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
Friday, December 22, 2006
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
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