Siruvani Dam falls short of its Full Capacity.

Now, hopes of the North-East Monsoon filling up Siruvani Dam are as good as dashed. The water level in the dam is 10 ft short of the full reservoir level of nearly 50 ft. And, there has been no rain over the last three days in the catchment.

Figures provided by the Coimbatore Corporation point out that the highest rainfall during November is 40 mm. The first week of this month has provided scanty rainfall, the maximum being 25 mm on December 3.

Very reluctantly, water supply officials say that the dam may not fill up this time even though water is still flowing into the dam from the upper reaches of the Siruvani hills. The supply situation in one half of the 105 sq.km. city and some municipalities and town panchayats may become tight during summer as the water level will only dip as soon as the inflow stops.

Officials are, however, hopeful of the Coimbatore Corporation completing the Pilloor Phase II water scheme for the city and some eastern suburbs. The Corporation had announced that the scheme will be completed and supply will begin by March 31 next year.

If that deadline is not met, the impact will be felt in the city. An official feels that it may lead to rescheduling of supply in the city to once in four days. But, he says that the Corporation's focus now is on completing the scheme by March 31, as it is aware of the risks on the Siruvani scheme front.

Water supply officials also seek to draw comfort from the Bhavani scheme implemented for Kavundampalayam Municipality and Vadavalli Town Panchayat, suburbs west of the city. But, there are already protests from the people in these areas over the quality of water being supplied under this scheme.

The residents complain that Bhavani water is not provided on alternate days despite a promise by the local bodies. They, therefore, want an increase in the supply of Siruvani water. If this demand continues during summer all the local bodies need Siruvani water will run into scarcity.

Coimbatore - Ahmedabad Spice Jet flight stops at Chennai due to technical error.

Two Spice Jet flights today landed at Chennai airport following technical problems, airport sources said.

Earlier, a Coimbatore-Ahmedabad flight with 50 passengers made an unscheduled landing at Chennai Airport after it developed a "technical error".

Officials said the flight landed here after pilots detected the error.

"The passengers would be accommodated in another flight to Ahmedabad later," they said.

Later a Madurai-bound Spice Jet, with 62 passengers onboard, which had left Chennai after a delay of 30-minutes, at around 1820 hrs, returned after developing a technical problem, they said.

All the passengers were immediately evacuated and would be accommodated in another flight to Madurai later.

Coimbatore Hospitals List

Aparna Hospital
450-D,Palghat Main Road,
Kuniamuthur, Coimbatore-641008
Phone:(+91-422)2872822, 2872248

Arvind Eye Hospital
Avinashi Road, Peelamedu,
Coimbatore-14
Phone:(+91-422)2578901

Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam & Research Institute
136-7 Trichy Road,
Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore -641 045
Phone:(+91-422)2313188

Ashwin Hospital
545 BKR Nagar Sathy Rd-641012.
Phone: 0422-494400


Balaji Nursing Home
48. Cowly Brown Road,
R.S Puram, Coimbatore-641 002
Phone:(+91-422)2540503, 2545469


Coimbatore Diabetes Foundation
17, Cowley Brown Road, R.S Puram, Coimbatore-2
Phone:(+91-422)2453770, 2447101, 2439882

Coimbatore Kidney Centre
738-A, Puliakulam Road, Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore-45
Phone:(+91-422)2314487, 2314255


Coimbatore Kidney Stone Centre
Avinashi Road, Race Course, Coimbatore-641 018
Phone:(+91-422)2213423

Contact Lens Clinic
69-70 Big Bazaar St-641001.
Phone: 0422-394049


CSR Nursing Home
272, 7th Street Extension, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore- 641012
Phone:(+91-422)2490606, 2490762


Diabetes Care & Research Centre
Ramnagar, Coimbatore-641 009
Phone:(+91-422)2235083

Ellen Hospital
284 Sathy Rd Gandhipuram-641012.
Phone: 0422-496922


Ganga Hospital
Swarnambika Layout, Ramnagar
Coimbatore-9, India.
Phone: (+91-422)2235050
Fax : +91-422-2232652

G.Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital
P.O No.6327, Pappanaickenpalayam,
Coimbatore-641 037.
Phone:(+91-422)2211000
Phone:(+91-422)2213501 to 2213507.

Kanthaswamy Siddha Hospital
266, Mettupalayam Road, Saibaba Colony, Coimbatore-641 043
Phone:(+91-422)2445433, 2442832


Kalpana Hospital
171, Shasthri Road, Ramnagar,
Coimbatore-641 009
Phone: (+91-422)2232566

Karunya Rural Community Hospital
Karunya Nagar P.O.,
Coimbatore - 641 114
Phone:(+91-422)2614681

KG Hospital
Arts College Road
Coimbatore - 641 018
Phone:(+91-422)2212121, 2222222
Fax : +91 - 422 - 2211212



Kongunad Hospital (P) Ltd
79, 11th Street, Tatabad,
Coimbatore-12
Phone:(+91-422)2494363

Kovai Diabetes Speciality Centre
15, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar,
Coimbatore-641 009

Phone:(+91-422)2236806,2237259

Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH)
Post Box No.3209 Avanashi Road, Peelamedu, Coimbatore-641014.
Phone:(+91-422)2827784 to 90
Fax : +91 -422-2827782

KTVR Hospital
P.O.Box: 2750, Narayana Guru Road,
Saibaba Colony, Coimbatore - 641 011.
Phone: (91-422) - 2445451, 2445311, 2458311 & 2458312
Fax: (91-422) - 2439990



Lalithaa Hospital
828A, Crosscut Road,
Gandhipuram, Coimbatore-12
Phone:(+91-422)2499533

Lotus Eye Care Hospital
19, Cowley Brown Road,
R.S.Puram, Coimbatore-2, India.
Avinashi Road NH 47
Civil Aerodrome Post
Coimbatore - 14
Phone:(+91-422)2626464, 2626565


(MIH) MedIndia Hospitals
96, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar,
Coimbatore 641 009
Phone:(+91-422) 2232565, 2230090
Fax: +91-44-28261122

Naveen Hospital
Raja Nagar, Trichy Road, Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore-28
Phone:(+91-422)2317065, 2319195, 2317589.

Ponniah Hospital
232, East Thiruvenkataswamy Road, R.S Puram, Coimbatore-641002
Phone:(+91-422)2453385


PSG Hospitals
Peelamedu, Coimbatore-641004
Phone:(+91-422)2570170

Rao Hospital
West Periyasamy Road,
R.S. Puram, Coimbatore-641002
Phone:(+91-422)2431420, 2436510, 2431341, 2453972


Richmond Hospital
1287, Trichy Road, (Opp Air Inida), Coimbatore-18
Phone:(+91-422)2303630



Sankara Eye Centre Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust
Sathy Road, Sivanadapuram, Ganapathy,
Coimbatore - 641035
Phone :(+91-422)22666450
Fax: 91 - 422 - 22666460

Saravana Surgery
356, D.B Road, R.S.Puram,
Coimbatore-641 002.
Phone:(+91-422)2470835, 2477684

Sheela Hospital
46, East Power House Road, Tatabad,
Coimbatore-12
Phone:(+91-422)249838-3

Siloam Thomas Eye Hospital
No:15, Chinnammal Street,
K.K. Pudur,Saibaba Colony, Coimbatore-641038
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Phone : (+91-422) 2441745, 4202745
Fax: 4383745

Sri Ramakrishna Hospital
395,Sarojini Naidu road, Ramnagar,
Coimbatore-44
Phone:(+91-422) 2210075

Surya Hospital
Ganapathy, Coimbatore-641009
Phone:(+91-422)2531797


The Balakishnan Hospital
100 Feet Road, Tatabad, Coimbatore-641 012
Phone:(+91-422)2497114


The Eye Foundation
55-56, Subramaniam Road,
West Ramalingam Road Junction,
R.S.Puram,
Coimbatore -641 002


Vedanayagam Hospital Pvt Ltd
133, East Bashyakaralu Road,
R.S.Puram, Coimbatore-2
Phone:(+91-422)2430043,2430044


Vikram ENT Hospital & Research Institute
69, West Venkataswamy Road, R.S.Puram, Coimbatore-2
Phone:(+91-422)2550633, 2546387,2550133

New flyover at Gandhipuram

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will inaugurate the Rs. 100 crore project for a flyover at Gandhipuram on December 12, Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Pongalur N. Palanisamy said on Tuesday.

He will also launch works for establishing a botanical garden on 165 acres at Gandhipuram, which is now part of the Coimbatore Central Prison premises. The park would be created on an outlay of Rs.100 crore in phases.

The first phase would be on 45 acres on an outlay of Rs.20 crore. The Chief Minister will also inaugurate the construction of the building of Anna University, Coimbatore, coming up on the Bharathiar University campus at Marudhamalai.

Mr. Karunanidhi will also start the repairs and renovation works of the 54-km Contour Canal of the Parambikulam – Aliyar Project at Rs. 150 crore.

The canal meets the irrigation and drinking water requirements of three revenue districts in Western Tamil Nadu — Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode. The renovation of the canal would be done after nearly four decades.

The Chief Minister will also lay the foundation for a Rs.50-crore additional block in the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and launch the Rs.27-crore modernisation of the Coimbatore District Co-operative Milk Producers Union (Aavin) plant.

IndiGo Airlines in Coimbatore

Terming Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu as a key market, low-cost airline IndiGo Friday said it will start flight services connecting the national capital as well as Chennai to the southern city from Nov 30.

'Expanding operations in south India is in line with our growth strategy in the Indian market, and Coimbatore is a key market for us,' said Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo.


The company said the new flights highlight the airline's expansion plan and the month-on-month growth and was in-line with its growth strategy of emerging domestic sectors from south India.


'IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it,' Ghosh added.


Currently IndiGo operates 207 flights connecting 23 destinations across the nation.

Kerala plans for Industrial corridor between Kochi and Coimbatore

Kerala government is considering a proposal to set up an industrial corridor between Kochi and Coimbatore, along the lines of a similar project being implemented between Mumbai and Delhi.

The government has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL), a private-public enterprise set up to promote infrastructure facilities in the state, to undertake a feasibility study and submit a report on the project before March 31 next.

The project will come up on either side of a dedicated freight line to be set up parallel to the gas pipeline linking Coimbatore and the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal expected to be commissioned in Kochi in 2013.

"We will have to identify the locations where different types of industrial clusters can be set up. Availability of land as well as uninterrupted power and water supply will be the criteria for identifying potential locations," Dr G C Gopala Pillai, the head of INKEL, told The Times of India here.

"Tamil Nadu government has shown keen interest in the project during talks held so far between officials of the two states. A ministerial level discussion on the project is likely to take place in December," M said R Karmachandran, executive director of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). "The project is expected to cost millions of rupees and we are looking for significant central funding," he added.

Asked whether land will be a constraint for the project in a land-starved state like Kerala, an INKEL official said, "You will be surprised to know that there are vast reserves of land available in Kerala. Much of it is lying unutilized with public or private sector firms. Some individuals and consortium of individuals also hold huge areas of land. We have to put such land to optimal use for industrial development without affecting the environment."

"Industries which can draw on the huge trained manpower pool available in the state could be set up in the proposed clusters. Since the LNG is going to be easily available through the pipeline which is being set up by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), power units or power intensive industries would also be ideal," said the KSIDC official.

The dedicated freight line will have both road and rail lines, M P Ranji, additional secretary, state industries department said.

Coimbatore to get New International Airport by 2014

Coimbatore will have its own international airport on the lines of the Devanahalli airport in Bangalore by July 2014. After months of protests by local villagers, the decks have been cleared for acquiring lands for the expansion of its existing airport.

The Tamil Nadu government has given an assurance to Airports Authority of India (AAI) that the acquisition of around 612.97 acres of land required for the expansion works would be completed by next June. And the AAI can start construction works from next July.

"The works would begin in a time-bound manner as soon as the acquisition process gets over. We need just three more years to finish the construction work. And on completion, it would be an all-new international airport, comparable only with the recently constructed international airports like Bangalore and Hyderabad," Airport Director Peter K Abraham told The Times of India.

With an extended runway of 12,000 ft (it is 9,900 ft at present), it can facilitate landing and takeoff of wide-bodied and fat-bellied international flights. "What we are visualizing is not just a cosmetic expansion and renovation. It would be a total revamp keeping in view of the city's needs for another 30 years," said Peter.

On completion, the main building with domestic and international terminals would come up in the area facing L&T Bypass and so the public can use it as the main entrance. There would be an entrance from Trichy Road as well.

However, the present entrance from Salem Road would be closed and the existing airport building would be used to accommodate various offices of AAI and its affiliated organizations.

Terming the expansion and renovation works as boosters to city's industrial and commercial growth, the airport director said the existing cargo terminal would also be expanded by doubling its present capacity of 40 tones at a time.

The AAI has already earmarked Rs 300 crore for the renovation and funds would not be a constraint for the time bound completion of works, he said. "We are aware of the hurdles in the wake of land acquisition. The state government has agreed to give us 612.97 acres in the place of a demand for 848 acres. But the shortage in the availability of land would in no way affect the setting up of a fully international airport,'' he said.

Meanwhile, revenue officials have started marking the outer boundaries for the extended airport in Kalapatti, Uppilipalayam, Singanallur, Irugur and Nilambur villages. The state government has already allotted Rs 350 crores for the land acquisition process and the identified plots would be taken over by giving suitable compensation. "The compensation amount for each affected family is yet to be fixed. Government has already expressed its consent for allocating more funds for compensation if the need arises. A special revenue officer and three tehsildars would be soon deputed to speed up the acquisition," district revenue officer A Shanmugha Sundaram informed.

Police encounter - Double murder accused gets killed

Barely days after the kidnap and murder of two children had rocked the state, the main accused, a van driver, was shot dead by the police in Coimbatore after he allegedly tried to escape from custody.


The encounter happened in the early hours of Tuesday.


Mohanraj, who had temporarily worked as a van driver transporting children to school, was arrested for kidnapping and subsequently murdering 10-year-old Muskan and her younger brother Ritish (7), children of a trader in Coimbatore. His accomplice Manoharan, a tractor driver, was also arrested.


As the case is going on, the police sought and received in custody the duo for further questioning on Monday. This morning at around 5:30 am, while they were taking him from Chettikulam police station to the murder spot as part of the investigation, Mohanraj allegedly snatched the service revolver from a sub-inspector who was part of the team and shot two police men in a bid to escape custody.


Two police personnel, sub-inspectors Jyothi and Muthumalai were injured in the firing.


However, the escape was short-lived as another inspector in the party, Annadurai fired at Mohanraj using his revolver killing him on the spot.


On October 29, Mohanraj tricked the children and their grandmother who had accompanied them to the bus stop, claiming that he was asked to pick up the school students in the absence of the regular person. As he had worked as school driver earlier, they did not find anything amiss.


But not finding the children at the regular spot, the real driver contacted the children's father Ranjit Kumar, a textile merchant in the city. Being outstation, he contacted his wife Sangeeta to check.


Finding their plan go awry, the driver duo allegedly murdered the children by pushing them into a water canal near Coimbatore, according to police. Their bodies were later fished out from the waterway. Initial reports suggest that the girl child was sexually-assaulted before the murder.


The killings had created an instant outrage among the society, with almost all members seeking nothing less than death penalty for the accused – but by way of legal, judicial retribution and not extra-judicial 'encounter'. Even though the western city has had its share of troubles over the past, this is the first such killing in Coimbatore.

School children kidnapped and killed

A 10 year old school girl along with her brother had been kidnapped on Thursday while on her way from school to home. The girl was subsequently sexually assaulted and killed by her kidnapper. The information was released by C.Sylendra Babu – City Police Commissioner after going through the post–mortem report.

Muskan (10 year old) and Ritish (7 years old) were kidnapped on Friday at Sathyamangalam Road by Mohan, who had once been their private van driver. Both Muskan and Ritish were on their way to school. The parents only came to know about the kidnap when their van driver turned up to the house and stated that he waited for a long ime but the children did not showup. Their parents Ranjith – a textile merchant and Sangeetha launched a complain at the nearest police station.

The kidnappers behind this crime have been traced and arrested. The police have registered a case against Mohan – the prime accused and Manoharan under section 363 – abduction, 376 – sexual abuse and 302 – murder.

Mr Sylendra Babu said that the two accused have confessed of assaulting the kids. They where made to climb the hill and pushed from there.

Mohan was produced to the Judicial Magistrate -I L.S. Sathyamoorthy, who remanded him to judicial custody till 12th November. Manoharan will be produced before the magistrate by tonight.

Students and a child get hurt in Tiruppur

A group of people, including students and a child, waiting at a bus stop in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district were injured when crude bombs kept in a gunny bag nearby exploded on Monday.



One-year-old Manoj Kumar, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to a hospital in Coimbatore. Those with minor injuries were taken to the local government hospital.



According to the police, the blast occurred at around 9 am when a tractor accidentally ran over the bag near Kozhumam bus stop near Udumelpet. Shops and vehicles parked nearby were also damaged.



The farmers in the region use such bombs to scare away and sometimes kill wild boars.



Inspector K Kanakaraj said it was not yet clear who kept the bag there. A case has been registered under the provisions of Explosives Act and the IPC, he added.

Online electricity payment in Coimbatore

Payment of electricity consumption charges will soon become easier for low tension (LT) consumers in this region, which covers Coimbatore, Tirupur and the Nilgiris districts.

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) will introduce measures that will help avoid the last minute rush at its collection counters from 13 to 15 of every month.

The board proposes to install “anytime payment machines” here.

TNEB Chief Engineer here A. Thangavelu told that it introduced online payment mode in Coimbatore in June.

The system had already been implemented in Chennai. Of the 17 lakh LT consumers in this region, 13,143 paid the consumption charges online during the last three months.

The number of users had increased in October.

The board had now proposed to increase the number of banks through which consumers could make the online payment. Currently, online payment was possible through internet banking, credit or debit cards, Mr. Thangavelu said.

The board would also install about 50 “anytime payment machines” in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts soon.

These were similar to the ATMs. Four machines were in use in Chennai. Consumers could make cash payment at any time of the day through this machine, he said.

Further, TNEB would introduce “30-day collection system” from November 1. Through this, consumers would be able to make the payment at the collection counters within 20 days of assessment.

Through these efforts, consumers need not wait for long hours at the collection counters, and payment could be made on any day of the month, he said.

Nuts 'n' Spices Grocey store in Coimbatore

Nuts 'n' Spices, the Chennai-based chain of grocery stores, is planing to launch its first store in Coimbatore post Diwali. This would be the company's first store outside Chennai, where it currently operates 15 stores.

Confirming the development to ImagesFood, Sunil Sanklecha, founder and managing director, Nuts ‘n' Spices, said, “The store will be spread over an area of 1,500 sq ft, with a merchandise mix of 4,000 SKUs.”

The product portfolio of Nuts 'n' Spices – founded in 1999 – includes a range of dry fruits, spices, tea, beverages, mouth fresheners, sugar-free products, imported food products, frozen foods and snacks.

Engineering student designs a computer operated car

An engineering student has designed an unmanned computer-operated miniature car that can be controlled through satellite signals through Internet-based computer networking.


VVV Karthi, the 21-year-old computer student who hails from Coimbatore said the operators could access the car through secured passwords.


"Basically the car operates with the help of satellite signals. The point to access the signals is controlled by a network. The network area is served through Internet so it is very easy to access the network of the car. The relevant detail of the car is received to a particular user that operates the signal," said Karthi.

Karthi also said the programme, which took a year to develop, cannot be hacked easily as it is designed to operate with a wireless mobile phone command.

The users would be given a secured password and identification number.

The operating command would be linked to a satellite through the Internet. After the password is verified the vehicle can be operated from any corner of the world.

If an attempt to hack the car is made it sends a message and alert signals to the user.

Karthi said the unmanned car had a number of user-friendly features.

"The unique feature of the car is that it can be operated from any part of the world and you just need a computer to operate it. No other system is needed. It only has a simple password, which could be logged in and can be easily operated. No driver in particular is required to run it," said Karthi.

This surveillance vehicle can be used in factories to carry goods and also to keep a watch on any activity from a distance.

It can also prove beneficial in security of temples and can be even used in search operations by the police force in dense forests or hilly areas.

The computer wizard plans to use the same technology for air surveillance by using the same technology in helicopters.

Coimbatore real estate continues to boom

Though the real-estate market in Coimbatore is set to see nearly twice the number of apartment units entering the housing segment in the city next year, the industry remains unfazed about it causing any glut or demand stagnation. The residents of Coimbatore are also likely to see the skylines of the city being dotted with (mini) skyscrapers as almost 10-12 apartment projects of 8-14 floors in each block are likely to come up in the city next year which, however, is not likely to cause any easing of rates due to factors such as the need for more open spaces and increased construction cost.

Mr Rajesh B. Lund, Vice-President of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) and Managing Director of Srivari Property Developers, Coimbatore, said the Coimbatore market annually absorbed about 2,000-3,000 units of two- and three-bedroom apartments. His expectation was that next year, 4,000-6,000 units would come into the market with majority of them catering to the ‘mid-segment' with up to 1,500 sq.ft in area and consisting of two- and three-bedrooms. The rates could be between Rs 2,700/sq.ft and Rs 4,000/sq.ft depending on the location but excluding prized areas such as Race Course, R. S. Puram and Saibaba Colony where the land price is much higher and space is scarce.

Coimbatore already has apartment complexes of up to 8-10 floors. But they will become more pronounced, thanks to the changes in the Development Control Rules (DCR) a few months ago and would come up chiefly off the arterial Avinashi road, Tiruchi road, Sathyamangalam road and Mettupalayam road. Most of the apartment complexes here would have 8-12 floors. The number of units would depend on the extent of land but builders would require a large area for such projects as they would require more open areas.

Mr Lund said his company had two projects on the drawing board — one in Vilankurichi having 10 floors, off Avinashi road, and the other on the Mettupalayam road having 12 floors. Mr Lund said the new DCR, which came into force in June this year, has allowed the builders to go for higher floors subject to certain norms, such as road width being more than 60 ft. This would allow for more open space and ‘breathing space' and more recreation area for the residents. In Coimbatore, a large number of apartment complexes are of G+3 floor type that cover nearly 60 per cent of the plot area.

But he ruled out cost of apartments in such skyscrapers coming down — citing factors such as higher construction cost due to the need to lay a stronger foundation, cost of conveying material, labour cost and the longer duration of construction that pushes up the financial cost of projects etc, apart from increasing land cost. While there may not be any price reduction due to higher floors being allowed, the builders may tweak the size of the apartments so that the overall purchase cost could be affordable. There were good contractors in the city capable of executing such large projects but the city has not yet reached the level of building genuine skyscrapers of 20 to 30 floors as in Mumbai.

He estimated that the high-rises being planned here would have an average built-up area of 50,000 sq.ft to 2 lakh sq.ft each and their USP was they would provide a better quality of life as living space would be more and at higher floors one may not need air-conditioners.

As done in Mumbai, would he charge extra for each higher floor beyond a level in his forthcoming project? Mr Lund said, “ideally we would like to charge (as in Mumbai) but we will address it at the time of bookings.”

No correction likely

Mr V.Mohan, Managing Director, Mayflower Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, who is also planning to enter this high-rise segment, said a lot of such projects are under approval in the city and next year would see many of them being launched. But as there are not many roads that are 60 ft wide, the places where these could come up would be fewer. He said the large number of launches next year is not expected to have an unsettling impact on the realty market. Any realtor, including a market biggie from Bangalore planning to enter the city, will phase out their execution and “definitely correction will not happen” since compared with land price the apartments are ‘realistically priced' in Coimbatore.

Mr V.Subramanian, Executive Director, Ramani Realtors Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, said the major advantage of Coimbatore was that even in prime areas such as R.S.Puram or Ram Nagar, flats could be bought for Rs 4,500-5,000 per sq.ft, a luxury not available in many other cities. What was of concern to the builders was the high cost of land. The demand was for flats in the Rs 35-Rs 50 lakh price band but as buyers in this segment are price-sensitive, developers have to tread cautiously.

Athikadavu – Avanashi scheme

The survey for preparation of Detailed Project Report will include some of the areas that were left out in the initial plan for undertaking the survey.

This was decided at a review meeting undertaken by the Union Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, A. Raja under instructions from the Chief Minister. The meeting was attended by Highways Minister Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan, the Principal Secretary to Government for Public Works Department and PWD officials at the Secretariat.

The scheme is aimed at utilising the two tmc.ft of surplus water during floods in Bhavani. The canal that starts from Pilloor ends at Achampalayam, near Annur. The scheme will benefit lakhs of people living in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts. It was felt that places such as Agraharasamakulam, Kondayampalayam, Ellapalayam, Telugupalayam, Devampalayam and Pachapalayam were left in the survey plan and now the officials have been asked to include these places as well.

The Minister exhorted the officials to make sure that the width of the canal was adequate enough to take more water since the scheme envisages tapping the water only during the floods.

The Public Works Department has assured to provide the report on completion of the survey by March 2011. The survey done so far has indicated that the project could be implemented at an outlay of Rs. 650 crore. On getting the report, the State with the assistance from the Union Government would undertake the implementation of the scheme.

Patni Campus recuritment in Coimbatore

Patni computers Ltd is visiting Karpagam university here on September 15 for a campus recruitment, which is open to students\alumni from all colleges.

Those interested should register with patniku@gmail.com by sending a mail.

The mail should furnish relevant details including the candidate's name, roll no, qualification, college name, percentage of marks obtained in Standard X and Plus-Two and graduation, mobile number and e-mail ID. Eligible candidates will get a response to their mail.

For details, contact 9750545093\8012959379.

TIDEL Park to be operational by year 2011

The Coimbatore Tidel Park that was inaugurated by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi here on August 2 is expected to become operational before next January.

Some companies have booked space at the park and a couple of large-scale companies are also expected to occupy space at the Tidel, according to an official here. The Government has reduced the rent from Rs. 30 a sq ft to Rs. 25 a sq ft and has also brought down the advance amount for rental to six months. The minimum area to be occupied by a company at the park is also flexible though the Government has fixed it at 5,000 sq ft, the official said.

The park is located in a 56-acre special economic zone and has a total built up area of 17 lakh sq ft.

Bharathiar University 2010 UG and PG results

Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, has declared the result of various undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes of School of Distance Education. The exams were conducted in May 2010. To know more about the results, candidates can visit the university's official website: http://www.b-u.ac.in/.

Bharathiar University, named after the famous Tamil poet Subramania Bharathiar, is an important center of higher education at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Educational jurisdiction of the University is spread over the districts of Coimbatore, Erode and the Nilgiris. It is located at the foothills of Maruthamalai, in a sprawling campus at a distance of a few kilometers from Coimbatore, on Maruthamalai Road. The University has been accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with A Grade.

Shops closed to protest land acquisition for airport

About 100 shopkeepers in Chinniyampalayam and Kalapatti downed shutters to air their protest against land acquisition for expansion of the city airport. The shopkeepers said their business would be hit due to expansion, as majority of the houses would be demolished and residents moved to other places. They demanded that the administration and Airports Authority shelve the project or find some alternative place, without disturbing the residents and also trade and business. The residents were already on agitational path and had stages protests by hoisting blackflag atop their houses, and organising day long fasts.

Coimbatore handset distributor appointed WORLDSIM distributor

The Coimbatore headquartered handset distributor, Hush10 Telecom private limited,has been appointed exclusive master distributor of WORLDSIM, a global roaming SIM card, manufactured by the UK Based Worldsim, a leading Mobile Virtual Network Operator.

The WORLDSIM card enabled customers to get free incoming calls in 80 countries and outgoing calls from over 200 countries at highly competitive rates,a Hush10 press release said. Customers could save on roaming charges by using this card while travelling across the world.However, the card would not work in India in keeping with directives of Telecommunications ministry, the release added. Joshna Chinnappa, national squsash champion, received the first simcard from Abu Thahir, Chairmen, Hush10, at a function here, marking the national launch of the card.

NTC sells off properties thru online auction

Online auction for the 2.39-acre Poddar Mills at Worli got off to a flying note on Thursday with bids soaring past the reserve price of Rs250 crore fixed by the National Textile Corporation (NTC). With eight bidders participating in the process over three days, the bids had touched Rs285 crore by Thursday night.

NTC is expected to make hefty profits through this bidding process so that the money can be used for the implementation of its revival scheme. NTC has drawn up a roadmap to generate Rs5,000 crore during the current financial year by selling its properties in the city and a few small properties in Indore, Kanpur, Bangalore and Coimbatore

AIADMK shows its strength in Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu‘s main opposition party, AIADMK held a mammoth public meeting in the industrial city of Coimbatore on Tuesday to protest
against price rise and "anti-people policies" of Centre and State Government.
It also used the opportunity to showcase its strength in the Kongu region, considered one of its traditional bastions. The region comprises of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Karur and Pollachi.

The protest meeting, which comes barely a fortnight after DMK government organised World Classical Tamil Conference, is being viewed in political circles a counter-show by AIADMK. In Coimbatore district alone the party has nine MLAs from 12 constituencies. IT has four Lok Sabha MPs from the Kongu region ( Tirupur, Karur,Pollachi and Salem). Its ally MDMK has an MP from Erode and CPM one from Coimbatore. The protest rally was also aimed at galvanising the party cadre for the upcoming assembly election next year.

Party general secretary, J Jayalalithaa led the stir highlighting issues like frequent increase in fuel prices, shortfall in agriculture production, high inflation, spiraling prices of essential commodities, severe power shortage, ill effects of online trading, rampant sale of fake and time expired medicines and deteriorating law and order situation in the State.

She also lashed out at DMK government’s populist schemes like Rs 1 per kg rice, free colour TV and health insurance scheme stating that "they were mainly devised to facilitate business opportunities for the family of the TN chief minister, M Karunanidhi." While being critical of the DMK government and its rule in the last four years, Ms Jayalalithaa urged the party cadres to kick start the election work and assured them that she would decide on forging an alliance reflecting their wishes.

"This is election year and let us take the pledge to start working towards bringing back MGR rule in the State," she told the huge gathering amidst thunderous applause. Like the Tamil conference extravaganza, the demonstration by AIADMK also brought the textile city to a standstill for a few hours in the afternoon. "Kongu region is our stronghold and with this mobilisation of huge crowd, we have proved that we are still the strongest party
here," AIADMK MLA Se Ma Velusamy told.

Busloads of people from across Tamil Nadu descended in Coimbatore to take part in the demonstration. In her long address, Ms Jayalalithaa listed out 54 points against the Centre and State government. According to intelligence sources the total assembled crowd inside the VOC stadium would be around two lakhs.

New trains to and from Coimbatore

Southern Railway as part of its new time table coming into effect from Thursday has announced the introduction of Chennai Central – Coimbatore AC Duronto Express and Coimbatore – Tirupati Intercity Express.

The date of introduction of these two new trains will be notified later.

Train Number 2243 Chennai – Coimbatore Duronto Express will leave Chennai Central at 6.50 a.m. and reach Coimbatore at 1.30 p.m. and in the return direction it will leave Coimbatore at 3.05 p.m. and reach Chennai at 9.50 p.m. There will be no commercial stoppages and the train will have one executive chair car, seven AC chair cars and two luggage-cum-brake vans. The date of introduction will be notified later.

Train Number 2758 tri-weekly Coimbatore – Tirupati Express will depart from Coimbatore at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and reach Tirupati at 1.30 p.m. and from Tirupati train number 2757 will depart on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays at 2.50 p.m. and reach Coimbatore at 10.40 p.m. The train will be operated via Salem, Katpadi and Pakala.

Train number 2653 will depart from Tiruchirapalli on Saturdays at 6 p.m. and reach Mangalore at 5.25 a.m. on Sunday with stoppages at Karur, Erode, Tirupur, Podanur, Palakkad, Shoranur, Kozhikode and Kannur. The train will have one AC two tier, two AC three tier, 11 sleeper class, two general second class and two luggage-cum-brake vans. In the return direction, train number 2654 will depart from Mangalore at 8.45 p.m. on Sunday and reach Tiruchirapalli at 8.15 a.m. on Monday. The date of introduction will be notified later.

Coimbatore – Pollachi passenger will be introduced after completion of gauge conversion.

Train number 604/604 will depart Coimbatore on all days except Sunday at 9.30 a.m. and reach Erode at 12 noon.

Coimbatore ready to host the first World Classical Tamil Conference

Coimbatore is all decked up to play host to the first the World Classical Tamil Conference beginning on Wednesday. The five day event is to be inaugurated by President Mrs Pratibha Devi Singh Patil. Thousands of Tamil scholars from across the world including, US, Switzerland, Finland, Singapore, Malaysia are participating in the conference. A R Rahman has scored music for the theme song of the conference which has lyrics by Chief minister M.Karunanidhi.

Southern Railway has announced special trains for the benefit of people intending to visit Coimbatore for the conference, while the state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions to enable students participate in the event.

Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Semmozhi Kalaivizha, the cultural show organised as part of the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore last evening.



Chief minister Mr M.Karunanidhi leaves for industrial city this morning and will visit the especially designed conference hall giving final touches for this mega event.

In a interview to AIR, Chief minister said that the conference assumes significance as it is being organised for the first time, after the language was accorded classical status. He invited people to gather in large numbers to make the five day event a grand success.

New Airport building to be opened

The newly-constructed Coimbatore Airport terminal building with state-of-the-art modern facilities will be opened on Monday noon. Airports Authority of India (AAI) Regional Executive Director D. Devaraj and Coimbatore Airport Director M.R. Vasudeva told The Hindu that the existing terminal building could handle 150 “arrival” passengers and 150 “departure” passengers.

Both Mr. Devaraj and Mr. Vasudeva said a building parallel to the existing one was constructed to cater to the increasing number of passengers.

The new building can at a time accommodate 350 passengers arriving at the airport and 350 departing from there. The new building will have all modern facilities - four lifts, four escalators and two aerobridges. Work on the aerobridges is expected to be over in six months.

With the expansion, the area of the building has been increased from 5,962 sq. m to 14,673 sq. m having separate domestic and international arrival halls. The new arrival hall has been constructed with three conveyor belts with a loop length of 60 m each as against the two with 13.5 m length functioning in the old building. There is space for a VIP room, customs office, duty free shop, banks etc. Presently, domestic and international passengers are handled through common security hold.

Soon, the existing departure lounge of the terminal building will be enlarged and modified. The AAI with the help of the state highways department has developed a four-lane approach road and two additional service roads.

Bharthiar University results declared !

The Bharthiar University of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has published the results of the examinations which were conducted in April - May 2010.

Candidates can check the results from the official website of the university. The link of the official website is www.b-u.ac.in

The University has published the results of the Under Graduate and Post Graduate Courses of MCA, B.Ed, MBA, and other UG & PG Exams. The direct link for checking the results is http://www.b-u.ac.in/results/index.html.

For more information candidates are requested to visit the aforementioned official website of the University.

The Bharthiar University of Coimbatore was established in February, 1982 by the Tamilnadu Government under the Bharathiar University Act, 1981 provision. The University attained its name from the renowned national poet Subramania Bharathi and the motto of the University is “Educate to Elevate”.

Monsoon setting over Siruvani catchment area

A cloud cover from the Western Ghats to the city and reports of rain at the neighbouring Palakkad District in Kerala are raising hopes of the South West Monsoon setting in over the Siruvani catchment.

A city desperate to have more drinking water is eagerly awaiting the setting in of the monsoon over the catchment in Palakkad.

The dam is also located in Kerala, just across its border with Coimbatore.

While the first four days of this month had a total of only 2 mm rain, the catchment recorded 17 mm and 27 mm on June 5 and 6, according to official sources in the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (Board).

The board and the Corporation breathe easy only when the monsoon brings heavy inflow to the dam because water supply to one half of the city hinges on the monsoon. Figures available with the Coimbatore Corporation point out that the catchment recorded 50 mm rain on June 7 and 34 mm on June 6 last year.

But, the water level in the dam is higher this year. The full reservoir level of the dam is a little more than 50 feet. The water level on June 7 last year was 6.56 ft and it is 13.51 ft this year.

Assistant Executive Engineer of the board S. Sampath Kumar says the signs at the dam are very re-assuring.

The monsoon may set in over the catchment in a couple of days.

Bhavani scheme

With the Bhavani Combined Water Supply Scheme set to begin supply in a week, the Corporation hopes that three million to four million litres a day (mld) of Siruvani water will be diverted to the city. At present, this quantity is supplied to Kavundampalayam Municipality, Vadavalli Town Panchayat and a few other local bodies nearby. Drinking water will be provided to these local bodies under the Bhavani Scheme.

At present, the supply of Siruvani water to the city is around 56 million litres a day as the water level has dipped to 13.51 ft.

The total drawal for the city and 14 wayside habitations is only 70 mld as against the 101 mld (with 87 mld for the city) that is supplied when the dam is full.

Air India crash at Mangalore Airport

About 160 passengers are feared dead as a Mangalore bound Air India Express flight overshot the Mangalore airport runway on Saturday at 6.30 am.


According to eyewitness account, the Boeing 737 flight, which is believed to be carrying 165 passengers including 4 infants burst into flames soon after it overshot the runway while landing at the airport.


The Mangalore-Dubai route is a heavy density route. The firefighters have reached the spot and efforts are on to rescue the survivors. It is also learnt that because of the hilly terrain, the firefighters could not reach the accident site immediately. Twenty-five ambulances have also been rushed to the spot.


Sources in Air India tell that the length of the runway is comparatively small.The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained but the weather factor cannot be ruled out.


"Around 160 people are feared dead in the crash. Only Six to seven might have survived," Home Minister of Karnataka, V S Acharya told.

New Air India flight between Coimbatore - Chennai

National air carrier Air India today said it would launch additional flights from six cities to tap summer passenger traffic, starting from
tomorrow.

Air India will also operate a direct flight between Chennai and Coimbatore four times a week from May 17, a press release issued here said.

The national airline would provide the additional air services between Delhi and Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Patna, the release said.

The airline had earlier said it plans to jack-up capacity by 10 per cent during the summer schedule.

Air India's summer schedule starts from March 28 and continues till middle of October.


The Chennai-Coimbatore flight will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the release said.

Campus recruitment at the KG Information Systems on May 15 and 16

Bangalore based Apponomic Systems, along with KG College of Arts and Science will conduct a campus recruitment at the KG Information Systems on May 15 and 16.

According to a release, those who have passed out in 2009 and will pass out in 2010 from the streams of Science, Computer Science, Electronics, Communication, Information Technology, Communication Technology, and BCA are eligible to attend.

They should have secured an aggregate of 60 per cent in Standard X, 57 per cent and above in Plus-Two and 60 per cent in graduation. Eligible candidates will undergo an aptitude and language test.

Those clearing these with 50 per cent marks will undergo a group discussion, technical evaluation and HR evaluation. The recruitment process will begin at 10 a.m.

For details, contact Karthik on 94435-50569 or e-mail at cro@kgisliim.ac.in.

Helicopter services in ooty soon!!!

Tourists to ooty have some new to cheer about. A private company has approached the district administration to operate helicopter services. The request is waiting to be cleared. This was announced by Khadi Board Minister K. Ramachandran, who was addressing the valedictory function of the two-day 9th Rose Show organised by the Department of Horticulture at the Centenary Rose Park here on Sunday.

Introducing new attractions like helicopter services is mostly likely to increase the number of tourists visiting ooty and also generate more revenues for the locals.

ELCOT SEZ - Coimbatore Layout Details

Shanthi Gears in restructuring mode

Promoters of Shanthi Gears, the city-based makers of industrial gear boxes are on a consolidation mode with the CMD P Subramanian acquiring the entire stake held by daughter S Sangeetha as a gift.

With this transaction, Mr Subramanian’s personal stake in the company would go up to 35.15% from 20.4%. The transaction would be completed on next Wednesday. This move is an attempt by the company, which is tackling a slowdown in orders and labour strife, to reassure its customers and shareholders.

As the entire 14.75% stake (about 1.2 crore shares) held by Ms Sangeetha is being taken as gift, it would not attract long-term capital gains tax. In all, the promoters have 44.7% stake in the company.

Incidentally, Ms Sangeetha, the second largest shareholder among the promoters in Shanthi Gears, was also involved in the company’s operations. But now, Mr Subramanian has taken complete charge of the company.

The Rs 253-crore Shanthi Gears was reportedly in talks with Belgium-based Hansen Transmissions for a stake sale in 2008. But it didn’t go through.

The company, which had six units in Coimbatore has also restructured operations and has production only in three locations now.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train is the highlight of a visit to the hill settlement of Ooty, in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. Established in the early 19th century by the British as the summer headquarters of the Chennai government, Ooty is now a soothing place for visitors to escape the summer heat. The historic railway line was completed in 1899, 45 years after the first plans were drawn up.



Nilgiri Mountain Railway Train Route:
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is located in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Metupalaiyam to Udagamandalam (Ooty), via Coonoor, in the Nilgiri Hills. The track is 46 kilometers (28.5 miles) long, and passes over 26 viaducts, and through 16 tunnels and tall girder bridges. This railway is particularly picturesque because of the surrounding rocky terrain, tea plantations, and forested hills. Coonoor, with its world famous teas, is a tourist destination in itself.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway Train Services:
One toy train operates along the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Metupalaiyam to Ooty. The engine is an 'X' Class steam locomotive, made in Switzerland. It pulls quaint blue and cream wooden carriages with large windows. The engine is commonly changed for a diesel powered one at Coonoor, to provide greater traction for the steep climb up to Ooty.

Both first class and second class seating are offered on the toy train, and it's worth buying a first class ticket to have a more peaceful journey away from the crowds.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway Train Timetable:
There's only one toy train departure daily. It leaves Metupalaiyam at 7.10 a.m, and arrives in Ooty at noon. Coming back, the train leaves Ooty at 3 p.m. and reaches Metupalaiyam at 6.35 p.m. The train is scheduled to connect to the Nilgiri Express, which travels from Chennai to Metupalaiyam.


An additional toy train service does run during the peak summer tourist season in April and May. It usually starts from Metupalaiyam at 9.30 a.m. More frequent train services also run from Coonoor to Ooty.

The area receives rain from both the south-west and north-east monsoons, and this sometimes disrupts train services.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway Cost:
The train fare is 24 rupees (50 cents) in second class and 142 rupees ($3.00) in first class, one way.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway Reservations:
Reservations for travel on the toy train to Ooty can be made at Indian Railways computerized reservation counters, or on the Indian Railways website. It's advisable to book as early as possible, particularly during peak season, as the train fills up weeks in advance.

Here's how to make a reservation on the Indian Railways website. The station code for Metupalaiyam is MTP, and Udagamandalam (Ooty)

Grand Luxe Hotels project in Coimbatore

Chennai-based ETL Infrastructure Services plans to invest Rs 800 crore in its hospitality business over the next three years. The firm that entered the hospitality business in 2007, has rechri­stened its ET Hospitality Se­rvices as Grand Luxe Hotels.

Grand Luxe Hotels will construct eight hotels in th­ree years in Tamil Nadu, Ka­rnataka and Kerala. Two of these, a luxury hotel in Pud­ukottai and a business class hotel in Coimbatore, will be opened in September.

The company is renovating a 160-year-old palace in Pudukottai into a 34-room hotel at an investment of Rs 40 crore. The 120-room Coi­mbatore hotel is a seven lakh sq ft property which will also house a multiplex and a ma­ll. The investment on this hotel is Rs 90 crore, S Thiagarajan, CEO of Grand Luxe Hotels, said. The Coimbatore hotel is also the company’s first ‘Signature’ business class property.

ETL has been in the industrial infrastructure space since 2004 and the company has an equity component of around Rs 600 crore. It has four million sq ft built-up area under operations as IT and textile special economic zones.

“We have bought a total of 100 acres in six sites in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka for the new hotels which we will complete in three years. Of the six prope­rties, two will be 'Signature' business class ones and rest, palace hotels,” Thiagarajan said.

“ETL will fund the investment on the hotels from internal accruals as well as debt in a 1:1 ratio,” he said. Talking about the rebranding of the hospitality division, he said, “It is part of our effort to reposition the brand in terms of the gra­ndeur and spacious luxury that palace hotels stand for.”

Software exports from Tamil Nadu are expected to cross Rs 40,000 crore

Software exports from Tamil Nadu are expected to cross Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion) in 2009-10, Tamil Nadu Information Technology Minister Poongodhai informed the assembly.

The software exports in 2008-09 stood at Rs 36,680 crore (Rs 366.80 billion), she said. She said 69 new software companies had commenced their operations last year. According to a study, the growth of IT sector would be around 14 per cent and around $67 billion is expected to be invested in the country.

Taking into consideration this growth, the Tamil Nadu government would invest close to Rs 675 crore (Rs 6.75 billion) for setting up Information Technology Parks in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Salem and Hosur, she said.

The state government has modified the rules of providing space for IT companies, which hitherto was applicable only for those companies having a turnover of Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million).

Now even companies having Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) of turnover can invest in IT parks. A 'Information Security Policy' would soon be introduced to safeguard government websites, she said.

Software engineer from Coimbatore found infected by H1N1

A new case of H1N1 influenza occurred in Coimbatore where an eight month old pregnant woman was tested positive for H1N1 virus.

Health department sources discovered that, the 29-year old woman, working in a Multi-national Company in Bangalore was being treated at a private clinic.

Sources said that this woman had gone to a place nearby Pollachi to meet her parents, where she caught swine flu and has now been admitted to a hospital few days ago. She visited her parent's house on April 24 and confirmed swine flu on April 30, tests have been conducted to find whether her husband had some similar symptoms or not. It has been proved that her parents are not affected by swine flu.

Sources said that Tami Flu tablets are given to this woman to improve her condition.

After 3 months, Coimbatore witnessed swine flu and now authorities have become more cautious to prevent the spread of any disease in view of the World Tamil Classical conference, scheduled from June 23.

It's time to learn about Kotagiri

“Considering the fact the inflow of tourists to Ooty through Kotagiri has increased considerably in the last few years it is time the authorities concerned paid a little more attention to tapping the tourism potential of Kotagiri.”

This view has over the years gained ground not only among the residents but also many tourists. Underscoring the need to enhance awareness among the visitors about the places of interest in and around Kotagiri which was the oldest and third largest hill station in the Nilgiris, they pointed out that the Kodanad view point which was about 18 km from the town was one of the most enchanting spots in this part of the country. Among the other scenic and interesting places were the Catherine falls,Elk Falls and the Longwood Shola.

Climate

Not many are aware that Kotagiri has an edge over Ooty vis a vis climate and for long it has enjoyed a reputation of being a ‘pleasant hill station ideal for those who love a quiet life.'

Activities which go with the ethos of the place should be organised. Efforts should also be made to showcase the culture of local communities like the Badagas and Kotas.

Ooty Vegetable show 2010 - May 29 and 30.

From being just an open space in the middle of the town which was used and abused for many years, the Nehru Park in Kotagiri moved on to become a beautiful garden a few years ago and since 2008 it has been an ideal venue for a major vegetable show.

The 3rd Vegetable Show would be conducted on May 29 and 30, the Assistant Director of Horticulture N.Mani, told The Hindu that elaborate arrangements are underway for the event which has come to be acknowledged as the biggest annual tourist attraction.

Enthusiasm

With the enthusiasm being displayed by the local community in organising the show increasing every year the 2010 show will bid fair to be more spectacular than the earlier ones.

Stating that it will feature tribal programmes, he said that this year importance would be given to the food processing industry.

Notwithstanding inadequate rains the Park is wearing an attractive look with flowers like Inca Marigold, French Marigold, Zinia, Dwarf Salvia and Dwarf Dahlias in full bloom.

A major attraction are Alyssum flowers in rose beds.

To a question that was put to him, he said that the flowers will remain in full bloom till the season concludes.

Visitors

While the number of visitors was now between 400 and 500 on week days during week ends it went up by 100 to 200.

This is an index of the popularity of the show.

Even as arrangements are apace for the vegetable show an opinion gathering ground in Kotagiri is that if the Park which extends over about two acres is handed over to the Department of Horticulture more development works can be taken up.

At present, the park is controlled by the Kotagiri Panchayat and maintained by the Horticulture department, officials said.

TCS - Campus placement at Sri Krishna Arts and Science College

Tata Consultancy Services will be at Sri Krishna Arts and Science College, Sugunapuram, Kuniamuthur, on May 4 and 5 for recruitment.

A release from the college says students who have passed out in 2009, or are in final year and have secured 60 per cent in Class X and Plus Two are eligible.

They must not have had a break of more than two years in their studies.

And, only registered candidates are eligible to attend, it added.

Eligible students of B.Sc. (Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Technology, Electronics, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Bioinformatics and Mathematics), BCA and BCS are requested to their names at www.careers.tcs.com.

Further details can be had at 97901 32204.

Two more clusters for Coimbatore

The Union Government has identified two more sectors here for its cluster development programme.

According to the General Manager of the District Industries Centre, V. Ramasubbu, Coimbatore had two successful clusters – the Coimbatore Industrial Infrastructure Association (foundries, pumpsets and engineering sectors) and the wetgrinder cluster.

Electroplating

Gem and jewellery and electroplating are the other two clusters identified now for assistance under the Micro and Small Cluster Development Programme.

Meetings would be held with the respective associations and a detailed project report and diagnostic study would be conducted.

Guidelines

The guidelines for the programme are available online. More industrial sectors interested in such projects could also come forward, he said.

Karunya University Entrance exams 2010 results

Karunya University, Coimbatore, will publish the results of Karunya Entrance Exam 2010, also known as KEE, at 9:00 pm today i.e. on May 1, 2010. The results will be made available online in the official website of the university. Candidates are requested to download the KEE 2010 result from the website: www.karunya.edu

Karunya University located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, conducted in KEE 2010 on April 24, 2010. It is an entrance test conducted for admission into various disciplines of B Tech (Bachelor of Technology) programme, offered in the ensuing session 2010.

Karunya University offers B Tech in the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electronics & Media Technology. For any further queries one can log in the aforementioned official website of the university.

Karunya University
Contact Details:
Karunya University,
Karunya Nagar,
Coimbatore - 641 114
Tamil Nadu
info@karunya.edu
www.karunya.edu

Spheris sold to CBay for $116 mn

CBay Holdings, a global medical transcription (MT) company, completed the acquisition of another MT company Spheris for $116.3 million
last Friday. The deal would boost CBay’s revenue by $500 million this year.

In the two-phased acquisition, CBay’s subsidiary MedQuist acquired the North American assets of Spheris while CBay bought out the entire stock of Spheris India. Spheris had earlier filed for bankruptcy protection in the US court.

The deal size was originally pegged to be around $75 million when they entered into a stalking horse agreement in February 2010. But, CBay Holdings had to raise the bid amount to $116.3 million.

“With the acquisition of Spheris, our revenues are expected to touch $500 million this year,” CBay Holdings’ VC & CEO Raman Kumar said.

Love for OOTY

Long back, his dad (actor) Mithun Chakraborty fell in love with the hill station when he had come to shoot there. Mithun found a brilliant way to combine business and pleasure — he built his own resort at Ooty and started staying there for 12 months a year.




Actor Mithun Chakraborty's son Mimoh on why he loves the hill station that he calls 'home'.

So, it is but natural that Mithun’s love for the place was passed on to his son Mimoh who also shares the same passion and love for Ooty. Here are Mimoh’s reasons why he loves the verdant hill station...

The weather: It is always cool in Ooty and you will always feel a little bit of a chill under your skin as the place is nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. So, for all those people who miss snuggling under the blanket in this hot Mumbai weather, it is an ideal place to head this summer.

The view of the mountains: From Ooty you can see many beautiful mountain landscapes, which is a rare site to see. The mountains in Ooty offer a picturesque postcard view that makes you feel a sense of peace.

Clean air: One of the most important points is that the air here is crystal-clean and unlike other high-altitude areas, the air is very rich in oxygen. There are fewer cars plying on the roads of the hill station which means that the level of pollution is kept to a bare minimum.

Less people: If you are tired of the dhakkas in a crowded local train and the busy footpaths, welcome to Ooty where there are not too many human beings around, only mountains, springs and waterfalls will greet you with their noises. The local inhabitants are very few compared to the tourists. Well, the whole town of Ooty shuts down completely after 8pm and you will hardly see anyone out after that.

Great place To unwind: Ooty is one of the best stress-busters because of its nature — which is always sure to lift your mood. There is nothing much to do in Ooty except for sightseeing, so it’s like a much- deserved break from your office or that hectic holiday where you are supposed to do a lot of things immediately after arrival.

Home-made chocolates: The yummy chocolates that are here as part of a mini cottage industry are out of this world!

Botanical gardens: This is one of the must-visit places in Ooty. The famous gardens are a hot tourist spot. They are beautifully maintained. and have been used as a backdrop for many Bollywood films.

Lake rides: The peaceful lake rides are a treat for the senses.

Schools: Some of the best schools in India are found in Ooty. Well, if you haven’t heard about it, then try visiting them. The picturesque campuses will leave you stunned.

Food and stay: Since Ooty is a popular tourist spot, the hotels are grand and luxurious. The local language is Tamil and the local food of course is Madrasi cuisine. Want to try some Bisi Bele Bbhaat or Gun Powder Dosa?

Yuva Bharathi Public School student to attempt Guinness World record

Guinness World Record attempt for the “longest drawing by an individual” will be undertaken by C.S. Bala Soundarya Lakshmi here on May 3.

This 14-year-old student from Yuva Bharathi Public School, Coimbatore, will make the attempt for becoming the world's first individual to create a world record in the longest drawing criteria.

Ms. Lakshmi will begin her attempt on May 3 at 6 a.m. at Sri Sowdambikai Amman Thirumana Mandapam, AKS Nagar Main Road, Gandhipark.

She expects to complete her drawing at 5 p.m. on May 5.

The drawing attempt is also to enter the Limca Book of Records.

Coimbatore Corporation initiatives to improve City infrastructure

The Coimbatore Corporation is set to take up a number of works such as the construction of median and improving visibility and safety at traffic junctions across the city, as part of the infrastructure development works being done in view of the World Classical Tamil Conference in June this year.

Some of the main thoroughfares are to be provided with medians that will have ornamental plants. Mettupalayam Road and Tiruchi Road are some of the major roads to have medians.

Mettupalayam Road will have a median from Flower Bazaar to Kavundampalayam (a municipality on the northern border of the Corporation). The median on Tiruchi Road will be constructed in two phases. One will be built from Sanganur Canal to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. The other will be constructed from the Coimbatore Stock Exchange to the flyover at Ondipudur.

The Corporation has also drawn up a Rs. 75 lakh project for a median on Rangavilas Mill Road – from Avanashi Road to Anna Nagar.

Mettupalayam Road, which had been a source of frustration for the public for sometime because of its condition, will get a fresh look. The Corporation's new bus stand for Udhagamandalam-bound buses is nearing completion on this road.

While the road belongs to the National Highways Authority of India, the Corporation plans to improve the points where its roads meet the thoroughfare. This will be done from the Flower Bazaar to Kavundampalayam.

Footpath will be laid on either side of the road and storm water drains will be provided wherever necessary. Roadside parks will be built under the public-private partnership arrangement. The Corporation is into the process of inviting expression of interest from private parties to create the parks, install lights and maintain these areas for three years. The Corporation told its Council recently that the maintenance period could be extended by three years, if necessary.

The Corporation has also identified private parties for creating parks along the footpath on Avanashi Road, under the public-private partnership initiative.

MSMEs evince interest in overseas opportunities

About two dozen micro, small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (MSMEs) here will visit Malaysia soon to explore business opportunities.

Founder of Entrepreneurs Club-Coimbatore (E-Club) N.S. Kumar told The Hindu that two delegates from Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia visited Coimbatore last week. They invited entrepreneurs here to visit Malaysia and study the investment and business opportunities. About 16 per cent of the population in Negeri Sembilan was Tamils.

Some multinational companies had invested in Negeri Sembilan. Business premises were available for rent or for purchase.

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport was just 45 minutes away and port facilities were also available.


Opportunities

Following a meeting of the delegates with the members of the E-Club here, several manufacturers had evinced interest in exploring opportunities in Malaysia, he said. The entrepreneurs would be able to get 75 per cent of the travelling expenses from the Government.

Some banks here had also evinced interest in units that were willing to invest in Malaysia.

Hence, the E-Club has proposed to take a delegation to Negeri Sembilan soon.

Coimbatore TIDEL Park Location Map

State Bank Of India goes Green

The biggest bank of the country has become the first bank in the country to venture into generation of Green Power by installing windmills for their captive use, as part of its ongoing Green Banking initiative, said a State Bank release on Friday.



The State Bank has installed 10 windmills with an aggregate capacity of 15MW in the States of Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Power generated by these windmills will be wheeled to various HT consumption points of the bank spread across these States.

O.P.Bhatt, Chairman of the Bank on Friday inaugurated the windmills at Panapatti site, Vadaputtur village, Pollachi Taluka, Coimbatore District.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhatt said that "Amongst the players in the Financial Services Sector, State Bank has taken the initiative to be in the forefront in initiating steps for combating climate change and reducing our carbon footprints and we propose to take the initiative forward for which this beginning has been made in acquiring Green Power, with a view to making the Bank as nearly energy neutral as possible over the next five years".

He further said: "Windmills are set up with a definite objective of reducing the dependence on the polluting thermal power and not on purely economic and business considerations".

The project has been brought to fruition in a record period of four months from the time of its conception by Suzlon Energy Limited, who won in the open bid for the project.

"Bank is planning to set up an additional 20 MW capacity of windmills in the State of Gujarat, once clarification about the feasibility of wheeling of power even to our LT consumption points is received from the Gujarat Energy Development Authority," said Bhatt.

This project directly results in reducing the carbon foot print of the Bank and paves the way for others to follow.


--IBNS

Air India clarifies for diverting Delhi-Coimbatore flight

Air India on Friday said a Delhi-Coimbatore flight was chartered to ferry Indian Premier League (IPL) players and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel's daughter Poorna for commercial reasons.



"It was absolutely a commercial decision. Chartered flights make a lot of money for the airline. We keep combining flights according to our operational demand. The IPL anyway has been our customer ever since it began," Arvind Jadhav, chairman and managing director of the airline, said in a statement.

He was reacting to a media report that said the minister's daughter, who works for IPL, had the Delhi-Coimbatore Air India flight IC 7603 April 20 aborted less than 12 hours before departure to allow the aircraft to be deployed to ferry her and some IPL players from Chandigarh to Chennai.

But a directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) official said that airlines could provide chartered service only if a particular aircraft was not being used for a scheduled service.

"Diverting a scheduled passenger flight for charter operation is not permitted," the official said.

Pizza shops in Coimbatore

Pizza Hut

Phone: Home(0422) 4393839 , Home(0422) 39883988
Address: 356, Silver Montt Building, Ground Floor, DB Road, Rathinasabapathy Puram, Coimbatore- 641002
Landmark: Opposite Kennedy Theatre


Dominos Pizza

Phone: Home(0422) 2578333 , Home(0422) 2578334
Address: 1391, Avinash Road, Peelamedu, Coimbatore- 641004
Landmark: Near Hotel Aryas



Chill & Chilly

Phone: Home(0422) 2477399
Address: 318, DB Road, Rathinasabapathy Puram, Coimbatore- 641002
Landmark: Near ING Vysys Bank


Dominos Pizza India Limited

Phone: Home(0422) 2380444 , Home(0422) 2380724
Address: 27&28, Nehru Stadium, Gopala Puram, Coimbatore- 641018
Landmark: Opposite VOC Park

Jet Konnect flight to provide meals

Naresh Goyal-owned private airline Jet Airways is understood to be considering providing meals on its all economy service Jet Konnect.

The airline is also likely to convert a few front seats to business class in Jet Konnect, sources said. "We are considering providing meals on Jet Konnect flight as well as converting a few front seats to business class," a source close to the development told PTI.

Jet Airways had launched an all economy, no frills service Jet Konnect in May last year. Jet Konnect mainly operates flights to Ahmedabad , Amritsar , Bengaluru , Bhavnagar, Bhopal, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi , Hyderabad, Jaipur , Jodhpur , Kochi, Madurai , Mangalore, Mumbai , Pune, Udaipur and Vadodara.

Air Arabia summer offer to UAE

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, on Monday announced the launch of a special promotion aimed at bringing families and friends closer to their loved ones living in the UAE.



The VFR package (VFR - Visiting Friends and Relatives) includes a return air ticket and visa for Rs 13,650 from across the airline's 13 destinations in India to the UAE, said a company release.

The promotion includes a simplified VISA process that is valid for 30 days from the date of entry, subject to approval from the General Directorate of Naturalization and Residence. This offer is inclusive of surcharges and exclusive of airport taxes and is valid across the airline's 13 destinations in the country till 15th June 2010.

The low fares come with the additional benefit of free hand and checked baggage allowance.

"At Air Arabia, we have always laid emphasis on making travel as simple as possible. This package, which includes a visa to the UAE, has been especially designed to make it even easier for our passengers to travel and connect with their loved ones in the summer holidays." said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia.

Air Arabia flies directly from its hub in Sharjah to Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Thiruvanathapuram, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Delhi and Goa.

Narain Karthikeyan felicitated by Young Indians

Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan was felicitated here on Tuesday by Young Indians, a group created by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to offer a platform to young Indians, for having received the coveted Padma Shri award.


On this occasion, Karthikeyan said: "This year is pretty busy. There are 25 races across the world, mainly Europe and America. I am really happy to be living my dream. I am living my dream, for sure," said Karthikeyan.

"Without the help of my families, my sponsors, especially the Tata group, Bharat Petroleum, Amaron and others, and recently MRF, this journey would have been impossible. It would have been impossible for me to be where I am today," he added.

Karthikeyan said he was positive and looks forward to grab a chance to race in the Indian Grand Prix that is to be held in 2011.

Karthikeyan, who was recently honoured with the fourth highest civilian award of India, thanked the Central Government for such an honour and for giving recognition to motor sports in India.

The Formula One driver Karthikeyan, further said, that his ambitions have not gone down.

"I worked very hard to get up to this point. I would definitely like one more crack at Formula One 2011 being an inaugural ground in India. It would be really nice if I get to drive," said Karthikeyan.

At the event, he released the logo of Young Indians and also gave away awards to some young industrialists.


--ANI

Greatness of Coimbatore Krishnarao Prahalad

Noted management guru Coimbatore Krishnarao Prahalad who died in San Diego after a brief illness late Friday, was among the best known global thinkers on the subject and author of several bestsellers.

Forever a believer that India will grow into an economic power that the world will go on to eventually admire, Prahalad's vision on these lines were reflected in his best-seller "The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profit".

A member of India's National Council on Skill Development, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Prahalad was conferred the Padma Bhushan and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman last year for his accomplishments - among the numerous other global honours.

A die-hard capitalist, his theories form the genesis and practices of many global corporations, including several in India. He himself had started his career in the corporate world with Union Carbide, before moving on to academics.

What appeased him to Indian policymakers, civil society, think tanks and the corporate houses was his vision for his country of birth.

"In today's changed global scenario, where established institutions are in disrepair, there is an excellent opportunity for India to shape the new world order," he said in a recent lecture in New Delhi.

"But for that we need to innovate, address issues such as poverty, income inequality and corruption," he said.

Several of his admirers held that should there have been a Nobel prize for management and public administration, Prahalad would have be a sure winner.

"A brilliant teacher at the University of Michigan, he may well be the most influential thinker on business strategy," Business Week magazine said in an article on him.

In fact, the company he founded was mainly based on his vision and road ahead towards people's empowerment. It was named Praja Inc - which in Sanskrit translates into a kingdom's subjects, common people or citizens.

"CK was one of the foremost lateral thinkers of our times," said ICICI Bank chairman K.V. Kamath, who was instrumental in roping in Prahalad for outlining India's vision for skills development.

"He had this uncanny knack of looking into the future as far as business and life around us was concerned," Kamath added.

After a degree in Physics from the University of Madras, Prahalad went on to get a master's from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and then went to Havard for doctoral degree in business administration.

He then taught at his alma mater at Ahmedabad and then went to the US as the Paul and Ruth McCracken Distinguished University Professor of Strategy at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.

He has also consulted with a host of global companies as AT&T, Cargill, Citicorp, Kodak, Oracle, Philips, Quantum, Revlon, Steelcase and Unilever and served on the boards several others.

Yet, teaching remained his main passion for this revered guru who was born to a family of nine children. He is survived by his wife Gayatri and two children - Murali Krishna and Deepa.

Sale Event at Coimbatore

“We clothes and things” announces a sale. Apart from discounts on apparels and footwear there will be a 25 per cent discount on sarees. The sale is on till April 24. For details call: 0422- 4200919

Date: April 17 to 24

Venue: 79/2 KC Arcade, TV Samy Road (East)

R S Puram

Summer Computer classes at PSG Polytechnic College

The Continuing Education Cell of PSG Polytechnic College is conducting summer computer classes.

According to a release, the classes include C Programming, summer computer camp for kids, Plus-One computer science, Plus-Two computer science, MS Office and Internet, CNC Programming and Maintenance, Linux Administration, PLC Programming, computer maintenance and repairs, and computer networking for beginners.

Certificates for the above programmes will be issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

For details, contact 0422-2595425.

Franklin Electric plans for Coimbatore

Franklin Electric, the U.S.-based manufacturer of submersible motors and water and fuel pumps, is studying the capabilities and capacities in Coimbatore for business cooperation.

The company's consultant for India, Anil Keswani, said Franklin was in its inception stage in India. It was in the process of formally launching its Indian operations.

It proposed to market its products in India. India was a growing economy and there would be an ongoing need for effective use of water. The market was ready for new technologies in this sector, he said. The company was studying the potential of each market segment, including domestic, agricultural and industrial pumps and motors in the country.

Franklin was also looking out for sourcing opportunities and local partners. It made a presentation at the recently-held Techno4 exhibition here.

Green Garden Centre for Handwriting, Coimbatore.

Making plans for your summer holidays? How about giving a couple of hours to improving handwriting?

It is necessary to improve handwriting because a good one makes a positive impression, says K. Chellappan, handwriting trainer and consultant, Green Garden Centre for Handwriting, Coimbatore.

The centre will conduct summer camp, which will go on till May 27. Students of Stds. I and II will undergo the course for a month; those from Stds. III to V will have it for 25 days and those in Std. VI and above will attend lessons for 20 days.

“Students will be taught the right way to hold a pen, place the paper, correct posture to write, etc. This is because good writing depends on factors like pen pressure, pen angle, pen hold, notebook/paper position, sitting posture, choice of pen, ink, size of letter, spacing between letters, words, lines, etc,” he says.

Coordinator Ranganayaki says students can attend sessions according to convenience. The Centre also conducts regular and weekend classes. “Students enrol following suggestions from parents or teachers,” Mr. Chellappan says and adds that some schools also partner with his centre to make it part of co-curricular activity.

M. Sujitha, mother of M. Pragadeesh, who underwent the course, says her son's handwriting is now neat, legible and attractive.

Details about the course can be had from Green Garden Centre for Handwriting, 216, Thadagam Road, Opp. Avila Convent, Venkitapuram, Coimbatore 641 025 or 0422-2442332.

ISHA Foundation's seven day programme

Sadhguru's Coimbatore-based ISHA Foundation will organise a seven-day programme on ISHA Yoga the peak of well-being' for the first time in Hindi between May 12 and 18. The programme will have two sessions of three-hours each at Shri Rajput Sabha Bhavan, C-22-AB Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme.

Swami Rijuda, trained yoga teacher and volunteer with the foundation, highlighted the importance of the Inner Engineering (yoga)' in life. He said yoga can cure seasonal diseases and bring relief to people. Yoga has a solution to all mental and physical problems especially the ancient Shambhavi Mahamudra which incorporates different breathing patterns and recitation of verses. This refreshes the body and soul, he said.

"The participants develop a stress-free life and a good relationship at work, home, community and with one's self. Along with enhanced productivity, creativity and efficiency, yoga can cure chronic diseases like asthma, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, back pain, obesity etc," added Swami.

A newly-elected sarpanch, Chavi Rajawat, in a press conference, shared her experience with ISHA Foundation. Rajawat said, "In Rajasthan, women, specially in the rural areas, have to do a lot of physical labour. This, coupled with harsh weather conditions, make them vulnerable. They fall prey to various diseases."

Attending a workshop on Inner Engineering' has drastically changed my life and I am sure it can do so to all those rural women who work very hard to make both ends meet. The workshop can change one's negativity into positive energies.

Siruvani Dam level expected to rise

Strong westerly winds at the Siruvani Dam and the catchment are providing signs of summer showers eagerly hoped for by a substantial portion of the city and the suburbs that are dependent on the Siruvani scheme for drinking water.

March – the normal summer showers time – was a disappointer, according to official sources. An official dealing with Siruvani supply said at least 50 mm rain was the normal quota for the dam in March. Leave alone the westerly winds, there was not even a stiff breeze during that month, he said.

But, April seemed to turn things around. Gusty winds uprooted a tree on the road to the dam in the Siruvani hills and there was a drizzle at the dam last Friday. The situation, however, had not improved on Monday. But, the signs of rain persisted.

The summer showers that normally arrived in Kerala (where the dam is located) in the second half of March never increased the water level substantially. It reduced the water level depletion for a few days, the official said.

The water level on Friday was around 28 ft, as against the full reservoir level of 51 ft. It was five feet more than the level during the corresponding period last year. But, on Monday, the level had dipped by another foot.

While there was a struggle for Siruvani water in the suburbs, the city is not facing any major problem because of the supply from the Siruvani and Pilloor dams. The sources said that on any given day, the city got 130 million litres a day. It now got 70 million litres from Siruvani Dam and at least 60 million litres from the Pilloor Dam. This would be enough to supply 110 litres per capita per day to a population of about 12 lakh.

Paramount Airways in trouble - may shutdown

The regulator has started what is called a requirement review of Paramount, said a DGCA official who didn’t want to be named. “There is a requirement deficiency for a national airline status. We have asked them to explain it in a couple of days,” the official said.


Rules mandate that a national license holder have a fleet of at least five aircraft. Three of the airline’s fleet of five Embraers have been pulled from service over payment disputes with GE Commercial Aviation Services Llc and one because of engineering issues. Paramount also has a payment dispute with ECC Leasing Co. Ltd from which it had taken two planes on lease.

A single aircraft makes travel difficult for passengers, said another DGCA official who too did not want to be named. Airlines typically keep one aircraft as a backup in case of an emergency or engineering-related issues.

“Either they have to do bring the (new) aircraft or close the shop. The requirement is very clear,” this official said.

A Paramount spokesman declined to comment on the matter.

The airline will have to lease new aircraft as it is yet to firm up a memorandum (MoU) of understanding to buy 10 A321 passenger jets from Airbus SAS at the Paris Airshow in June 2009. Airbus executive vice-president of sales and marketing Kiran Rao told Mint last month at the Hyderabad Airshow that the MoU is yet to be converted into an order.

In the past, the Wadia-group owned low-cost airline GoAir was granted an exception by the civil aviation ministry and allowed to continue operations despite falling short of the minimum requirement of five aircraft. The airline now has an eight-aircraft fleet.

‘Sinking’ building being demolished in Coimbatore

The ‘sinking’ under construction building in the city, is being demolished by the Slum Clearance Board, the Board sources said.

The building, housing 48 flats, in Ammankulam, started sinking and slanted more than 10 degrees from Friday last, causing panic in the area. The flats were meant to be distributed among those, who were evacuated from slums which situated on the banks of various water bodies.

Considering the security, the board started demolishing the building, being constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, on Tuesday.

The cost of the building was around Rs.2.49 crore, the sources said.

Meanwhile, an expert team started digging the earth to find the condition of the soil and also reason for sinking, they said.

Works of other buildings under the same scheme, having nearly 900 houses, in the area, have been stopped for security reason and would resume only after the soil test report, they said.

Coimbatore needs to improve it's IT eco system

Coimbatore, which is yet to see the anticipated growth in the Information Technology sector, needs a host of initiatives to improve the IT eco system here.

The city currently has just a handful of large-scale IT players. Though the existing companies are expanding rapidly, as they grow they face problems related to catering, transport, entertainment, etc. And, new companies that want to start operations in Coimbatore are seeking better facilities.

Software companies focus on their core business and hence outsource most of their other needs. The options in the areas of associated and house keeping services, which include laundry, transport and providing business lunch, are limited here. For the middle-level managers in IT companies, mobility is important. Hence, they need more schools with CBSE syllabus for their children, says the former chairman of the Coimbatore chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry K. Thangaraj. The IT infrastructure here is improving. But, the growth of many of these services depends on demand. The service provider looks for a critical mass to launch or scale up and the critical mass is expected to come with the Tidel Park, adds Mr. Thangaraj.

KG Information System's Vice-President for Corporate Relations Jayamurali Balagurusamy says the Government should improve the basic infrastructure related to power, water and public transport. Some of the services are expensive compared to those in Chennai and Bangalore.

Soft skills of students should be developed at schools itself to increase their employability. “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to give the best to the city,” Mr. Balagurusamy says.

“When an IT or IT Enabled Services company looks at tier-two cities, Coimbatore is thought of. The city has visibility. What turns down people here is mainly the cost,” according to the chairman of the Rathinam Group Madan A. Sendhil.

Coimbatore should start attracting the next level of IT and ITES companies. It should also develop local leaders in the sector as on the manufacturing front. The city should start focusing on the peripheral areas. The cost has to come down, Mr. Sendhil says. It is also important to brand Coimbatore as an IT destination, he adds.

New B-School at Pollachi, Coimbatore

Pollachi-based N G M College Kalvi Kazhagam will soon open a new Technical Institution from the 2010-2011 academic year.

Promoted by industrialist cum philanthropist Mr N Mahalingam, and backed by Sakthi Group of companies, the Sakthi Institute of Information and Management Studies, would be a standalone B-School affiliated to Anna University, Coimbatore, institute sources said.

With AICTE approval, the institute would offer MBA, with specialisations in Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, Operations and Systems, they said.

The eco-friendly campus, on 30,000 sq.ft, has audio-visual classrooms with high tech teaching aids, an air-conditioned conference hall with video conferencing facilities, modern labs with High Speed Internet connectivity and modern digital library with t he latest collection of books and journals (including e-journals), they said.

The institute would enter into an MoU with leading Industries and multinationals for institute-industry interaction. Corporate training, industrial seminars and live projects are other features of the institute.

An exclusive HRD and placement cell was also being constituted to impart soft skill training and arranging campus interviews, they said.

Tamil Nadu Textile industry led by Young generations

GR Gopikumar, 30, has recently been appointed whole-time director at the Coimbatore-based Chandra Textiles founded by his grandfather GR
Govindarajulu in 1910.

Gopikumar is not the only one of his generation to take charge at Tamil Nadu’s age-old textile firms, which is increasingly being integrated into the global market.

V Mani Narayanan, 31, the son of Texprocil chairman, VS Velayutham, has recently become the executive director of Tirunelveli-based Sri Gomathy Mills, which is over five decades old.

In most cases, the next generation was handed the business on a platter, with their predecessors having worked hard to build them from scratch and helping the companies find a niche in the global retail space.

Armed with degrees from universities abroad, the scions of these textile groups are taking control at a time when demand from the domestic market has grown and Indian companies are outsourcing their products.

With their knowledge base and capacity for risk, the younger generation is breaking some of the time-tested rules of doing business. CR Ananda Krishnan, who started at the KPR Mills processing plant at Perundurai, for instance, was instrumental in raising funds through an initial public offer.

The 33-year old executive director had to convince his family members, including his father KP Ramasamy, for the fund-raising exercise. “It is natural for my father to wonder, ‘why dilute promoter holding?’ But we took a collective decision. My father and his two brothers agreed,” says Krishnan.

The new generation hasn’t broken with tradition either, and is doing a fine balance. D Kothai, director of the Aruppukotai-based Ramalinga Spinners, says she’s inherited a caring attitude from his father, who did not opt for a VRS when the spinning industry was at its lowest ebb in the 1990s. “He ran the company not to make money but to help society. I follow his principles,” he says.

The scions of the textile groups have a heritage to nurture, after all.

Inspired by the success of Madura Coats and Binny Mills started by John Binny in 1876, a slew of dynamic entrepreneurs created mills in the early 1900s. Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul and Tirupur became the hub of Tamil Nadu’s textile business.

Lakshmi Mills in Coimbatore was the first to come up in 1910 followed by Chandra Textiles, Gomathy Mills, GVG Textiles and KPR Mills. Tamil Nadu alone has 47% of total spinning capacity in the country and the state accounts for more than 40% of yarn exports from India.

Many next generation women are also getting actively involved in the modernisation of ancestral businesses. K Malathy, 32, and Vaishnavi Naren, 32, have become executive directors of Somanur-based Sri Karunambikai Mills and Udumalpet-based GVG Group of companies. Vaishnavi Naren played a key role in the modernisation of the textile division by implementing ERP and ensuring net connectivity. “It helped us conserve energy in a better way,” she says.

Though the founders of textile mills weathered textile industry’s business cycles and built robust business models, younger members may not stop with building and consolidating their family business.

They are on the look out for possible diversification to sectors like engineering and hospitality. With India’s economy growing at a better pace than other countries and Tamil Nadu’s business climate undergoing positive changes, they have good reason to do so.