at all levels, ensuring that high maturity practices will sustain for the long term. With their focus on continuous process improvements, Cognizant Coimbatore has successfully transitioned to the latest version of the model, CMMI v1.2."
Cognizant's Coimbatore Center has developed a unique operational model that integrates best practices such as CMMI, lean manufacturing and six sigma concepts to improve operational efficiency and productivity. To reach this level, Cognizant demonstrated structured process improvement and innovations categorized under Efficiency aiders, People aiders, Process aiders and Productivity aiders with a goal of achieving substantial process and business benefits.
The Carnegie Mellon® Software Engineering Institute (SEI) had released the latest version 1.2 of CMMI model and latest version 1.2 of Standard CMMI Appraisal Methodology for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) in August 2006. Subsequently, SEI authorized only a selected few High Maturity Lead Appraisers (HMLA) after undergoing a stringent evaluation criteria. The CMMI Level 5 appraisal for Cognizant was carried out by Mr. V Sankaran, SEI Authorized High Maturity Lead Appraiser from KPMG.
Source: Yahoo.com
CMMI Maturity Level 5 is the highest level of process maturity that independently verifies an organization's capabilities to continuously enhance its processes through incremental and innovative process and technological improvements. CMMI Maturity Level 5 affirms the organization's ability to statistically manage the sub-processes in order to achieve process and business objectives.
"We are very proud of this achievement, as it further reinforces our commitment to continuous process maturity and innovation that enhances the value of solutions we provide to our customers," said R Chandrasekaran, Managing Director and President of Global Delivery, Cognizant. "This independent appraisal is a clear indication that Cognizant can deliver the highest levels of quality to customers through continuous process improvements in every location that we expand to globally. This new capability accentuates our customer-centric culture by providing greater transparency to our customers from project execution and enhanced structuring of the decision- making process to metrics management."
"Continuous improvement has become a way of life for Cognizant's Coimbatore Center," said Mr. V Sankaran, KPMG - SEI Authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraiser. "This center has consistently adapted to various quality initiatives and emerging industry best practices, keeping value addition to customers in mind. The leadership team at Cognizant has consistently demonstrated commitment towards superior process and quality. The greatest strength of the organization is the empowerment and opportunity to implement process improvement initiatives by associates at all levels, ensuring that high maturity practices will sustain for the long term. With their focus on continuous process improvements, Cognizant Coimbatore has successfully transitioned to the latest version of the model, CMMI v1.2."
Cognizant's Coimbatore Center has developed a unique operational model that integrates best practices such as CMMI, lean manufacturing and six sigma concepts to improve operational efficiency and productivity. To reach this level, Cognizant demonstrated structured process improvement and innovations categorized under Efficiency aiders, People aiders, Process aiders and Productivity aiders with a goal of achieving substantial process and business benefits.
The Carnegie Mellon® Software Engineering Institute (SEI) had released the latest version 1.2 of CMMI model and latest version 1.2 of Standard CMMI Appraisal Methodology for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) in August 2006. Subsequently, SEI authorized only a selected few High Maturity Lead Appraisers (HMLA) after undergoing a stringent evaluation criteria. The CMMI Level 5 appraisal for Cognizant was carried out by Mr. V Sankaran, SEI Authorized High Maturity Lead Appraiser from KPMG.
Source: Yahoo.com
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Plan approval for buildings
According to the guidelines of Director of Town and Country Planning, the local bodies within the local planning area have been delegated powers to issue planning permission.
The local bodies could issue permission for residential buildings up to 200 sq mt and for commercial buildings up to 100 sq mt. They should not issue permission for buildings more than the said area.
Residential layouts having an extent up to 5.0 acres should obtain approval from the local planning authority and for more than 5.0 acres the approvals should be obtained from the Director of Town and Country Planning, Chennai, through local planning authority.
Thirteen housing colonies and group houses in 10 locations in the district have been notified as those without the approval of the local planning authority. The public have been advised to refrain from purchasing plots in unauthorised layouts and apartments and group housing buildings developed by landowners without any approval.
Source: The Hindu
The local bodies could issue permission for residential buildings up to 200 sq mt and for commercial buildings up to 100 sq mt. They should not issue permission for buildings more than the said area.
Residential layouts having an extent up to 5.0 acres should obtain approval from the local planning authority and for more than 5.0 acres the approvals should be obtained from the Director of Town and Country Planning, Chennai, through local planning authority.
Thirteen housing colonies and group houses in 10 locations in the district have been notified as those without the approval of the local planning authority. The public have been advised to refrain from purchasing plots in unauthorised layouts and apartments and group housing buildings developed by landowners without any approval.
Source: The Hindu
EBIT- Spheris plans to double its headcount
Spheris India, the Indian arm of the US - based medical transcription company, plans to double its headcount at its Coimbatore facility.
It is the second location for Spheris in India, next to Bangalore and it has invested about Rs 10 crore on the facility, which employs around 500 people . By the end of 2007, it intends to ramp up its headcount to 1,000.
Mr Suresh Nair, chief executive officer and managing director , Spheris India, said, "We have registered a 10% plus growth year - on - year, but we hope to achieve a 30 - 50 % growth over the next two years, consequent to expanding our operations".
"We are looking to have a presence in Tier II cities across the country," he said. Spheris is also looking at the emerging international markets such as Philippines, Sri Lanka and West Indies .
Stating that medical transcription offered a big market potential and it is a $12 billion industry in the US, Mr Nair said less than two per cent was presently being outsourced to India.
Source: India Times
It is the second location for Spheris in India, next to Bangalore and it has invested about Rs 10 crore on the facility, which employs around 500 people . By the end of 2007, it intends to ramp up its headcount to 1,000.
Mr Suresh Nair, chief executive officer and managing director , Spheris India, said, "We have registered a 10% plus growth year - on - year, but we hope to achieve a 30 - 50 % growth over the next two years, consequent to expanding our operations".
"We are looking to have a presence in Tier II cities across the country," he said. Spheris is also looking at the emerging international markets such as Philippines, Sri Lanka and West Indies .
Stating that medical transcription offered a big market potential and it is a $12 billion industry in the US, Mr Nair said less than two per cent was presently being outsourced to India.
Source: India Times
Monday, December 18, 2006
New values reflect real estate growth in Coimbatore
Draft of the new guidelines values has been prepared and waits for finalisation.
According to an official of the Registration Department, normally the revision is done by the Department and the values are based on the Survey Number. The values are analysed and prepared according to the growth rate principle.
Different system
"This time, the system is different." Taluk-level (headed by the tahsildar) and district-level committees (headed by the District Collector) have been formed. Within the guidelines and scope of the Government Order, groupings have been carried out of similar properties and values analysed and decided. Further, other related departments have also been involved in the revision exercise.
So when public log on to the website to have a look at the draft roll of the values, one can see another column that has classified the area such as Residential Class I, Commercial, etc.
Public representation
The district administration recently sought public representation, if any, to the draft of the new guideline values for different areas in the city. The revised values are available on the Internet: www.tnreginet.net and also at the sub-registrar offices.
The revision has been made after a couple of years. And, the values have gone up in almost all parts of the city (. The revised rates are likely to be finalised soon and come into effect next year.
Increase in rates
"Generally the rates are on the increase in Coimbatore." The last revision was done in 1 April, 2003. The official explains that after fixing the revised values, two sessions of public hearing were held.
The valuations were available at the sub-registrar offices so that public could give their objections. A lot of applications were already received, the official said.
With demand growing and supply of land getting limited, the prices fluctuated.
Hence, according to the new system, the District Collector can call for a meeting of the committee once in three months.
The committee can deliberate on the emerging scenario and the rates can be modified if required. This is after finalising the revised rates. "We are giving flexibility to the structure." When pointed out that the rate of increase in the guideline value is more in some of the emerging areas of growth, the official says that this is because real estate transaction has come to a static level in some of the prime locations.
Moving over
Hence, the growth is moving over to new places and so the prices of land go up in the emerging areas at a faster rate.
The growth is very rapid in towns such as Tirupur, he adds. Hence, this time it is difficult to estimate the average increase in the value.
The last date for public to represent any objection to the draft values was December 15. The revision exercise has taken about six months.
Hardships
The Department should ensure that the classification should be the same as that in the Master Plan.
Otherwise public will be put to several hardships, says K. Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.
Points to remember
Website: www.tnreginet.net
For clarifications, contact: District Registrar Office (in Coimbatore and Tirupur)
For representation, contact: Sub-registrar offices, District Registrar Office
Revision exercise has taken about six months
`Department should ensure that the classification should be the same as that in the Master Plan'
According to an official of the Registration Department, normally the revision is done by the Department and the values are based on the Survey Number. The values are analysed and prepared according to the growth rate principle.
Different system
"This time, the system is different." Taluk-level (headed by the tahsildar) and district-level committees (headed by the District Collector) have been formed. Within the guidelines and scope of the Government Order, groupings have been carried out of similar properties and values analysed and decided. Further, other related departments have also been involved in the revision exercise.
So when public log on to the website to have a look at the draft roll of the values, one can see another column that has classified the area such as Residential Class I, Commercial, etc.
Public representation
The district administration recently sought public representation, if any, to the draft of the new guideline values for different areas in the city. The revised values are available on the Internet: www.tnreginet.net and also at the sub-registrar offices.
The revision has been made after a couple of years. And, the values have gone up in almost all parts of the city (. The revised rates are likely to be finalised soon and come into effect next year.
Increase in rates
"Generally the rates are on the increase in Coimbatore." The last revision was done in 1 April, 2003. The official explains that after fixing the revised values, two sessions of public hearing were held.
The valuations were available at the sub-registrar offices so that public could give their objections. A lot of applications were already received, the official said.
With demand growing and supply of land getting limited, the prices fluctuated.
Hence, according to the new system, the District Collector can call for a meeting of the committee once in three months.
The committee can deliberate on the emerging scenario and the rates can be modified if required. This is after finalising the revised rates. "We are giving flexibility to the structure." When pointed out that the rate of increase in the guideline value is more in some of the emerging areas of growth, the official says that this is because real estate transaction has come to a static level in some of the prime locations.
Moving over
Hence, the growth is moving over to new places and so the prices of land go up in the emerging areas at a faster rate.
The growth is very rapid in towns such as Tirupur, he adds. Hence, this time it is difficult to estimate the average increase in the value.
The last date for public to represent any objection to the draft values was December 15. The revision exercise has taken about six months.
Hardships
The Department should ensure that the classification should be the same as that in the Master Plan.
Otherwise public will be put to several hardships, says K. Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.
Points to remember
Website: www.tnreginet.net
For clarifications, contact: District Registrar Office (in Coimbatore and Tirupur)
For representation, contact: Sub-registrar offices, District Registrar Office
Revision exercise has taken about six months
`Department should ensure that the classification should be the same as that in the Master Plan'
Ghat road to Ooty opened
The road to Udhagamandalam was opened to light motor vehicles on Sunday with the construction of the temporary bridge completed. The Silver Bridge between Kallar and Burliyar was washed away on November 14 in a landslip.
Experts from the Army were called in to construct a temporary bridge so that traffic could resume on this stretch. The Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India, D.T. Sridhar, opened this route to traffic around noon on Sunday.
Mr. Sridhar said that only light motor vehicles such as cars, jeeps and small vans would be allowed. Bigger vehicles with heavy loads and also heavy vehicles such as trucks would not be allowed now, he said.
Source: The Hindu
Experts from the Army were called in to construct a temporary bridge so that traffic could resume on this stretch. The Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India, D.T. Sridhar, opened this route to traffic around noon on Sunday.
Mr. Sridhar said that only light motor vehicles such as cars, jeeps and small vans would be allowed. Bigger vehicles with heavy loads and also heavy vehicles such as trucks would not be allowed now, he said.
Source: The Hindu
Tips from Managing Director of Sri Krishna Sweets
Converting the much-maligned `mysurpa' into an eminently likeable item is the proof of his success in the food world wherein "knowing the customer in and out" plays a vital role, feels M.Krishnan, Managing Director of Sri Krishna Sweets.
For the 52-year-old, who had a humble beginning with a sweet stall set up by his father Mahadeva Iyer in 1948, it had been a saga of determination, patience and hard work to build an empire of sorts in the sweet world.
"I am confident that anyone can make an impression in the food industry provided he has the discipline, commitment and, above all, the understanding of what the people want," observes Mr. Krishnan. One should know the pulse of the customer. `Taste' differs from person to person, mood to mood and even place to place.
"If I were to provide original Chinese food or even original bisibelebath, nobody will like it here. Similarly, the way that the original Mangalore sweets are prepared may not be liked here. For Keralites, most of the items should be coconut-based. Hence what is required is how you localize it." On how his efforts in making mysurpa a synonym with his company clicked, he says the major problem with this very common sweet was that it could feel like a "brick".
In the olden days they had no proper preservation technique. "All that we have done is to remove the hardness. When most of the stalls used to inform that their products were not made of pure ghee, we announced that all our items are made of only pure ghee."
After graduating in 1974, it took four years for him to shift the shop to R.S.Puram in Coimbatore and another 13 years to open one more branch in the city.
"It is no more roadside eating. People want tasty items in hygienic surroundings and in better ambience. It has virtually become a jewellery now." Hence, he introduced granite flooring, bearers wearing uniform and programmed everything scientifically.
"It is the genuineness of the product, which ultimately matters. It was a silent message. Then there was no looking back. We are sure nothing can go wrong," he says with confidence.
The company, with staff strength of 1,500 now has 50 outlets spread all over the country and one in Dubai. It even has a tie-up in Los Angeles. "I continue my father's legacy of focusing only on the common man. It is he who loves food and sending him home happy is my bounden duty. Hence, the products should be made affordable even to the poorest."
His worry is that despite the mind-boggling volume of sweets and savouries produced all over the country, this remains an unorganised sector with no data.
Even the universities and catering institutes hardly bother about teaching ethnic food. "They are more interested in continental and other cuisines. Hence there is hardly any research on ethnic food."
Universities should make local food a part of their syllabi, he argues.
Source: The Hindu
For the 52-year-old, who had a humble beginning with a sweet stall set up by his father Mahadeva Iyer in 1948, it had been a saga of determination, patience and hard work to build an empire of sorts in the sweet world.
"I am confident that anyone can make an impression in the food industry provided he has the discipline, commitment and, above all, the understanding of what the people want," observes Mr. Krishnan. One should know the pulse of the customer. `Taste' differs from person to person, mood to mood and even place to place.
"If I were to provide original Chinese food or even original bisibelebath, nobody will like it here. Similarly, the way that the original Mangalore sweets are prepared may not be liked here. For Keralites, most of the items should be coconut-based. Hence what is required is how you localize it." On how his efforts in making mysurpa a synonym with his company clicked, he says the major problem with this very common sweet was that it could feel like a "brick".
In the olden days they had no proper preservation technique. "All that we have done is to remove the hardness. When most of the stalls used to inform that their products were not made of pure ghee, we announced that all our items are made of only pure ghee."
After graduating in 1974, it took four years for him to shift the shop to R.S.Puram in Coimbatore and another 13 years to open one more branch in the city.
"It is no more roadside eating. People want tasty items in hygienic surroundings and in better ambience. It has virtually become a jewellery now." Hence, he introduced granite flooring, bearers wearing uniform and programmed everything scientifically.
"It is the genuineness of the product, which ultimately matters. It was a silent message. Then there was no looking back. We are sure nothing can go wrong," he says with confidence.
The company, with staff strength of 1,500 now has 50 outlets spread all over the country and one in Dubai. It even has a tie-up in Los Angeles. "I continue my father's legacy of focusing only on the common man. It is he who loves food and sending him home happy is my bounden duty. Hence, the products should be made affordable even to the poorest."
His worry is that despite the mind-boggling volume of sweets and savouries produced all over the country, this remains an unorganised sector with no data.
Even the universities and catering institutes hardly bother about teaching ethnic food. "They are more interested in continental and other cuisines. Hence there is hardly any research on ethnic food."
Universities should make local food a part of their syllabi, he argues.
Source: The Hindu
Friday, December 15, 2006
ELCOT looks out for more land
Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) is on the lookout for more land in Coimbatore to further promote the information technology (IT) sector here.
According to its Managing Director, C. Umashankar, the Corporation is ready to acquire even 1,000 to 2,000 acres "since there is so much demand for Coimbatore". But the land should be suitable for IT firms.
The proposal for transfer of 27 acres, which is adjacent to the proposed IT park site (29 acres) on Avinashi Road near the Coimbatore Medical College, from the health department to ELCOT is at an "advanced stage", he says. The land that the Corporation is looking out for is in addition to these sites.
Meanwhile, on the proposed TIDEL Park here, he says sites will be handed over to the respective companies in a couple of weeks. The cleaning up works began on Thursday. ELCOT has appointed an architect to make a layout scientifically, since the park will have facilities such as Customs House. After clearing the site, works will start immediately to lay the approach road, which will be about one km.
The Corporation is on the lookout for large areas since the new projects will be on the "campus model," with facilities such as dwelling units, hospital and school within the campus.
"We want to develop the city in the right manner," he adds. The campus model will provide for the essential needs of the employees in the same area.
It will be a self-contained development.
Source: The Hindu
According to its Managing Director, C. Umashankar, the Corporation is ready to acquire even 1,000 to 2,000 acres "since there is so much demand for Coimbatore". But the land should be suitable for IT firms.
The proposal for transfer of 27 acres, which is adjacent to the proposed IT park site (29 acres) on Avinashi Road near the Coimbatore Medical College, from the health department to ELCOT is at an "advanced stage", he says. The land that the Corporation is looking out for is in addition to these sites.
Meanwhile, on the proposed TIDEL Park here, he says sites will be handed over to the respective companies in a couple of weeks. The cleaning up works began on Thursday. ELCOT has appointed an architect to make a layout scientifically, since the park will have facilities such as Customs House. After clearing the site, works will start immediately to lay the approach road, which will be about one km.
The Corporation is on the lookout for large areas since the new projects will be on the "campus model," with facilities such as dwelling units, hospital and school within the campus.
"We want to develop the city in the right manner," he adds. The campus model will provide for the essential needs of the employees in the same area.
It will be a self-contained development.
Source: The Hindu
Special train to Coimbatore
Southern Railway is to run a special train from Chennai Central to Coimbatore to clear the extra rush of passengers.
The special train no 0627 will leave Chennai Central at 10.20 pm on December 15 and reach Coimbatore at 7.15 am the next day.
The composition of the train will be one AC 2-tier, one AC 3-tier, 12 sleeper class, three general second class and two luggage-cum-brake van coaches.
The train will stop at Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.
Advance reservation for the above train will commence on December 15.
Source: The Hindu
The special train no 0627 will leave Chennai Central at 10.20 pm on December 15 and reach Coimbatore at 7.15 am the next day.
The composition of the train will be one AC 2-tier, one AC 3-tier, 12 sleeper class, three general second class and two luggage-cum-brake van coaches.
The train will stop at Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.
Advance reservation for the above train will commence on December 15.
Source: The Hindu
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Eco tourism at Kovai Coutrallam
Here's a good news for entertainment- starved Coimbatoreans. The forest department is busy drawing up ambitious plans for promoting eco tourism at Kovai Coutrallam.
The department of tourism and the district administration have allocated Rs. 30 lakh for promotion of eco tourism activities at Kovai Coutrallam, at the foothills of Siruvani, about 35 km from here. An old proposal for a facelift to Kovai Coutrallam has been revived with a lot of improvements and additions.
The proposal was mooted by the Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, P.C. Tyagi. It was pursued by the District Collector, Neeraj Mittal, who obtained a financial allocation of Rs. 30 lakh, said the District Forest Officer, I Anwardeen.
With the end of the monsoon season, the works would commence shortly and the spot would be ready to welcome the tourists during the next summer vacation, Mr. Anwardeen assured.
The focus will be on promoting restricted, regulated, and guided tourism at Kovai Coutrallam, he said. An awareness creation centre that would give insight into the rich flora and fauna with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, a trekking shed for limited number of persons are on the cards.
The trekking shed would provide a night stay in the jungles for tourists once a month with a guide. For children, an eco-friendly park would come up.
The railings at the falls are being improved besides de-silting and strengthening the ponds.
A watchtower for protection measures and re-laying of the road from Chinnar check post to the parking lot was also on the cards.
Source: The Hindu
The department of tourism and the district administration have allocated Rs. 30 lakh for promotion of eco tourism activities at Kovai Coutrallam, at the foothills of Siruvani, about 35 km from here. An old proposal for a facelift to Kovai Coutrallam has been revived with a lot of improvements and additions.
The proposal was mooted by the Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, P.C. Tyagi. It was pursued by the District Collector, Neeraj Mittal, who obtained a financial allocation of Rs. 30 lakh, said the District Forest Officer, I Anwardeen.
With the end of the monsoon season, the works would commence shortly and the spot would be ready to welcome the tourists during the next summer vacation, Mr. Anwardeen assured.
The focus will be on promoting restricted, regulated, and guided tourism at Kovai Coutrallam, he said. An awareness creation centre that would give insight into the rich flora and fauna with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, a trekking shed for limited number of persons are on the cards.
The trekking shed would provide a night stay in the jungles for tourists once a month with a guide. For children, an eco-friendly park would come up.
The railings at the falls are being improved besides de-silting and strengthening the ponds.
A watchtower for protection measures and re-laying of the road from Chinnar check post to the parking lot was also on the cards.
Source: The Hindu
Coimbatore Mayor promises development
Coimbatore Mayor R. Venkatachalam promised before a gathering of representatives of the trade and industry on Tuesday that he and the other elected members of the Coimbatore Corporation would provide a corruption-free civic administration.
Expectations
At a function organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore, to felicitate him and Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, the Mayor said he and the other 71 members of the Council were aware of the people's expectations in terms of infrastructure development and a clean city.
"This time, we have got the best opportunity for development," the Mayor pointed out by referring to the funds for schemes that would come from the Central and State Governments under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Teamwork
Mr. Venkatachalam said a good teamwork seemed to evolving in the Corporation and this augured well for the city. Multi-tier parking facilities would be built to decongest roads.
This would be among the many infrastructure projects planned to improve the living conditions in the city. "We are aware that good roads are needed if economic activities have to increase in the city."
Mr. Venkatachalam reached out to the trade and industry saying that the Corporation would invite their suggestions for the city's development.
"We have no ego. Experts in each sector can give good suggestions. We have risen from the grassroots. So, we know the common man's problems," he said.
The Mayor jocularly said that each shawl presented to him and the Deputy Mayor at the function actually seemed like a representation on every problem in the city.
On members of the industry working for clean environs and to protect water bodies, Mr. Venkatachalam observed that these people could have focussed on their business alone. But, their services to people now through various programmes spoke volumes on public involvement in creating a developed city.
Infrastructure
Mr. Karthik pointed out that industries elsewhere were watching Coimbatore closely. They would set up units here only if the infrastructure was good. "We want to turn Coimbatore into a model city, to attract more industries."
"We want to give confidence to the people that the next five years will be good times for the city. All the 72 councillors will work to achieve this," he promised.
The public should also know of the problems the Corporation faced, especially the shortage of conservancy workers that affected garbage collection. "Our efforts now are aimed at overcoming these difficulties and voluntary organisations such as the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore provide the right kind of inspiration".
Development
President of the ICCI D. Balasundaram said the industry would co-operate with the Corporation in the process of development.
Its former president A.V. Varadarajan said that Coimbatore needed an international airport and the city's infrastructure should be improved.
Secretary of the chamber R.R. Balasundaram said that funds from the Central scheme should be used only for providing quality infrastructure.
Source: The Hindu
Expectations
At a function organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore, to felicitate him and Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, the Mayor said he and the other 71 members of the Council were aware of the people's expectations in terms of infrastructure development and a clean city.
"This time, we have got the best opportunity for development," the Mayor pointed out by referring to the funds for schemes that would come from the Central and State Governments under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
Teamwork
Mr. Venkatachalam said a good teamwork seemed to evolving in the Corporation and this augured well for the city. Multi-tier parking facilities would be built to decongest roads.
This would be among the many infrastructure projects planned to improve the living conditions in the city. "We are aware that good roads are needed if economic activities have to increase in the city."
Mr. Venkatachalam reached out to the trade and industry saying that the Corporation would invite their suggestions for the city's development.
"We have no ego. Experts in each sector can give good suggestions. We have risen from the grassroots. So, we know the common man's problems," he said.
The Mayor jocularly said that each shawl presented to him and the Deputy Mayor at the function actually seemed like a representation on every problem in the city.
On members of the industry working for clean environs and to protect water bodies, Mr. Venkatachalam observed that these people could have focussed on their business alone. But, their services to people now through various programmes spoke volumes on public involvement in creating a developed city.
Infrastructure
Mr. Karthik pointed out that industries elsewhere were watching Coimbatore closely. They would set up units here only if the infrastructure was good. "We want to turn Coimbatore into a model city, to attract more industries."
"We want to give confidence to the people that the next five years will be good times for the city. All the 72 councillors will work to achieve this," he promised.
The public should also know of the problems the Corporation faced, especially the shortage of conservancy workers that affected garbage collection. "Our efforts now are aimed at overcoming these difficulties and voluntary organisations such as the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore provide the right kind of inspiration".
Development
President of the ICCI D. Balasundaram said the industry would co-operate with the Corporation in the process of development.
Its former president A.V. Varadarajan said that Coimbatore needed an international airport and the city's infrastructure should be improved.
Secretary of the chamber R.R. Balasundaram said that funds from the Central scheme should be used only for providing quality infrastructure.
Source: The Hindu
German valve firm to expand coimbatore operations
German valve-maker 'SchuF' will expand its Indian operations in Coimbatore to service the Asian market, SchuF Speciality Valves India Director, R Ramanujan, said here today.
"Going forward, the Indian operations will be scaled up as the parent company is looking at reducing the time-lag in delivering products to global clients," Ramanujan said on the sidelines of a CII conference.
He said the existing factory at Coimbatore works as a machinery unit for SchuF's global clients. "Our parent company will benefit if the machinery and the foundry units are located in the same place," Ramanujan said.
As part of an expansion plan, the foundry unit would also be set up in India. The total domestic demand of all types of valves is estimated to be in excess of Rs 2,700 crore, according to industry sources.
The domestic valve industry, currently on a upward cycle, is witnessing more and more European firms transferring their integral business processes to India.
Companies like Auma India (subsidiary of AUMA Riester GmbH), Uniklinger (joint venture between Klinger AG of Switzerland and Neterwala group) and ARCA India are already established as major players in this sector.
"While China has been ahead on the technology front, India has excelled in areas like customisation, skilled manpower and research and development, which is why you see a growing number of European countries setting up operations in India," Larsen and Toubro Valves Division vice-president, A K Banerjee, said at the CII seminar on the valve industry.
The increasing activity in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors has generated positive interest from the developed countries to source their products from India.
Source: The Hindu
"Going forward, the Indian operations will be scaled up as the parent company is looking at reducing the time-lag in delivering products to global clients," Ramanujan said on the sidelines of a CII conference.
He said the existing factory at Coimbatore works as a machinery unit for SchuF's global clients. "Our parent company will benefit if the machinery and the foundry units are located in the same place," Ramanujan said.
As part of an expansion plan, the foundry unit would also be set up in India. The total domestic demand of all types of valves is estimated to be in excess of Rs 2,700 crore, according to industry sources.
The domestic valve industry, currently on a upward cycle, is witnessing more and more European firms transferring their integral business processes to India.
Companies like Auma India (subsidiary of AUMA Riester GmbH), Uniklinger (joint venture between Klinger AG of Switzerland and Neterwala group) and ARCA India are already established as major players in this sector.
"While China has been ahead on the technology front, India has excelled in areas like customisation, skilled manpower and research and development, which is why you see a growing number of European countries setting up operations in India," Larsen and Toubro Valves Division vice-president, A K Banerjee, said at the CII seminar on the valve industry.
The increasing activity in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors has generated positive interest from the developed countries to source their products from India.
Source: The Hindu
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Coimbatore based Mill gets huge investment from Blue River Capital
Blue River Capital, along with partners Brandot Investments and Argonaut Private Equity, has invested Rs 1050 million in Coimbatore-based KPR Mill. KPR Mill is a Rs 4500 million integrated textile and apparel company, which owns spinning, knitting and garment making facilities in the southern city, reports Economic Times.
The deal also marks the foray into India of Martin Trust, one of the best known investors in the textile and apparel space, through his investment company Brandot Investments. The promoters of KPR Mill along with its new investors are now working out the details for the company`s IPO.
KPR will use part of the funds to finance its Rs 5 billion expansion plans. The rest has been raised through a loan under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). The company is doubling its spinning capacity from the existing 1,10,000 spindles. It will also set up a new garment making facility in Coimbatore, which is expected to boost its Rs 1.4 billion export business.
``With our expansion plans in place we hope to grow the company to Rs 10 billion in the next two years and exports will constitute Rs 4 billion. We will also set up a processing facility so we can complete the entire value chain in textile and garment manufacturing,`` said P Nataraj, managing director, KPR Mill.
Source: Myiris.com
The deal also marks the foray into India of Martin Trust, one of the best known investors in the textile and apparel space, through his investment company Brandot Investments. The promoters of KPR Mill along with its new investors are now working out the details for the company`s IPO.
KPR will use part of the funds to finance its Rs 5 billion expansion plans. The rest has been raised through a loan under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). The company is doubling its spinning capacity from the existing 1,10,000 spindles. It will also set up a new garment making facility in Coimbatore, which is expected to boost its Rs 1.4 billion export business.
``With our expansion plans in place we hope to grow the company to Rs 10 billion in the next two years and exports will constitute Rs 4 billion. We will also set up a processing facility so we can complete the entire value chain in textile and garment manufacturing,`` said P Nataraj, managing director, KPR Mill.
Source: Myiris.com
DEVELOPMENT OF AIRPORTS IN TAMIL NADU
Here is the press release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation about various development activities of Airports across Tamil Nadu.
The Government has plans for the development of the Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichi Airports in Tamil Nadu. This information was given by Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation in the Parliament today.
Various development works like extension of runway, expansion and strengthening of apron have been taken up at Coimbatore airport. There are also proposals for expansion and modification of existing terminal building, construction of a new integrated terminal building complex and expansion of the existing cargo complex at this airport.
At Tiruchirappalli airport, the works relating to extension and strengthening of runway, construction of isolation bay and new fire station and construction of new terminal building with all modern facilities including two aerobridges along with expansion of the apron and link taxiway have been taken.
At Madurai airport, the works relating to extension and strengthening of runway along with expansion of apron, additional link taxiway, isolation bay and associated facilities and installation of ILS have been taken up. There is also a proposal for construction of new integrated terminal building complex with all modern amenities and facilities including installation of two aerobridges at this airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) in consultation with the State Government of Tamil Nadu has drawn out a plan for expansion & modernization of the Chennai Airport. However, further development is dependent upon the State Government acquiring 583 Ha of lands adjacent to the airport and handing over the same to AAI.
Source: Nic.in
The Government has plans for the development of the Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichi Airports in Tamil Nadu. This information was given by Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation in the Parliament today.
Various development works like extension of runway, expansion and strengthening of apron have been taken up at Coimbatore airport. There are also proposals for expansion and modification of existing terminal building, construction of a new integrated terminal building complex and expansion of the existing cargo complex at this airport.
At Tiruchirappalli airport, the works relating to extension and strengthening of runway, construction of isolation bay and new fire station and construction of new terminal building with all modern facilities including two aerobridges along with expansion of the apron and link taxiway have been taken.
At Madurai airport, the works relating to extension and strengthening of runway along with expansion of apron, additional link taxiway, isolation bay and associated facilities and installation of ILS have been taken up. There is also a proposal for construction of new integrated terminal building complex with all modern amenities and facilities including installation of two aerobridges at this airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) in consultation with the State Government of Tamil Nadu has drawn out a plan for expansion & modernization of the Chennai Airport. However, further development is dependent upon the State Government acquiring 583 Ha of lands adjacent to the airport and handing over the same to AAI.
Source: Nic.in
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Apartments in Erode — standing tall, growing strong
Apartment culture is catching on in Erode.
THE CHOICE: With land price escalating by the day, there are many takers for flats these days. Flats also give a sense of security.
THE HOUSING construction industry has risen like a phoenix — overcoming a couple of years of mistrust and anti-apartment sentiment among the public.
Flat promoters say the mistrust had to with the bitter experiences a section of the public suffered in the hands of a few apartment builders — accused of dishonest practices and not handing over property in time. However, the public, flat promoters say, have risen above the lumber of the past.
Perception
As for the anti-flat perception, M. Jaganathan of Sree Kumaran Promoters says: "People prefer individual houses to flats — which has more to do with the region being an agricultural area. With this textile town retaining its umbilical cord with agriculture, most of those wanting to invest in houses are in some way or the other, landholders. The pride of owning a land is, they say, not quite there when they go in for a flat. In individual houses, though, the customers enjoy owning a land, plus house."
However, this could be an expensive proposition, say builders, pointing to escalating land cost. "Erode has limited land availability, in the sense, that most of them are agricultural lands, whose owners are reluctant to part with their traditional property and give up agriculture. This leaves flat buyers with little option but to buy land at a premium price and construct a house — shouldering the burden of high land price and a house. In a flat, though, the land cost is slightly lower, as it is shared among the flat occupants," points out K.P. Duraisamy of D.R. Apartments.
A couple of other reasons for people to go in for flats are proximity to their children's education institutions and appreciation of property value.
R. Mohanraj, president, Erode District Civil Engineers Association, says people want to reside close to their child's school or college. This includes those from towns around Erode as well.
"With a good number of education institutions in Erode, particularly on and abutting Perundurai Road, flats are coming up on Teachers' Colony, Thindal stretch of the Perundurai Road," he says adding that those who work in those institutions also prefer to have their houses nearby.
Investment option
There is also another reason for the mushrooming flat culture, promoters say. "Young engineers from Erode who work for a handsome salary in IT companies, look for a safe investment option back home — the first of which is a flat," say Mr. Jaganathan and Mr. Duraisamy. "You can find parents of well-placed engineers buying flats," adds Mr. Mohanraj.
The promoters also point to value appreciation of flats, which for almost all middle class families is the biggest investment in the earning period. "Prior to buying a house, a customer also thinks about the appreciation of flat value, which in Erode's case is happening on Perundurai Road," says Mr. Jaganathan. Says Mr. Duraisamy, a square foot of flat in Thindal costs around Rs. 1,000 as against Rs. 700 a year ago.
Further, as against just two or three enquiries a few years ago, promoters say they get around 10 to 15 a month, and around 70 per cent of them translate into successful deals.
What does the customer say? R. Selvamani, with Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, has a flat on Perundurai Road near Erode. He has rented this out, and stays in a rented apartment at Thindal, where his son's school is.
He says: "It is a safe investment, especially on Perundurai Road. With the flat value appreciating by the year, I might sell it when I require a good sum. Besides, flats are safe to live in and comfortable as well." The future, promoters say, will only be bright as Erode is growing and more companies are setting shop in Perundurai SIPCOT — near Erode. And they add, as land prices escalate, people will turn to flats!
THE CHOICE: With land price escalating by the day, there are many takers for flats these days. Flats also give a sense of security.
THE HOUSING construction industry has risen like a phoenix — overcoming a couple of years of mistrust and anti-apartment sentiment among the public.
Flat promoters say the mistrust had to with the bitter experiences a section of the public suffered in the hands of a few apartment builders — accused of dishonest practices and not handing over property in time. However, the public, flat promoters say, have risen above the lumber of the past.
Perception
As for the anti-flat perception, M. Jaganathan of Sree Kumaran Promoters says: "People prefer individual houses to flats — which has more to do with the region being an agricultural area. With this textile town retaining its umbilical cord with agriculture, most of those wanting to invest in houses are in some way or the other, landholders. The pride of owning a land is, they say, not quite there when they go in for a flat. In individual houses, though, the customers enjoy owning a land, plus house."
However, this could be an expensive proposition, say builders, pointing to escalating land cost. "Erode has limited land availability, in the sense, that most of them are agricultural lands, whose owners are reluctant to part with their traditional property and give up agriculture. This leaves flat buyers with little option but to buy land at a premium price and construct a house — shouldering the burden of high land price and a house. In a flat, though, the land cost is slightly lower, as it is shared among the flat occupants," points out K.P. Duraisamy of D.R. Apartments.
A couple of other reasons for people to go in for flats are proximity to their children's education institutions and appreciation of property value.
R. Mohanraj, president, Erode District Civil Engineers Association, says people want to reside close to their child's school or college. This includes those from towns around Erode as well.
"With a good number of education institutions in Erode, particularly on and abutting Perundurai Road, flats are coming up on Teachers' Colony, Thindal stretch of the Perundurai Road," he says adding that those who work in those institutions also prefer to have their houses nearby.
Investment option
There is also another reason for the mushrooming flat culture, promoters say. "Young engineers from Erode who work for a handsome salary in IT companies, look for a safe investment option back home — the first of which is a flat," say Mr. Jaganathan and Mr. Duraisamy. "You can find parents of well-placed engineers buying flats," adds Mr. Mohanraj.
The promoters also point to value appreciation of flats, which for almost all middle class families is the biggest investment in the earning period. "Prior to buying a house, a customer also thinks about the appreciation of flat value, which in Erode's case is happening on Perundurai Road," says Mr. Jaganathan. Says Mr. Duraisamy, a square foot of flat in Thindal costs around Rs. 1,000 as against Rs. 700 a year ago.
Further, as against just two or three enquiries a few years ago, promoters say they get around 10 to 15 a month, and around 70 per cent of them translate into successful deals.
What does the customer say? R. Selvamani, with Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, has a flat on Perundurai Road near Erode. He has rented this out, and stays in a rented apartment at Thindal, where his son's school is.
He says: "It is a safe investment, especially on Perundurai Road. With the flat value appreciating by the year, I might sell it when I require a good sum. Besides, flats are safe to live in and comfortable as well." The future, promoters say, will only be bright as Erode is growing and more companies are setting shop in Perundurai SIPCOT — near Erode. And they add, as land prices escalate, people will turn to flats!
Top brands on display in Coimbatore
If plans are afoot to furnish your home, make a visit to the Padmavati Ammal Culture Centre on Avanashi Road. The Mega Brands Show 2006 is on and the range on display includes furniture, household and kitchen appliances, jewellery, electronic goods and clothes.
The show from Interface Trade Fair is on till December 11 and known names from Coimbatore as well as brands from Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore are making their presence at the exhibition.
In the 70 stalls at the venue, items ranging from suitcases and sunglasses to jam and squash and compact discs for children are available. Most of the stalls offer a discount of ten to 30 per cent.
Brands like Vivek's and The Trend furniture as well as Mr Butler's, Parry's, Camlin and Eureka have put up stalls here. Electronic goods on display include Sony S30 LCDs and Onkyo's home theatre that is priced at Rs. 38,000.
Music system, laptop, computer, refrigerator, digital camera, solar heater, gas stove and vacuum cleaner are available at special price.
Furniture on sale includes imported, marble-topped dining and coffee tables, wardrobe and crockery shelves as well as leather sofa sets.
Visitors can choose from garden furniture like trendy swings, coffee tables and garden umbrellas made of cast iron, steel and wood. There are also beanbags priced at Rs. 1,500 and sofa-cum-beds priced between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 10,000.
Fitness equipments like treadmill and cycle, compact discs for children, good luck charms like lucky bamboo and a range of cosmetics are also on display.
Vasantha Memorial Trust has put on show booklets on cancer and also for sale are greeting cards made by school children and handkerchiefs embroidered by volunteers. One-gram gold jewellery, clothes, crayon and watercolour, chapatti makers, suitcases - name them, you might be able to get them here
Source: The Hindu
The show from Interface Trade Fair is on till December 11 and known names from Coimbatore as well as brands from Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore are making their presence at the exhibition.
In the 70 stalls at the venue, items ranging from suitcases and sunglasses to jam and squash and compact discs for children are available. Most of the stalls offer a discount of ten to 30 per cent.
Brands like Vivek's and The Trend furniture as well as Mr Butler's, Parry's, Camlin and Eureka have put up stalls here. Electronic goods on display include Sony S30 LCDs and Onkyo's home theatre that is priced at Rs. 38,000.
Music system, laptop, computer, refrigerator, digital camera, solar heater, gas stove and vacuum cleaner are available at special price.
Furniture on sale includes imported, marble-topped dining and coffee tables, wardrobe and crockery shelves as well as leather sofa sets.
Visitors can choose from garden furniture like trendy swings, coffee tables and garden umbrellas made of cast iron, steel and wood. There are also beanbags priced at Rs. 1,500 and sofa-cum-beds priced between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 10,000.
Fitness equipments like treadmill and cycle, compact discs for children, good luck charms like lucky bamboo and a range of cosmetics are also on display.
Vasantha Memorial Trust has put on show booklets on cancer and also for sale are greeting cards made by school children and handkerchiefs embroidered by volunteers. One-gram gold jewellery, clothes, crayon and watercolour, chapatti makers, suitcases - name them, you might be able to get them here
Source: The Hindu
Friday, December 08, 2006
Anna University Coimbatore
Two more technical universities will be established at Tiruchi and Coimbatore. The Assembly passed the Bills on Thursday.
The new universities will be named Anna University, Tiruchirapalli, and Anna University, Coimbatore. The existing Anna University will be known as Anna University, Chennai.
Replying to the debate, Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi said managing the affairs of more than 240 affiliated engineering colleges in the State had become a near impossibility. To ensure better and effective monitoring of the colleges the new universities were being set up.
The break-up
About 150 engineering colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts will come under the purview of Anna University, Chennai. The Tiruchi university will have control over 75 engineering colleges in Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar, Nagapatinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Perambalur, and Thiruvarur districts.
A total of 53 engineering colleges in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, the Nilgiris, Theni, Dharamapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Salem districts will be affiliated to Anna University, Coimbatore. The new entities will be independent and have separate vice-chancellors and registrars.
Source: The Hindu
The new universities will be named Anna University, Tiruchirapalli, and Anna University, Coimbatore. The existing Anna University will be known as Anna University, Chennai.
Replying to the debate, Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi said managing the affairs of more than 240 affiliated engineering colleges in the State had become a near impossibility. To ensure better and effective monitoring of the colleges the new universities were being set up.
The break-up
About 150 engineering colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts will come under the purview of Anna University, Chennai. The Tiruchi university will have control over 75 engineering colleges in Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar, Nagapatinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Perambalur, and Thiruvarur districts.
A total of 53 engineering colleges in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, the Nilgiris, Theni, Dharamapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Salem districts will be affiliated to Anna University, Coimbatore. The new entities will be independent and have separate vice-chancellors and registrars.
Source: The Hindu
Cognizant plans for techno-complexes in Coimbatore!!
IT service provider Cognizant Technology Solutions India Private Limited today announced plans to build its own facility in Hyderabad at an investment of around Rs 140 crore by the end of 2008.
The company proposes to build a 5-lakh square feet office space to provide an additional capacity for over 5,000 new employees. Cognizant has a headcount of about 2,000 people currently deployed for the Hyderabad operations.
Laxmi Narayanan, president and CEO, Cognizant, told the media that the Hyderabad plans were part of the Cognizant’s larger expansion programme at an investment of $200 million to create fully-owned techno-complexes in Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune.
The company was planning to build over 3 million square feet of office space to accommodate over 30,000 new employees in the cities, he added.
“Cognizant has grown faster than our competitors over the last several years, and our strong product pipeline reinforces our confidence in our future growth plans,” Narayanan said.
According to him, the company’s global revenues are expected to grow by 58 per cent to touch $1.4 billion from $80 million during the current calender year.
About 70 per cent of its revenues come from financial services and health care businesses while 86.89 per cent of the total revenues are being generated from North America alone.
Source: Business Standard
The company proposes to build a 5-lakh square feet office space to provide an additional capacity for over 5,000 new employees. Cognizant has a headcount of about 2,000 people currently deployed for the Hyderabad operations.
Laxmi Narayanan, president and CEO, Cognizant, told the media that the Hyderabad plans were part of the Cognizant’s larger expansion programme at an investment of $200 million to create fully-owned techno-complexes in Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune.
The company was planning to build over 3 million square feet of office space to accommodate over 30,000 new employees in the cities, he added.
“Cognizant has grown faster than our competitors over the last several years, and our strong product pipeline reinforces our confidence in our future growth plans,” Narayanan said.
According to him, the company’s global revenues are expected to grow by 58 per cent to touch $1.4 billion from $80 million during the current calender year.
About 70 per cent of its revenues come from financial services and health care businesses while 86.89 per cent of the total revenues are being generated from North America alone.
Source: Business Standard
NEPC to start All Seasons Hotels in coimbatore
The board of directors of NEPC India, which met on December 7, 2006, approved a proposal for the construction of hotels at prominent locations in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirupur in Tamil Nadu.
According to a release issued by NEPC to the BSE today, the meeting also approved the name of All Seasons Hotels for the new business line of hotel chain.
The company is also planning to enter into foreign collaboration, contract/agency agreement for the hotel chain, the release added.
The board also approved a plan to launch the pilot batch of the new product Power House In-House in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana from January 15, 2007.
Source: Bussiness Standard
According to a release issued by NEPC to the BSE today, the meeting also approved the name of All Seasons Hotels for the new business line of hotel chain.
The company is also planning to enter into foreign collaboration, contract/agency agreement for the hotel chain, the release added.
The board also approved a plan to launch the pilot batch of the new product Power House In-House in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana from January 15, 2007.
Source: Bussiness Standard
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Intel holds conference for channel partners
Intel organised a conference here on Tuesday for its channel partners on its new products.
C. Jagannathan, the Channel and Retail Marketing Manager of Intel South Asia, told presspersons that the conference was to educate the partners mainly on the Intel Core 2 Duo processor and also to update them on the products that would come in during the next six months.
This was a bi-annual conference, which was conducted in 15 cities in the country. Intel had about 2,000 channel partners and 150 of them from Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tirupur attended the conference here. The theme was "Multiple Cores Multiple Opportunities." With growth in market, the number of partners had also gone up in Coimbatore. Some of the reasons for increasing business here were considerable purchasing power of people and the need for high-end technology. "Coimbatore is important for Intel from business view point." It was among the top four tier III cities for Intel. Apart from the training, schemes would be launched to motivate the partners and awards would be given to those performing well, Mr. Jagannathan said.
Source: The Hindu
C. Jagannathan, the Channel and Retail Marketing Manager of Intel South Asia, told presspersons that the conference was to educate the partners mainly on the Intel Core 2 Duo processor and also to update them on the products that would come in during the next six months.
This was a bi-annual conference, which was conducted in 15 cities in the country. Intel had about 2,000 channel partners and 150 of them from Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tirupur attended the conference here. The theme was "Multiple Cores Multiple Opportunities." With growth in market, the number of partners had also gone up in Coimbatore. Some of the reasons for increasing business here were considerable purchasing power of people and the need for high-end technology. "Coimbatore is important for Intel from business view point." It was among the top four tier III cities for Intel. Apart from the training, schemes would be launched to motivate the partners and awards would be given to those performing well, Mr. Jagannathan said.
Source: The Hindu
Recruitment drive at BU, affiliated colleges
The Department of Extension, Career Guidance and Students Welfare of the Bharathiar University will organise a recruitment drive at the university premises on December 9. Cognizant Technology Solutions will recruit from the 2007 batch of students belonging to the disciplines of computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, electronics and BCA.
According to a release, the final year students of both the undergraduate and post-graduate courses are eligible to attend the drive. They should not have any standing arrears, should not have more than two arrears in the history of their studies and should have scored 60 per cent in their 10th, 12th, UG and PG courses. The selection process will be through an aptitude test and technical interview. Interested students and colleges willing to depute their students can register with www.careervarsity.com.
There will also be a career fair to be organised by the Department, wherein private banks, e-publishing companies, insurance companies, retail marketing stores, IT and ITES companies will be recruiting final year UG and PG students of the affiliated colleges and the School of Distance Education. There will be no registration fee.
In order to facilitate easy access to students, the fair will be organised on four days in four different places. It will be held at the university campus on December 15, at Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College, Pollachi, on December 16, Vellalar College for Women, Erode, on December 17 and at Emerald Heights College for Women, Udhagamandalam, on December 18.
The colleges should submit the subject-wise list of students who wish to participate in the fair before December 8. Interested students should register at www.careervarsity.com (link: student registration). Those attending the career fair should carry three copies of CV and student ID card.
Those who register and are recommended by the college/SDE alone are eligible to attend the fair.
Source: The Hindu
According to a release, the final year students of both the undergraduate and post-graduate courses are eligible to attend the drive. They should not have any standing arrears, should not have more than two arrears in the history of their studies and should have scored 60 per cent in their 10th, 12th, UG and PG courses. The selection process will be through an aptitude test and technical interview. Interested students and colleges willing to depute their students can register with www.careervarsity.com.
There will also be a career fair to be organised by the Department, wherein private banks, e-publishing companies, insurance companies, retail marketing stores, IT and ITES companies will be recruiting final year UG and PG students of the affiliated colleges and the School of Distance Education. There will be no registration fee.
In order to facilitate easy access to students, the fair will be organised on four days in four different places. It will be held at the university campus on December 15, at Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College, Pollachi, on December 16, Vellalar College for Women, Erode, on December 17 and at Emerald Heights College for Women, Udhagamandalam, on December 18.
The colleges should submit the subject-wise list of students who wish to participate in the fair before December 8. Interested students should register at www.careervarsity.com (link: student registration). Those attending the career fair should carry three copies of CV and student ID card.
Those who register and are recommended by the college/SDE alone are eligible to attend the fair.
Source: The Hindu
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
`Dream car' contest
Over 100 youngsters from 20 schools participated in a `Dream Car' contest for children below 15 years, conducted at Anaamalais Toyota, Mettupalayam Road, recently. Marketing Director of Anaamalais Toyota, Alagu Mageswari, inaugurated the event.
C.S.Vigneswar, Deputy Managing Director, made children discuss their dream car to bring out their creative talents.
Parents who accompanied them got an opportunity to test-drive certain cars. M.Raghuram, Director Operation, distributed the prizes. G.S.Prasad, General Manager (Sales), organised the event.
Source: The Hindu
C.S.Vigneswar, Deputy Managing Director, made children discuss their dream car to bring out their creative talents.
Parents who accompanied them got an opportunity to test-drive certain cars. M.Raghuram, Director Operation, distributed the prizes. G.S.Prasad, General Manager (Sales), organised the event.
Source: The Hindu
Four-year wage revision in Tirupur garment industry
The garment industry and trade unions in Tirupur have agreed for wage revision once in four years, thus ending the six-month long stalemate over the issue.
The employers wanted a five-year period for revision, as against three years demanded by the trade unions. The present agreement took place at a tripartite meeting held yesterday before the Joint Commissioner of Labour, they said.
The Tirupur Exporters' Association secretary Karthikeyan, South India Hosiery Manufacturers' Association president Mohan Kandasamy and representatives of trade unions AITUC, INTUC, ATP, LPF, MLF and CITU participated in the meeting, the 19th in the series.
Source: The Hindu
The employers wanted a five-year period for revision, as against three years demanded by the trade unions. The present agreement took place at a tripartite meeting held yesterday before the Joint Commissioner of Labour, they said.
The Tirupur Exporters' Association secretary Karthikeyan, South India Hosiery Manufacturers' Association president Mohan Kandasamy and representatives of trade unions AITUC, INTUC, ATP, LPF, MLF and CITU participated in the meeting, the 19th in the series.
Source: The Hindu
Monday, December 04, 2006
CAT in Coimbatore!
The flurry has still not died down after the Common Admission Test (CAT). Institutions training students for the test have already embarked on grooming candidates likely to get through to group discussions (GD) and personal interviews (PI). Detailed analyses of CAT are being held and candidates are working out their chances of making it to top Indian business schools.
With Coimbatore becoming a centre for CAT this year, around 2,500 candidates appeared for the test in the two centres. "This is the first time that Coimbatore has become a centre for CAT," says Madhu Nambudiri, Director, T.I.M.E, Coimbatore.
However, candidates who took the test in the two centres in the city include those from neighbouring Kerala and other Southern districts in Tamil Nadu.
Training in GD and PI is important, as it plays a major role in the cumulative scoring followed during admissions.
While 70 per cent of the thrust is on the entrance score, 25 is on GD and PI and five on work experience. But, this varies with institutions, Mr. Nambudiri says.
Till last year, Chennai was the only centre for taking the test in Tamil Nadu. Now, with Coimbatore also becoming a centre, more candidates will get an opportunity to attempt CAT, says T.P. Senthil Kumar, Centre Director of PT Education, a training institute in Coimbatore. Even in a centre such as Indore in Madhya Pradesh, which has fewer educational institutions when compared to Coimbatore, around 4,000 students appeared for CAT this year.
However, even among the number of students who appear for the test, very few of them actually aspire to get into the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs).
Last year, six students from the city made it to IIMs and around the same number is expected to make it to the top institutes this year too, Mr. Nambudiri says.
There is a general perception that it is extremely difficult to make it to IIMs, which is one of the reasons why most of the students come prepared to settle for B- and C-level management institutions.
Also, according to Mr. Senthil, more than 70 per cent of the students who make it to IIMs are from an engineering background, as they usually have a strong base in mathematics. "This year however, maths and logic sections were relatively easier when compared with English," he says.
Fat pay packet
"Compared to the northern states, there are not many who attempt the examination from South India even if the average salary for an IIM student in India is seven to eight lakh per annum. Last year, the salary even went up to even US$ 96,000 abroad, Mr. Senthil Kumar says. More students from the city can attempt CAT, as the potential is high here, he adds.
Going by the national figures, the number of students who appeared for CAT has gone up from 1.75 per cent last year to 1.9 per cent this year, Mr. Nambudiri says.
Source: The Hindu
With Coimbatore becoming a centre for CAT this year, around 2,500 candidates appeared for the test in the two centres. "This is the first time that Coimbatore has become a centre for CAT," says Madhu Nambudiri, Director, T.I.M.E, Coimbatore.
However, candidates who took the test in the two centres in the city include those from neighbouring Kerala and other Southern districts in Tamil Nadu.
Training in GD and PI is important, as it plays a major role in the cumulative scoring followed during admissions.
While 70 per cent of the thrust is on the entrance score, 25 is on GD and PI and five on work experience. But, this varies with institutions, Mr. Nambudiri says.
Till last year, Chennai was the only centre for taking the test in Tamil Nadu. Now, with Coimbatore also becoming a centre, more candidates will get an opportunity to attempt CAT, says T.P. Senthil Kumar, Centre Director of PT Education, a training institute in Coimbatore. Even in a centre such as Indore in Madhya Pradesh, which has fewer educational institutions when compared to Coimbatore, around 4,000 students appeared for CAT this year.
However, even among the number of students who appear for the test, very few of them actually aspire to get into the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs).
Last year, six students from the city made it to IIMs and around the same number is expected to make it to the top institutes this year too, Mr. Nambudiri says.
There is a general perception that it is extremely difficult to make it to IIMs, which is one of the reasons why most of the students come prepared to settle for B- and C-level management institutions.
Also, according to Mr. Senthil, more than 70 per cent of the students who make it to IIMs are from an engineering background, as they usually have a strong base in mathematics. "This year however, maths and logic sections were relatively easier when compared with English," he says.
Fat pay packet
"Compared to the northern states, there are not many who attempt the examination from South India even if the average salary for an IIM student in India is seven to eight lakh per annum. Last year, the salary even went up to even US$ 96,000 abroad, Mr. Senthil Kumar says. More students from the city can attempt CAT, as the potential is high here, he adds.
Going by the national figures, the number of students who appeared for CAT has gone up from 1.75 per cent last year to 1.9 per cent this year, Mr. Nambudiri says.
Source: The Hindu
Recruitment drive in Coimbatore
In a two-day recruitment drive conducted by Wipro Technologies in Coimbatore, 250 graduates who would pass out in 2007 were recruited. They were selected out of the 1,800 students from Coimbatore, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Udhagamandalam, Erode and Salem, who appeared for the aptitude tests.
The selected students also included those from physics, maths, computer science and information technology backgrounds.
They would be taken in for the Wipro Academy of Software Excellence programme, said Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian, Manager, Fresher Hiring, Wipro Technologies.
Through this programme, the students would be given an opportunity to do MS in Software Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.
Faculty
Faculty members from BITS would take weekend classes for the students. By the end of the four-year programme, they would be trained on the job (software development) and they would have an MS degree as well, Mr. Viswanathan said.
Students from all over the country are recruited for this programme. This year around 1,300 students are undergoing it and the number was likely to become 4,000 by next year, he added.
It is offered at Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata. The candidates would also be given incremental stipend at Wipro so that they could support themselves while studying and working.
Coimbatore had immense potential to supply manpower for the industry and it was one of the most important destinations during such recruitment drives, Mr. Viswanathan said.
Smaller towns
They would also go to smaller places such as Thiruchengode. "Talents are available every where. Our job is to choose the best from the lot."
The selection is based on the fundamental skills of the students, their communication skills and their attitude.
They should have the willingness to learn and also be able to adapt according to the changes taking place in the industry, he said.
Good communication skills were necessary as the job demands students to interact with customers who are mostly from North America, China and Japan. They might have to write to the clients in addition to taking conference calls, he added.
With programmes such as these, even maths, physics and statistics graduates can become trained software developers attached to companies such as Wipro, said George Joseph Alapatt, Director of Placements, CMS College of Science and Commerce, one of the colleges in which the recruitment was held.
The selected students would join work in June 2007.
Source: The Hindu
The selected students also included those from physics, maths, computer science and information technology backgrounds.
They would be taken in for the Wipro Academy of Software Excellence programme, said Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian, Manager, Fresher Hiring, Wipro Technologies.
Through this programme, the students would be given an opportunity to do MS in Software Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.
Faculty
Faculty members from BITS would take weekend classes for the students. By the end of the four-year programme, they would be trained on the job (software development) and they would have an MS degree as well, Mr. Viswanathan said.
Students from all over the country are recruited for this programme. This year around 1,300 students are undergoing it and the number was likely to become 4,000 by next year, he added.
It is offered at Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata. The candidates would also be given incremental stipend at Wipro so that they could support themselves while studying and working.
Coimbatore had immense potential to supply manpower for the industry and it was one of the most important destinations during such recruitment drives, Mr. Viswanathan said.
Smaller towns
They would also go to smaller places such as Thiruchengode. "Talents are available every where. Our job is to choose the best from the lot."
The selection is based on the fundamental skills of the students, their communication skills and their attitude.
They should have the willingness to learn and also be able to adapt according to the changes taking place in the industry, he said.
Good communication skills were necessary as the job demands students to interact with customers who are mostly from North America, China and Japan. They might have to write to the clients in addition to taking conference calls, he added.
With programmes such as these, even maths, physics and statistics graduates can become trained software developers attached to companies such as Wipro, said George Joseph Alapatt, Director of Placements, CMS College of Science and Commerce, one of the colleges in which the recruitment was held.
The selected students would join work in June 2007.
Source: The Hindu
Ondipudur flyover will be open to traffic by March-end, says Minister
The flyover at Ondipudur will be open to traffic by the end of March next year, Minister for Highways M.P. Swaminathan said here on Sunday. The one coming up on the Sungam Bypass Road (along Valankulam) would be put in use by the end of April, he said after inspecting both structures along with Collector Neeraj Mittal and officials of the Highways Department.
Both flyovers were being constructed over the railway line as a solution to the traffic bottleneck at these points.
The flyover at Ondipudur was being constructed at Rs. 16.50 crore. The State's share was Rs. 58 lakh and the rest was the Railways' contribution. The cost of the flyover on Sungam Bypass Road was Rs. 15.40 crore and the State Government's share was Rs. 38 lakh.
Work progressing
He said the Railways' work on the Ondipudur flyover was progressing fast. The State's Highways Department would begin its work in 15 days from the completion of the one by the Railways.
At the present pace of work, the flyover could be opened to traffic by the end of March. The Highways' work on the Sungam Bypass Road flyover would begin by the end of January.
Assurance
The Minister's announcement came as an assurance to the city that had been agonised by the delay in the completion of the flyovers. With long-distance buses, trucks and other vehicles forced to take a detour through Irugur, areas unused to heavy traffic were put to hardship owing to the delay.
Source: The Hindu
Both flyovers were being constructed over the railway line as a solution to the traffic bottleneck at these points.
The flyover at Ondipudur was being constructed at Rs. 16.50 crore. The State's share was Rs. 58 lakh and the rest was the Railways' contribution. The cost of the flyover on Sungam Bypass Road was Rs. 15.40 crore and the State Government's share was Rs. 38 lakh.
Work progressing
He said the Railways' work on the Ondipudur flyover was progressing fast. The State's Highways Department would begin its work in 15 days from the completion of the one by the Railways.
At the present pace of work, the flyover could be opened to traffic by the end of March. The Highways' work on the Sungam Bypass Road flyover would begin by the end of January.
Assurance
The Minister's announcement came as an assurance to the city that had been agonised by the delay in the completion of the flyovers. With long-distance buses, trucks and other vehicles forced to take a detour through Irugur, areas unused to heavy traffic were put to hardship owing to the delay.
Source: The Hindu
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Now's the time to invest: TN Minister
Tamil Nadu Health minister K K S S R Ramachandran feels it is the right time for industrialists to take up new ventures in the state.
Declaring open SPEED-2006(Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development), organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, he said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was accessible and "you can get any concession by meeting him and convincing him".
The Chief Minister himself was interested in spreading industrial development to cities like Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Coimbatore where the cost of living was cheap, life more peaceful and cost of labour, land etc was much cheaper, compared to bigger cities, he said.
Source: Chennai Online
Declaring open SPEED-2006(Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development), organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, he said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was accessible and "you can get any concession by meeting him and convincing him".
The Chief Minister himself was interested in spreading industrial development to cities like Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Coimbatore where the cost of living was cheap, life more peaceful and cost of labour, land etc was much cheaper, compared to bigger cities, he said.
Source: Chennai Online
Friday, December 01, 2006
Singapore Airlines increases flight frequency
Singapore Airlines has launched its sixth weekly fight from Bangalore up from five weekly flights. With the addition of the sixth flight the airline will now offer 1816 seats per week from Bangalore.
Singapore Airlines is also looking at Tier II cities like Coimbatore, Vizag, Nagpur and Tirchy. Addressing mediapersons in Bangalore on Tuesday Foo Chai Woo, GM of Singapore Airlines (India) said, "We are looking at many developing cities in India with our subsidiary regional airline, Silk Air. Tier II cities are on our radar screen and at the right time we will evaluate those markets."
SilkAir currently operates daily flights to Kochi and four flights to Thiruvananthapuram. Excluding SilkAir operations, Singapore Airlines operates 48 weekly flights to eight destinations in India.
Mr Woo said, "We are waiting for the traffic rights to operate daily flight to Bangalore. And with demand picking up we are also looking at operating daily fight to Hyderabad as well." As of now Singapore Airlines operates four flights to Hyderabad.
"The airline also wants to increase its frequencies to Delhi and Chennai," added Mr Woo. Currently it operates daily fights to Delhi, Chennai and double daily flights to Mumbai. Average load factor of the airline across eight destinations in India is around 70-80 per cent. 30 per cent of the airline's passengers out of India are Singapore bound and 70 per cent are onward passengers, said Mr Woo.
Singapore Airlines is also offering a return fare of Rs 6,666 (excluding tax & surcharges) from Bangalore to Singapore, Rs 7,777 on Bagalore-Kualalumpur and Bangalore-Penang route and Rs 8,888 for travel from Bangalore to Bangkok. The offer is valid for outbound travel on Tuesday only from November 28, 2006 to January 31, 2007. Inbound travel can be on any day as per availability.
Singapore Airlines will become the first airline in the world to operate commercial flights on the Airbus A380-800, super jumbo aircraft when it comes into service. The airline has ordered 10 A380-800 and another 15 on option worth $8.6 billion. First A380-800 is expected to be delivered in October 2007.
Source: India Times
Singapore Airlines is also looking at Tier II cities like Coimbatore, Vizag, Nagpur and Tirchy. Addressing mediapersons in Bangalore on Tuesday Foo Chai Woo, GM of Singapore Airlines (India) said, "We are looking at many developing cities in India with our subsidiary regional airline, Silk Air. Tier II cities are on our radar screen and at the right time we will evaluate those markets."
SilkAir currently operates daily flights to Kochi and four flights to Thiruvananthapuram. Excluding SilkAir operations, Singapore Airlines operates 48 weekly flights to eight destinations in India.
Mr Woo said, "We are waiting for the traffic rights to operate daily flight to Bangalore. And with demand picking up we are also looking at operating daily fight to Hyderabad as well." As of now Singapore Airlines operates four flights to Hyderabad.
"The airline also wants to increase its frequencies to Delhi and Chennai," added Mr Woo. Currently it operates daily fights to Delhi, Chennai and double daily flights to Mumbai. Average load factor of the airline across eight destinations in India is around 70-80 per cent. 30 per cent of the airline's passengers out of India are Singapore bound and 70 per cent are onward passengers, said Mr Woo.
Singapore Airlines is also offering a return fare of Rs 6,666 (excluding tax & surcharges) from Bangalore to Singapore, Rs 7,777 on Bagalore-Kualalumpur and Bangalore-Penang route and Rs 8,888 for travel from Bangalore to Bangkok. The offer is valid for outbound travel on Tuesday only from November 28, 2006 to January 31, 2007. Inbound travel can be on any day as per availability.
Singapore Airlines will become the first airline in the world to operate commercial flights on the Airbus A380-800, super jumbo aircraft when it comes into service. The airline has ordered 10 A380-800 and another 15 on option worth $8.6 billion. First A380-800 is expected to be delivered in October 2007.
Source: India Times
Study on foundry sector conducted
Coimbatore foundries have more export opportunities to tap with growth in the end user segment, according to a draft report of a study on Indian foundries by the ICRA Management Consulting Services.
The Coimbatore foundry cluster has about 600 units and most of them are small-scale. They produce 40,000 to 45,000 tonnes of castings a month. In the last five years, output of the Coimbatore foundries has grown at 15 to 20 per cent and it is estimated that Coimbatore contributes nearly 15 per cent of the total casting production in the country. A large number of these units make castings for the pumps, valves and auto industry. Further, a majority of these are ferrous castings (nearly 60 per cent).
According to C.R. Swaminathan, chief executive of the PSG Industrial Institute, the final draft of the study will be ready by the end of December. The study aims to assess the potential of the Indian foundry sector, review performance of key foundry clusters in the country (such as Coimbatore) and recommend interventions to enhance competitiveness.
It also aims to benchmark manufacturing cost competitiveness of Indian foundries as against those in China, Brazil, Mexico and the CIS countries. It will also prepare a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis of the Indian units. The number of units in Coimbatore and casting output has gone up during the recent years with growing market.
This exercise will help the Coimbatore foundries since it will study the units here vis-Ã -vis their counterparts in some foreign countries and suggest how they can improve, he adds
Source: The Hindu
The Coimbatore foundry cluster has about 600 units and most of them are small-scale. They produce 40,000 to 45,000 tonnes of castings a month. In the last five years, output of the Coimbatore foundries has grown at 15 to 20 per cent and it is estimated that Coimbatore contributes nearly 15 per cent of the total casting production in the country. A large number of these units make castings for the pumps, valves and auto industry. Further, a majority of these are ferrous castings (nearly 60 per cent).
According to C.R. Swaminathan, chief executive of the PSG Industrial Institute, the final draft of the study will be ready by the end of December. The study aims to assess the potential of the Indian foundry sector, review performance of key foundry clusters in the country (such as Coimbatore) and recommend interventions to enhance competitiveness.
It also aims to benchmark manufacturing cost competitiveness of Indian foundries as against those in China, Brazil, Mexico and the CIS countries. It will also prepare a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats) analysis of the Indian units. The number of units in Coimbatore and casting output has gone up during the recent years with growing market.
This exercise will help the Coimbatore foundries since it will study the units here vis-Ã -vis their counterparts in some foreign countries and suggest how they can improve, he adds
Source: The Hindu
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tidco to set up SEZ for auto parts
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (Tidco) will soon join hands with a well-known entrepreneur to set up an auto component special economic zone (SEZ). The sector specific SEZ will come up in about 2,000 acres of land with an investment of Rs 400 crore.
According to a government official, “Auto companies in the US and Europe, to keep their prices at reasonable levels, have started outsourcing auto component manufacturing to India. They will only do the assembling at their country. An auto entrepreneur, to give leverage to this outsourcing wave in the automobile industry, has come up with the idea of setting up a project exclusively for the auto industry. The auto entrepreneur is scouting for 2,000 acres of land to house the project. Application has been filed with board of approvals, ministry of commerce for obtaining SEZ status for the project”.
The entrepreneur has approached Tidco to be the local partner. The government agency will take part in the project with minimum investment. Tidco will pick up anywhere between 2% and 11% stake in the equity of the project. The project will call for an investment of about Rs 20 lakh per acre. The debt-equity ratio of the project could be 3:1 or 2.5:1.5, which is yet to be finalised.
The idea behind Tidcopicking up stake in the huge project, they said, is basically to focus on large projects. The state agency has decided to invest in big projects instead of investing in many small projects. The agency has about 10 SEZs at various stages of implementation including Hosur, Perambalur, Reliance ADAG, Ascendas, Nanguneri and Ennore SEZ. It is also planning for two more SEZs in the state, one in Coimbatore and another in the outskirts of Chennai.
Source: The Financial Express
According to a government official, “Auto companies in the US and Europe, to keep their prices at reasonable levels, have started outsourcing auto component manufacturing to India. They will only do the assembling at their country. An auto entrepreneur, to give leverage to this outsourcing wave in the automobile industry, has come up with the idea of setting up a project exclusively for the auto industry. The auto entrepreneur is scouting for 2,000 acres of land to house the project. Application has been filed with board of approvals, ministry of commerce for obtaining SEZ status for the project”.
The entrepreneur has approached Tidco to be the local partner. The government agency will take part in the project with minimum investment. Tidco will pick up anywhere between 2% and 11% stake in the equity of the project. The project will call for an investment of about Rs 20 lakh per acre. The debt-equity ratio of the project could be 3:1 or 2.5:1.5, which is yet to be finalised.
The idea behind Tidcopicking up stake in the huge project, they said, is basically to focus on large projects. The state agency has decided to invest in big projects instead of investing in many small projects. The agency has about 10 SEZs at various stages of implementation including Hosur, Perambalur, Reliance ADAG, Ascendas, Nanguneri and Ennore SEZ. It is also planning for two more SEZs in the state, one in Coimbatore and another in the outskirts of Chennai.
Source: The Financial Express
Metro Cash & Carry to expand to 8 more cities
German retailing giant Metro Cash & Carry is currently holding discussions for acquisition of properties in over eight cities – Chennai, Ghaziabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune, Coimbatore, Vijayawada and Viskhapatnam – to launch its distribution centres.
“We are now keen to expand quickly across the country,” Metro Cash & Carry India Managing Director Harsh Bahadur said, adding that 35 Indian cities with over one million population are the company’s target. Besides the cost of land, each distribution centre involves an investment of around Rs 65 crore.
The wholesale company opened its first distribution centre in Andhra Pradesh and the third in the country here on Wednesday.
Bahadur said the company is about to sign acquisition deals in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgoan and Chennai. Its Kolkata and Mumbai distribution centres, which are currently under construction, would be ready by the second quarter of the next year.
Spread over an area of 7 acre, the Rs 67 crore B2B distribution centre in Hyderabad has a selling space of 1 lakh sq ft including a 20,000 sq ft temperature-controlled space to handle perishables, such as vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat and fish. It has a range of 18,000 products. The share of local products is 98 per cent.
The land has been allotted on a 30 year lease to the company by the Andhra Pradesh government. The centre is expected to provide direct employment to 300 people and indirect employment to over 250 people.
Stating that the Hyderabad centre is expected to gross a turnover of up to Rs 300 crore per annum, Bahadur said about 75,000 small and medium retailers, traders, hoteliers, caterers and other businesses had already been registered with the distribution outlet as customers.
“We are now keen to expand quickly across the country,” Metro Cash & Carry India Managing Director Harsh Bahadur said, adding that 35 Indian cities with over one million population are the company’s target. Besides the cost of land, each distribution centre involves an investment of around Rs 65 crore.
The wholesale company opened its first distribution centre in Andhra Pradesh and the third in the country here on Wednesday.
Bahadur said the company is about to sign acquisition deals in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgoan and Chennai. Its Kolkata and Mumbai distribution centres, which are currently under construction, would be ready by the second quarter of the next year.
Spread over an area of 7 acre, the Rs 67 crore B2B distribution centre in Hyderabad has a selling space of 1 lakh sq ft including a 20,000 sq ft temperature-controlled space to handle perishables, such as vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat and fish. It has a range of 18,000 products. The share of local products is 98 per cent.
The land has been allotted on a 30 year lease to the company by the Andhra Pradesh government. The centre is expected to provide direct employment to 300 people and indirect employment to over 250 people.
Stating that the Hyderabad centre is expected to gross a turnover of up to Rs 300 crore per annum, Bahadur said about 75,000 small and medium retailers, traders, hoteliers, caterers and other businesses had already been registered with the distribution outlet as customers.
CIAL in talks with foreign airline cos for freight services
Encouraged by growing cargo and passenger traffic, Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is wooing foreign airlines to operate cargo freighters and a passenger aircraft from Europe to Kochi. CIAL is in negotiations with Luftansa and Gulf Air to bring their cargo freighters to Kochi. CIAL MD S Bharath told ET the talks are in an advance stage. The cargo traffic from the airport is projected to go up to 50,000 tonnes .
“We are planning hub and spoke method for attracting cargo. Kochi will act as a hub and collect cargo from surrounding areas like Tirupur, Coimbatore, Kannur, Alappuzha etc,” Mr Bharath said. CIAL is eyeing garment consignments from Tirupur and Kannur, light engineering goods from Coimbatore apart from spices and seafood in Kochi. Since accessibility to Kochi airport is easier than to Chennai from Tirupur and Coimbatore, Mr Bharath reckons exporters will use the cargo freighter facilities here to cut logistic costs.
Source: Economic Times
“We are planning hub and spoke method for attracting cargo. Kochi will act as a hub and collect cargo from surrounding areas like Tirupur, Coimbatore, Kannur, Alappuzha etc,” Mr Bharath said. CIAL is eyeing garment consignments from Tirupur and Kannur, light engineering goods from Coimbatore apart from spices and seafood in Kochi. Since accessibility to Kochi airport is easier than to Chennai from Tirupur and Coimbatore, Mr Bharath reckons exporters will use the cargo freighter facilities here to cut logistic costs.
Source: Economic Times
IT Manufacturers Shift Focus to Coimbatore
The Coimbatore IT market is gaining in importance with the major manufacturers increasing their focus on the channel here targeting the home and SME segments, which offer a great deal of growth opportunity, according to the channel partners who participated in the recently held DI Yatra meet.
More than 70 channel partners attended the Coimbatore Yatra meet and enthusiastically interacted with IT majors Seagate, Sahara Computers, Logitech, Pinnacle Systems and Trend Micro who showcased their latest technology products.
According to Murthy of e-logic, "With Bangalore slowly crowding up, the MNCs are now shifting their focus to Coimbatore, which also has a pleasant climate, and establishing their branches here."
Laptops and AMD processors are much in demand in Coimbatore, the dealers informed. Amiradh Alingam of K. K. Computer Associates said, "Since the last two months especially we have seen a tremendous growth in the laptop sales. The SMEs are a major driver of IT business here."
"There is an overall increase in sales of AMD processors because of their cost and performance. Currently, HP rules the roost in laptop sales. All the manufacturers are very supportive and provide pre- and post-sales support," Alingam added.
However, some of the dealers were not happy with the distributors who, they said, do not promptly respond to their calls to help them sort out replacement issues. But schemes and incentives have been reaching them in time and the manufacturers themselves keep in touch with the channel partners, the dealers said.
Currently, AMD, Lenovo, HP, HCL and Compaq are doing good business, according to the dealers.
The channel here has a representative body called Coimbatore Computer Dealers Association (CCDA). Sentil, secretary, CCDA, said, "We hold an IT exhibition in March every year and organize meetings with our members every Friday. We also plan to soon cover the entire IT industry and not restrict only to hardware, and go in for a name change to reflect the new entity."
Source: Channel Times
More than 70 channel partners attended the Coimbatore Yatra meet and enthusiastically interacted with IT majors Seagate, Sahara Computers, Logitech, Pinnacle Systems and Trend Micro who showcased their latest technology products.
According to Murthy of e-logic, "With Bangalore slowly crowding up, the MNCs are now shifting their focus to Coimbatore, which also has a pleasant climate, and establishing their branches here."
Laptops and AMD processors are much in demand in Coimbatore, the dealers informed. Amiradh Alingam of K. K. Computer Associates said, "Since the last two months especially we have seen a tremendous growth in the laptop sales. The SMEs are a major driver of IT business here."
"There is an overall increase in sales of AMD processors because of their cost and performance. Currently, HP rules the roost in laptop sales. All the manufacturers are very supportive and provide pre- and post-sales support," Alingam added.
However, some of the dealers were not happy with the distributors who, they said, do not promptly respond to their calls to help them sort out replacement issues. But schemes and incentives have been reaching them in time and the manufacturers themselves keep in touch with the channel partners, the dealers said.
Currently, AMD, Lenovo, HP, HCL and Compaq are doing good business, according to the dealers.
The channel here has a representative body called Coimbatore Computer Dealers Association (CCDA). Sentil, secretary, CCDA, said, "We hold an IT exhibition in March every year and organize meetings with our members every Friday. We also plan to soon cover the entire IT industry and not restrict only to hardware, and go in for a name change to reflect the new entity."
Source: Channel Times
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Coimbatore :More Jobs and Labour Shortage
Despite having a number of engineering colleges and technical institutes, this major industrial belt of Tamil Nadu is facing an acute labour shortage, be it in manufacturing sector, textiles or foundry.
The region, particularly in and around Coimbatore, is known for textile mills, pump and motors and castings. However, production in these sectors was hit at least 10 to 20 per cent due to non-availability of labour, particularly skilled ones, industrialists say.
According to C R Swaminathan, chief executive of a leading technological institute in the city and a foundry owner, a large number of foundry units here have doubled their capacity to cater to the needs of auto-component makers.
However, the units were managing three shifts with skeletal staff, since labourers, especially skilled ones, were not available affecting production. Though women can be utilised for general works, it would be difficult for them to lift heavy castings, Swaminathan said.
There was a requirement of 10,000 labourers as of now in the sector, he added.
The situation is no different in textile and motor and pumps sectors also, Jayakumar Ramdoss, chairman of CII, Coimbatore zone, and one of the leading pump manufactures, said.
Though Southern India Mills Association has started a cell for employment, the number of aspirants was not that encouraging, Jayakumar said.
Various industrial associations have submitted lists of requirements and type of labour to the district collector Neeraj Mittal, who has written to them based on the applications he was receiving every week, Jayakumar said.
However, more than 35 per cent of the job seekers have either crossed 50 years or not willing to do such works as they wanted "decent pay at the start itself and only white collar jobs", he said.
Some graduates prefer to sit idle than taking up jobs for Rs 3,000 or Rs 4,000 to start with or at least to gain experience, he said.
A majority of the job seekers appear to be waiting for the commissioning of the Tidel Park, coming up in the city.
As many of the fresh engineers passing out from the city colleges were rushing to Bangalore and Chennai for jobs of more than Rs 15,000 in the first month, others were also pinning hope on IT sector, which was yet to reach its peak here, Jayakumar said.
However, a recent report of a large number of resignations of staff from call centres, particularly in Bangalore, due to overstress working in the nights, has somewhat helped in applying brakes to the rush in seeking jobs in the sector, Swaminathan said.
But this should shift to other sector, which was feeling the pinch of labour shortage, he added.
Source: Chennai Online
The region, particularly in and around Coimbatore, is known for textile mills, pump and motors and castings. However, production in these sectors was hit at least 10 to 20 per cent due to non-availability of labour, particularly skilled ones, industrialists say.
According to C R Swaminathan, chief executive of a leading technological institute in the city and a foundry owner, a large number of foundry units here have doubled their capacity to cater to the needs of auto-component makers.
However, the units were managing three shifts with skeletal staff, since labourers, especially skilled ones, were not available affecting production. Though women can be utilised for general works, it would be difficult for them to lift heavy castings, Swaminathan said.
There was a requirement of 10,000 labourers as of now in the sector, he added.
The situation is no different in textile and motor and pumps sectors also, Jayakumar Ramdoss, chairman of CII, Coimbatore zone, and one of the leading pump manufactures, said.
Though Southern India Mills Association has started a cell for employment, the number of aspirants was not that encouraging, Jayakumar said.
Various industrial associations have submitted lists of requirements and type of labour to the district collector Neeraj Mittal, who has written to them based on the applications he was receiving every week, Jayakumar said.
However, more than 35 per cent of the job seekers have either crossed 50 years or not willing to do such works as they wanted "decent pay at the start itself and only white collar jobs", he said.
Some graduates prefer to sit idle than taking up jobs for Rs 3,000 or Rs 4,000 to start with or at least to gain experience, he said.
A majority of the job seekers appear to be waiting for the commissioning of the Tidel Park, coming up in the city.
As many of the fresh engineers passing out from the city colleges were rushing to Bangalore and Chennai for jobs of more than Rs 15,000 in the first month, others were also pinning hope on IT sector, which was yet to reach its peak here, Jayakumar said.
However, a recent report of a large number of resignations of staff from call centres, particularly in Bangalore, due to overstress working in the nights, has somewhat helped in applying brakes to the rush in seeking jobs in the sector, Swaminathan said.
But this should shift to other sector, which was feeling the pinch of labour shortage, he added.
Source: Chennai Online
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Pricol establishes biomass gasifier crematorium
Premier Instruments and Control Ltd., which manufactures automotive instruments, has established a crematorium that will burn bodies using energy from a biomass gasifier unit. It has been established in association with the Periyanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat under the company's Pricol Rural Development Programme (PRDP).
Commissioned
The crematorium at Periyanaickenpalayam, about 20 km north of the city, was commissioned on Thursday and dedicated to the public by Collector Neeraj Mittal and Thondamuthur MLA M. Kannappan .
The crematorium, named `Nithyananda', was part of the company's corporate-social responsibility. Pricol's Managing Director Vijay Mohan said it had been built at Rs.85 lakh. The employees had contributed a day's salary towards establishing it in memory of the company's founder N. Damotharan.
Non-profit basis
Six bodies a day could be cremated in the new crematorium. The charge for each body was Rs.750 and the firm said it was on a non-profit basis.
Executive Director of the company and Managing Trustee of Siruthuli Vanita Mohan said Periyanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat President P.R.G. Arunkumar supported the community service initiatives, especially the crematorium.
Fuel
He had helped in obtaining a vehicle to bring bodies to the crematorium. The vehicle also would be provided at a reasonable cost.
The biomass gasifier would use wood from thorny shrubs (veli kathan) as fuel. Cultivation of these on wastelands would fetch an income, especially when used for such biomass gasifier units.
Smoke from the furnaces would be let out through a 100 ft chimney. It would not cause pollution as it will be routed through a scrubber.
Commending Pricol for providing the crematorium for the community, Mr. Kannappan said it was a very significant contribution considered the difficulties faced now in maintaining burial grounds or cremation sheds.
He also appreciated the support lent by the Town Panchayat.
Former Coimbatore East MLA V.K. Lakshmanan said the crematorium was a timely contribution by the company to the people when there was a struggle to find space for burial or cremation.
Contribution
Mr. Arunkumar thanked the management and employees of Pricol for providing the facility in Periyanaickenpalayam.
Ms. Mohan thanked the Government agencies, especially the District Administration and the Town Panchayat for the support to the service projects.
"Our next project is a hospital for the community. I hope we get the same amount of support," she said and thanked the company's employees also for their support.
Programmes
The company said in a release that PRDP aimed at serving the villages located around the manufacturing facility of Pricol.
The other programmes were water management, afforestation, wastewater recycling, solid waste management, literacy and health.
The employees had also contributed a day's salary for the Kargil operations, the victims of the Gujarat earthquake and the tsunami that hit Tamil Nadu, the revival of the Noyyal river, construction of a bridge across a stream in Periyanaickenpalayam and to Siruthuli for de-silting tanks, the release said.
Source: The Hindu
Commissioned
The crematorium at Periyanaickenpalayam, about 20 km north of the city, was commissioned on Thursday and dedicated to the public by Collector Neeraj Mittal and Thondamuthur MLA M. Kannappan .
The crematorium, named `Nithyananda', was part of the company's corporate-social responsibility. Pricol's Managing Director Vijay Mohan said it had been built at Rs.85 lakh. The employees had contributed a day's salary towards establishing it in memory of the company's founder N. Damotharan.
Non-profit basis
Six bodies a day could be cremated in the new crematorium. The charge for each body was Rs.750 and the firm said it was on a non-profit basis.
Executive Director of the company and Managing Trustee of Siruthuli Vanita Mohan said Periyanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat President P.R.G. Arunkumar supported the community service initiatives, especially the crematorium.
Fuel
He had helped in obtaining a vehicle to bring bodies to the crematorium. The vehicle also would be provided at a reasonable cost.
The biomass gasifier would use wood from thorny shrubs (veli kathan) as fuel. Cultivation of these on wastelands would fetch an income, especially when used for such biomass gasifier units.
Smoke from the furnaces would be let out through a 100 ft chimney. It would not cause pollution as it will be routed through a scrubber.
Commending Pricol for providing the crematorium for the community, Mr. Kannappan said it was a very significant contribution considered the difficulties faced now in maintaining burial grounds or cremation sheds.
He also appreciated the support lent by the Town Panchayat.
Former Coimbatore East MLA V.K. Lakshmanan said the crematorium was a timely contribution by the company to the people when there was a struggle to find space for burial or cremation.
Contribution
Mr. Arunkumar thanked the management and employees of Pricol for providing the facility in Periyanaickenpalayam.
Ms. Mohan thanked the Government agencies, especially the District Administration and the Town Panchayat for the support to the service projects.
"Our next project is a hospital for the community. I hope we get the same amount of support," she said and thanked the company's employees also for their support.
Programmes
The company said in a release that PRDP aimed at serving the villages located around the manufacturing facility of Pricol.
The other programmes were water management, afforestation, wastewater recycling, solid waste management, literacy and health.
The employees had also contributed a day's salary for the Kargil operations, the victims of the Gujarat earthquake and the tsunami that hit Tamil Nadu, the revival of the Noyyal river, construction of a bridge across a stream in Periyanaickenpalayam and to Siruthuli for de-silting tanks, the release said.
Source: The Hindu
Residential colonies along Tiruchi Road in trouble
Five residential colonies along Tiruchi Road in the city may even be tempted to equate Sanganur Canal with Huang Ho - the river that is known as the `Sorrow of China'. Huang Ho has a history of killing many during floods. Overflow from Sanganur Canal or a breach in its bund every year triggers fear of loss of life or property among the residents in colonies close to it.
The water that overflowed from the canal on the night of November 1 is yet to drain from most of the roads of the Kothari Layout, B.R. Nagar, Raja Nagar, Govindasamy Nagar and Sri Andal Nagar. With the possibility of more rain, the residents fear that the worst is yet to come.
The very few portions of roads that are dry do not offer much comfort to the residents. Slush or dry silt remains to torment them.
`Elite' areas
For a stranger, these areas will give the impression of being ones that are not wanted by the rest of the city. Actually, they are considered `elite' areas after Race Course, R.S. Puram and Saibaba Colony. But, for more than two weeks, people dread using cars, motorcycles and scooters as a sheet of water has submerged the streets. Pits dug for laying a foundation and rods jutting out threaten to kill people on a site along Udayampalayam Road.
The road and the colonies are located north of Tiruchi Road and the first signs of the people's plight are visible as soon as one reaches a car dealer's service station. A flooded Udayampalayam Road welcomes one to the B.R. Nagar. An autorickshaw driver struggles to get to a dry patch of road. V. Srinivasan, who has been living in B.R. Nagar for 20 years, says that with encroachments on the canal and garbage blocking flow, water rises above the bund and enters these residential colonies and also some on the southern side of the road. "Now some small waterways for rainwater to drain are also blocked. This leads to water logging in our areas."
R. Subramanian, a resident in the same colony, says dirt water entered the drinking water sump. Slush also entered his bore well whenever such flooding occurred and the repairs cost him heavily. Water is already discharged into a farm in the colony. After reaching a saturation point during heavy rain, excess water flows out and submerges roads. Some residents say that people step out of their houses for office in lungis and shorts. They carry their trousers and shoes and wear these at the house of a friend or relative that has escaped flooding.
Difficult times
The house of Coimbatore Corporation's Works Committee Chairman R. Ramaswamy is the first on B.R. Nagar's fourth street. It stares at a sheet of water.
An aggrieved resident at Govindaswamy Nagar has placed sandbags in front of his house to prevent water from entering it. People have been going through very difficult times as the area had been flooded four times this month, he says.
Mr. Srinivasan says that Mayor `Colony' R. Venkatachalam, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, Ward 14 councillor R. Cheralathan and Corporation officials visited these areas in the first week of this month and had promised a solution.
Solution
But, nothing has been done so far to drain the water. Meena Estate and a few other areas that had reeled under such flooding every year till a couple of years ago are now safe. A low causeway near Puliyakulam had been replaced with a high-level bridge as blocks caused by garbage led to a backflow of water from the canal to the residential areas. But, the threat to other areas from the canal persists, as the situation in B.R. Nagar and nearby layouts point out.
Source: The Hindu
The water that overflowed from the canal on the night of November 1 is yet to drain from most of the roads of the Kothari Layout, B.R. Nagar, Raja Nagar, Govindasamy Nagar and Sri Andal Nagar. With the possibility of more rain, the residents fear that the worst is yet to come.
The very few portions of roads that are dry do not offer much comfort to the residents. Slush or dry silt remains to torment them.
`Elite' areas
For a stranger, these areas will give the impression of being ones that are not wanted by the rest of the city. Actually, they are considered `elite' areas after Race Course, R.S. Puram and Saibaba Colony. But, for more than two weeks, people dread using cars, motorcycles and scooters as a sheet of water has submerged the streets. Pits dug for laying a foundation and rods jutting out threaten to kill people on a site along Udayampalayam Road.
The road and the colonies are located north of Tiruchi Road and the first signs of the people's plight are visible as soon as one reaches a car dealer's service station. A flooded Udayampalayam Road welcomes one to the B.R. Nagar. An autorickshaw driver struggles to get to a dry patch of road. V. Srinivasan, who has been living in B.R. Nagar for 20 years, says that with encroachments on the canal and garbage blocking flow, water rises above the bund and enters these residential colonies and also some on the southern side of the road. "Now some small waterways for rainwater to drain are also blocked. This leads to water logging in our areas."
R. Subramanian, a resident in the same colony, says dirt water entered the drinking water sump. Slush also entered his bore well whenever such flooding occurred and the repairs cost him heavily. Water is already discharged into a farm in the colony. After reaching a saturation point during heavy rain, excess water flows out and submerges roads. Some residents say that people step out of their houses for office in lungis and shorts. They carry their trousers and shoes and wear these at the house of a friend or relative that has escaped flooding.
Difficult times
The house of Coimbatore Corporation's Works Committee Chairman R. Ramaswamy is the first on B.R. Nagar's fourth street. It stares at a sheet of water.
An aggrieved resident at Govindaswamy Nagar has placed sandbags in front of his house to prevent water from entering it. People have been going through very difficult times as the area had been flooded four times this month, he says.
Mr. Srinivasan says that Mayor `Colony' R. Venkatachalam, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, Ward 14 councillor R. Cheralathan and Corporation officials visited these areas in the first week of this month and had promised a solution.
Solution
But, nothing has been done so far to drain the water. Meena Estate and a few other areas that had reeled under such flooding every year till a couple of years ago are now safe. A low causeway near Puliyakulam had been replaced with a high-level bridge as blocks caused by garbage led to a backflow of water from the canal to the residential areas. But, the threat to other areas from the canal persists, as the situation in B.R. Nagar and nearby layouts point out.
Source: The Hindu
Friday, November 24, 2006
Suzlon to set up 2nd facility in Coimbatore
Suzlon Energy will set up an energy engineering facility over a 250-acre plot about 20 km west of Coimbatore. This could be the largest corporate facility of its kind so far in the southern city of Tamil Nadu.
The upcoming project was, among other things, expected to house a wind turbine components manufacturing and testing facility for rotor blades, an industry source said, without going into specifics of the investments involved.
So far, the Pune-headquartered wind energy major has had a foundry unit operating from Coimbatore. The upcoming expansion will help it widen its manufacturing footprint in south India.
Suzlon, which had already completed the purchase of the required land, was in “advanced stages” of talks with the Tamil Nadu government, industry sources said. The company had submitted documents pertaining to the land purchase procedures of the facility a few days ago, prior to the physical inspection of the proposed site, they added.
Following the physical inspection and approval by state and local authorities, the commerce ministry was expected to give its final go-ahead by mid-December, the sources said. And then, Suzlon was expected to start construction work on the facility by January next year, they added.
The project, which will come up along the L&T bypass road that links Palladam taluk with Tirupur, was given the initial go-ahead by the commerce ministry on October 6, with full benefits accorded to it under the SEZ Act of 2004.
Suzlon, one of the world’s leading wind energy turbine producers, shares more than half of the domestic wind turbines market.
Source: Business Standard
The upcoming project was, among other things, expected to house a wind turbine components manufacturing and testing facility for rotor blades, an industry source said, without going into specifics of the investments involved.
So far, the Pune-headquartered wind energy major has had a foundry unit operating from Coimbatore. The upcoming expansion will help it widen its manufacturing footprint in south India.
Suzlon, which had already completed the purchase of the required land, was in “advanced stages” of talks with the Tamil Nadu government, industry sources said. The company had submitted documents pertaining to the land purchase procedures of the facility a few days ago, prior to the physical inspection of the proposed site, they added.
Following the physical inspection and approval by state and local authorities, the commerce ministry was expected to give its final go-ahead by mid-December, the sources said. And then, Suzlon was expected to start construction work on the facility by January next year, they added.
The project, which will come up along the L&T bypass road that links Palladam taluk with Tirupur, was given the initial go-ahead by the commerce ministry on October 6, with full benefits accorded to it under the SEZ Act of 2004.
Suzlon, one of the world’s leading wind energy turbine producers, shares more than half of the domestic wind turbines market.
Source: Business Standard
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Big Bazaar makes its entry into Coimbatore !!!
Big Bazaar makes its entry into Tamil Nadu with Coimbatore as its first stop
First things first. It has car parking — albeit limited — and a space opposite for two wheelers. But Big Bazaar is definitely big. There is no question about that. Several floors, spacious, well-lit and with all kinds of merchandise, there is something for everyone here.
On a rainy day (we have been having quite a few of them lately), it is a relief to stroll around in comfort picking up groceries, vegetables, or anything else your heart desires.
Kids are going to be especially excited at the glass elevator within the shop that affords a bird's eye view of the various wares on sale, and, there is also an escalator for those unable to climb stairs.
For the health conscious and the energetic, wide stairways provide comfortable movement from floor to floor.
Kiddies delight
If you want to shop in peace, then do your kids' shopping first. Toys and books are available for various age groups. The collection of books is a bit sparse at the moment, but no doubt it will increase.
The only reservation one could have is that the staff doesn't seem to know too much about what books there are and what there aren't, and when asked they disappear without a trace!
For the plastic dabba lovers, there is plenty to choose from. They are shaped, sized, coloured and textured to suit your kitchen's décor.
Stainless steel vessels, also in vast numbers and variety, non-stick cookware, melmoware and glassware all make up an entire section. Interesting bathroom accessories like shelves to hold your lotions, shampoos and soaps as well as towel hangers are available at reasonable rates.
Discounts by the dozen
There are a lot of bargains on at the moment. Quite a few products come with a freebie attached — it is either a discount or a `buy two and get one free' kind of an offer. Toiletries, groceries, freshly ground spices and coffee fill the shelves and you are sure to find your favourite brands right here.
Clothes are a plenty, with crinkled skirts, casual denims, shirts and kids wear occupying a large area. Furniture is another attraction here with fuss-free bookshelves, cabinets, cupboards and dining sets offering you quite a choice.
Bedroom furniture and living room ones are also available.
It is all a bit bewildering at first. There are a lot of things for your eyes and ears to take in. But it is a kind of a place that one could get used to. Big Bazaar will soon have a food court and a beauty parlour! How's that for a complete experience?
Source: The Hindu
First things first. It has car parking — albeit limited — and a space opposite for two wheelers. But Big Bazaar is definitely big. There is no question about that. Several floors, spacious, well-lit and with all kinds of merchandise, there is something for everyone here.
On a rainy day (we have been having quite a few of them lately), it is a relief to stroll around in comfort picking up groceries, vegetables, or anything else your heart desires.
Kids are going to be especially excited at the glass elevator within the shop that affords a bird's eye view of the various wares on sale, and, there is also an escalator for those unable to climb stairs.
For the health conscious and the energetic, wide stairways provide comfortable movement from floor to floor.
Kiddies delight
If you want to shop in peace, then do your kids' shopping first. Toys and books are available for various age groups. The collection of books is a bit sparse at the moment, but no doubt it will increase.
The only reservation one could have is that the staff doesn't seem to know too much about what books there are and what there aren't, and when asked they disappear without a trace!
For the plastic dabba lovers, there is plenty to choose from. They are shaped, sized, coloured and textured to suit your kitchen's décor.
Stainless steel vessels, also in vast numbers and variety, non-stick cookware, melmoware and glassware all make up an entire section. Interesting bathroom accessories like shelves to hold your lotions, shampoos and soaps as well as towel hangers are available at reasonable rates.
Discounts by the dozen
There are a lot of bargains on at the moment. Quite a few products come with a freebie attached — it is either a discount or a `buy two and get one free' kind of an offer. Toiletries, groceries, freshly ground spices and coffee fill the shelves and you are sure to find your favourite brands right here.
Clothes are a plenty, with crinkled skirts, casual denims, shirts and kids wear occupying a large area. Furniture is another attraction here with fuss-free bookshelves, cabinets, cupboards and dining sets offering you quite a choice.
Bedroom furniture and living room ones are also available.
It is all a bit bewildering at first. There are a lot of things for your eyes and ears to take in. But it is a kind of a place that one could get used to. Big Bazaar will soon have a food court and a beauty parlour! How's that for a complete experience?
Source: The Hindu
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
SIPCOT and SIDCO coming soon to Dharmapuri !!!
The identification of land required for establishment of industrial estates by SIPCOT and SIDCO in Dharmapuri is in full swing. The State Government has identified more than 400 acres of Government `Poromboke' land in a radius of 3 km from Dharmapuri town which is very near to the proposed four-lane highway, said Minister for Agriculture Veerapandi S. Arumugam here on Monday.
He told reporters that the Government had received more than 1,300 applications from entrepreneurs and industrialists in Tirupur, Coimbatore and Bangalore seeking permission for establishment of industries in the proposed industrial estates.
Institute
A majority of them had requested 200 acres for setting up textile and garment industries, chemical industries, coir and agro-based industries, PVC pipes and automobile industries. The Department of Sericulture had requested one acre for setting up a Sericulture Research and Training Institute in the district.
Mr. Arumugam said that the soil conditions in Dharmapuri were best suited for cultivation of horticultural crops including mango, guava and sapota.
The Government was providing subsidy to farmers for drip irrigation.
An amount of Rs. 300 crore allotted by the Centre for implementation of various horticultural schemes in the State was not utilised by the previous AIADMK regime.
Allotted
The Dharmapuri MLA had allotted Rs. 4 lakh under the constituency development fund for upgrading and maintenance of the uzhavar sandhai in Dharmapuri.
The district administration had sent a proposal to the Centre to take up works under the food-for-work programme at an outlay of Rs. 90 crore in the district. The long pending Hogenakkal Comprehensive Drinking Water Supply Scheme would soon be implemented, he added.
Source: The Hindu
He told reporters that the Government had received more than 1,300 applications from entrepreneurs and industrialists in Tirupur, Coimbatore and Bangalore seeking permission for establishment of industries in the proposed industrial estates.
Institute
A majority of them had requested 200 acres for setting up textile and garment industries, chemical industries, coir and agro-based industries, PVC pipes and automobile industries. The Department of Sericulture had requested one acre for setting up a Sericulture Research and Training Institute in the district.
Mr. Arumugam said that the soil conditions in Dharmapuri were best suited for cultivation of horticultural crops including mango, guava and sapota.
The Government was providing subsidy to farmers for drip irrigation.
An amount of Rs. 300 crore allotted by the Centre for implementation of various horticultural schemes in the State was not utilised by the previous AIADMK regime.
Allotted
The Dharmapuri MLA had allotted Rs. 4 lakh under the constituency development fund for upgrading and maintenance of the uzhavar sandhai in Dharmapuri.
The district administration had sent a proposal to the Centre to take up works under the food-for-work programme at an outlay of Rs. 90 crore in the district. The long pending Hogenakkal Comprehensive Drinking Water Supply Scheme would soon be implemented, he added.
Source: The Hindu
Indore boy sets longest marathon singing record of 54 hrs 42 mins !!
Deepak Gupta, a native of Indore, sang non-stop for 54 hours and 42 minutes, to beat an old world record of 54 hours and 41 minutes set by a German in solo singing.
Gupta took all the precautions to avoid any controversy and acquainted himself of the rules of the game.
"I sang 1200 songs. This is an attempt to get entry in the Guinness Book of records. I have followed all their guidelines," said Gupta.
A commerce graduate, Gupta has undergone seven years of degree course in singing and has performed over thousand stage shows across the country.
Gupta is also an expert in yoga and feels it immensely helped him bear the physical and mental strain during his performance.
A week ago, a sixteen-year-old Indore girl created a singing record by singing non-stop for 61 hours, but failed to register her name in the record book. According to the rules, the Guinness book officials need to be informed before beginning such an attempt and in this case they were informed 14 hours after setting the record.
Source:Daily India
Gupta took all the precautions to avoid any controversy and acquainted himself of the rules of the game.
"I sang 1200 songs. This is an attempt to get entry in the Guinness Book of records. I have followed all their guidelines," said Gupta.
A commerce graduate, Gupta has undergone seven years of degree course in singing and has performed over thousand stage shows across the country.
Gupta is also an expert in yoga and feels it immensely helped him bear the physical and mental strain during his performance.
A week ago, a sixteen-year-old Indore girl created a singing record by singing non-stop for 61 hours, but failed to register her name in the record book. According to the rules, the Guinness book officials need to be informed before beginning such an attempt and in this case they were informed 14 hours after setting the record.
Source:Daily India
Special vehicles to restore NH 67
The Union governmnet has decided to set up Special purpose vehicles to restore the National Highway reaches of NJ-34 and NH-66, in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively, affected by heavy rainfall and landslides.
In a meeting between Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, T R Baalu and senior officials of Department of Road Transport & Highways and the National Highways Authority of India today, it was decided that the vehicle would be set up in co-ordination with concerned state governments, a press release said.
This step would take care of suitable timely remedial measures and ensure that work of emergent repairs could be taken up immediately, the release added.
Large scale damages have been reported in both highways due to incessant rains in the past two months.
In Tamil Nadu alone, the stretches along the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Ooty-Karnataka border on NH 67 extensions and the Tindivanam-Pondicherry stretch of NH 66, were badly damaged due to rains while heavy landslides in Mettupalayam had resulted in diversion of vehicular traffic, the release said.
Source: Chennai Online
In a meeting between Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, T R Baalu and senior officials of Department of Road Transport & Highways and the National Highways Authority of India today, it was decided that the vehicle would be set up in co-ordination with concerned state governments, a press release said.
This step would take care of suitable timely remedial measures and ensure that work of emergent repairs could be taken up immediately, the release added.
Large scale damages have been reported in both highways due to incessant rains in the past two months.
In Tamil Nadu alone, the stretches along the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Ooty-Karnataka border on NH 67 extensions and the Tindivanam-Pondicherry stretch of NH 66, were badly damaged due to rains while heavy landslides in Mettupalayam had resulted in diversion of vehicular traffic, the release said.
Source: Chennai Online
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Coimbatore based garment unit starts new facility
Avinashi-based S P Apparels, a leading fully integrated garment exporter, today started its new garment making facility with 1,000 sewing machines.
The new unit has been set up at a capital cost of Rs 38 crore, which alone can bring in an additional Rs 200 crore of business, company managing director P Sundararajan claimed.
Talking to visiting journalists, Sundararajan said the facility would help the company, which has recorded 25 per cent growth rate last year, in consolidating its operations in-house and increase capacity by 50 per cent.
On expansion, he said the company is investing Rs 300 crore, including spinning Rs 145 crore, knitting Rs 22 crore, windmill Rs 52 crore, dyeing and processing Rs 38 crore and retailing Rs 25 crore, over a period of three years, he said.
The company, which has recently acquired major share in Crocodile brand garments, will open 30 exclusive brand outlets across the country, Sundararajan said.
Source: Chennai Online
The new unit has been set up at a capital cost of Rs 38 crore, which alone can bring in an additional Rs 200 crore of business, company managing director P Sundararajan claimed.
Talking to visiting journalists, Sundararajan said the facility would help the company, which has recorded 25 per cent growth rate last year, in consolidating its operations in-house and increase capacity by 50 per cent.
On expansion, he said the company is investing Rs 300 crore, including spinning Rs 145 crore, knitting Rs 22 crore, windmill Rs 52 crore, dyeing and processing Rs 38 crore and retailing Rs 25 crore, over a period of three years, he said.
The company, which has recently acquired major share in Crocodile brand garments, will open 30 exclusive brand outlets across the country, Sundararajan said.
Source: Chennai Online
Kingfisher Airlines launches from coimbatore !!!
Kingfisher Airlines launches 58 new daily flights on 15 routes
Indian airline operator Kingfisher Airlines has said that they are now launching as many as 58 new daily flights.
These are being launched on 15 routes and with these; they are connecting nine cities around the country.
The company has launched these flights connecting the cities including Varanasi, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Jammu and Hyderabad.
Kingfisher Airlines Chairman and CEO Vijay Mallya spoke on this expansion: “The simultaneous launch of 58 new flights in one go represents a quantum jump in the number of daily services offered by Kingfisher airlines and marks yet another milestone in the scorching pace that Kingfisher Airlines has set for itself to capture market share.”
With this, the company is operating 130 flights connecting 23 destinations in the domestic market
Source Techwhack
Indian airline operator Kingfisher Airlines has said that they are now launching as many as 58 new daily flights.
These are being launched on 15 routes and with these; they are connecting nine cities around the country.
The company has launched these flights connecting the cities including Varanasi, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Jammu and Hyderabad.
Kingfisher Airlines Chairman and CEO Vijay Mallya spoke on this expansion: “The simultaneous launch of 58 new flights in one go represents a quantum jump in the number of daily services offered by Kingfisher airlines and marks yet another milestone in the scorching pace that Kingfisher Airlines has set for itself to capture market share.”
With this, the company is operating 130 flights connecting 23 destinations in the domestic market
Source Techwhack
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Flights from Coimbatore Airport
| Indian Airlines | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| IC 657 Delhi - Kozhikode (Daily) (via Mumbai, Coimbatore) | 10.30 | 11.10 |
| IC 658 Kozhikode - Delhi (Daily) (via Coimbatore, Mumbai) | 13.30 | 14.10 |
| IC 975 International Chennai - Sharjah (Mon, Wed, Fri) (Via Coimbatore, Kochi) | 15.15 | 16.00 |
| IC 976 International Sharjah - Chennai (Tue, Thu, Sat) (Via Kochi, Coimbatore) | 04.05 | 04.45 |
Nilgiri Mountain Rail suspended
Services of the 'heritage' Nilgiris Mountain Train have been suspended till November 30 from Mettupalayam to Coonoor following landslides on the track.
However, the train would run between Udhagamandalam and Coonoor as the track on the route has not been affected by the landslips, despite good amount of rainfall on the section.
More than 25 minor landslides have occurred between the Coonoor-Mettupalayam sector, resulting in boulders and tree branches falling on the track, leading to suspension of the services, they said.
Though restoration work is progressing well, it would take at least 10 days to clear the debris and also set right the track, the sources said.
The train, which recently received 'Heritage' status and running between Mettupalayam, about 40 kms from here and Udhagamandalam, is a major tourist attraction. However, minor landslips being experienced for the last two months, have disappointed the tourists.
Meanwhile, restoration work on the Kallar-Barliar route, which witnessed heavy landslips, have been carried out on a war footing, with the help of earthmovers and other necessary equipment.
Source: The Hindu
However, the train would run between Udhagamandalam and Coonoor as the track on the route has not been affected by the landslips, despite good amount of rainfall on the section.
More than 25 minor landslides have occurred between the Coonoor-Mettupalayam sector, resulting in boulders and tree branches falling on the track, leading to suspension of the services, they said.
Though restoration work is progressing well, it would take at least 10 days to clear the debris and also set right the track, the sources said.
The train, which recently received 'Heritage' status and running between Mettupalayam, about 40 kms from here and Udhagamandalam, is a major tourist attraction. However, minor landslips being experienced for the last two months, have disappointed the tourists.
Meanwhile, restoration work on the Kallar-Barliar route, which witnessed heavy landslips, have been carried out on a war footing, with the help of earthmovers and other necessary equipment.
Source: The Hindu
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tenders soon for developing IT parks
Agreement signed with TIDEL park, says ELCOT official
parks planned at Ilandaikulam, and Vadapalanji in Madurai
At Vadapalanji, 36 acres earmarked for housing for workers
Coimbatore park likely to be ready in 12-14 months
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited will shortly float tenders for the development of information technology parks in Tier-II cities such as Madurai, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, Hosur and Salem, according to ELCOT Managing Director C. Umashankar.
"We have signed an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with TIDEL Park, Chennai, for Coimbatore," Mr. Umashankar told an interactive session organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as a prelude to a three-day conference to be held in Madurai, from December 1 to 3, on the economic development of southern districts.
In Madurai, IT parks had been proposed in two areas — Ilandaikulam and Vadapalanji. While 50 acres had been earmarked for the first site, 257 acres had been allocated for the second. At Vadapalanji, 36 acres had been earmarked for housing for the workforce. Each of the parks in these cities would have one million square feet, he said.
IT Secretary C. Chandramouli said the Coimbatore park, to be developed through a public-private partnership, was expected to be ready in 12-14 months.
Dr. Chandramouli said efforts were being made to developing soft skills. The curriculum and the training of the faculty of schools and colleges were being improved.
He called for more software exports from the State to countries other than the United States and the United Kingdom.
Source: The Hindu
parks planned at Ilandaikulam, and Vadapalanji in Madurai
At Vadapalanji, 36 acres earmarked for housing for workers
Coimbatore park likely to be ready in 12-14 months
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited will shortly float tenders for the development of information technology parks in Tier-II cities such as Madurai, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, Hosur and Salem, according to ELCOT Managing Director C. Umashankar.
"We have signed an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with TIDEL Park, Chennai, for Coimbatore," Mr. Umashankar told an interactive session organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as a prelude to a three-day conference to be held in Madurai, from December 1 to 3, on the economic development of southern districts.
In Madurai, IT parks had been proposed in two areas — Ilandaikulam and Vadapalanji. While 50 acres had been earmarked for the first site, 257 acres had been allocated for the second. At Vadapalanji, 36 acres had been earmarked for housing for the workforce. Each of the parks in these cities would have one million square feet, he said.
IT Secretary C. Chandramouli said the Coimbatore park, to be developed through a public-private partnership, was expected to be ready in 12-14 months.
Dr. Chandramouli said efforts were being made to developing soft skills. The curriculum and the training of the faculty of schools and colleges were being improved.
He called for more software exports from the State to countries other than the United States and the United Kingdom.
Source: The Hindu
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