ABT X Travels will launch Bangalore-Chennai and Chennai-Bangalore omni luxury bus service in the second week of January.
According to a release, the company started operations in the Coimbatore-Chennai and Chennai-Coimbatore sectors last November. It also launched Bangalore-Coimbatore, Bangalore-Pollachi, Pollachi-Bangalore and Coimbatore-Bangalore services recently.
It planned to offer special packages to pilgrim centres across the country and also ply 25 buses connecting all major cities by the end of March 2007. It would invest about Rs. 11 crores for this purpose.
The company had introduced e-ticketing and travellers can book their tickets through the website: www.abtxtravels.com
Source: The Hindu
Friday, January 12, 2007
LG Balakrishnan plans Asia, S. America plants
Auto parts maker LG Balakrishnan & Bros. Ltd. plans to invest $12 million (535 million rupees) to set up three plants overseas by March 2010, a top official said on Friday.
Each plant would initially have sales exceeding 700 million rupees a year, Managing Director B. Vijayakumar told Reuters over telephone from Coimbatore.
The first of the three units -- in Indonesia -- was expected to begin production by March 2008, he said. Units would be set up in China and South America in 2008/09 and 2009/10 respectively, Vijayakumar said.
Source: NDTV
Each plant would initially have sales exceeding 700 million rupees a year, Managing Director B. Vijayakumar told Reuters over telephone from Coimbatore.
The first of the three units -- in Indonesia -- was expected to begin production by March 2008, he said. Units would be set up in China and South America in 2008/09 and 2009/10 respectively, Vijayakumar said.
Source: NDTV
Retail chain Odyssey plans expansion
Chennai-based retail chain Odyssey, which sells products such as books, toys and multimedia, has chalked out a Rs 125 crore nation-wide expansion plan.
This was unveiled at the opening of the firm’s first store in Bangalore today.
“Odyssey is a well-known brand in south India. We intend to have a pan-India presence this year by increasing the number of stores,” said Odyssey India Managing Director T S Ashwin.
Odyssey has 14 stores in six cities — Chennai, Hyderabad, Salem, Coimbatore, Trichy and Varanasi — occupying a retail space of 75,000 square feet.
By the end of the current financial year, the company plans to increase the number of stores to 20, with more stores coming up in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Kozhikode (Kerala).
Ashwin said the firm was targeting a total retail space of 5.5 lakh square feet by 2008-09. “We are moving into new cities, IT parks and malls. Fifteen stores will be commissioned in the next financial year. In 2008-09, another five stores will be opened,” he added.
The new stores will come up in Bangalore (6 ), Mumbai (3 ), Pune (3 ), Ahmedabad, Gurgaon, Nagpur, Thane, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Rajkot, Surat, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam and Mysore (1 each).
It will also expand in existing markets like Chennai, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.
According to company executives, demand for specialised products sold through Odyssey is propelling the growth of the firm. Apart from books and toys, cards, music, stationery, educational CD-ROMS, playstations and gifting are also available at Odyssey stores.
Books contribute around 30-35 per cent of the firm’s total turnover. The stores stock a wide range of books on subjects ranging from popular fiction, non-fiction, computing, self-help, health, management, travel and coffee table books.
While the average number of titles in a Odyssey store is 30,000, some of the large format stores have up to 80,000 titles.
Odyssey, which started off in 1995 as a book store in Chennai, was acquired by Deccan Chronicle Holdings in September 2005 for Rs 61.2 crore. The retail chain’s revenue is expected to touch Rs 110 crore this financial year.
Source: Business STandard
This was unveiled at the opening of the firm’s first store in Bangalore today.
“Odyssey is a well-known brand in south India. We intend to have a pan-India presence this year by increasing the number of stores,” said Odyssey India Managing Director T S Ashwin.
Odyssey has 14 stores in six cities — Chennai, Hyderabad, Salem, Coimbatore, Trichy and Varanasi — occupying a retail space of 75,000 square feet.
By the end of the current financial year, the company plans to increase the number of stores to 20, with more stores coming up in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Kozhikode (Kerala).
Ashwin said the firm was targeting a total retail space of 5.5 lakh square feet by 2008-09. “We are moving into new cities, IT parks and malls. Fifteen stores will be commissioned in the next financial year. In 2008-09, another five stores will be opened,” he added.
The new stores will come up in Bangalore (6 ), Mumbai (3 ), Pune (3 ), Ahmedabad, Gurgaon, Nagpur, Thane, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Rajkot, Surat, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam and Mysore (1 each).
It will also expand in existing markets like Chennai, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.
According to company executives, demand for specialised products sold through Odyssey is propelling the growth of the firm. Apart from books and toys, cards, music, stationery, educational CD-ROMS, playstations and gifting are also available at Odyssey stores.
Books contribute around 30-35 per cent of the firm’s total turnover. The stores stock a wide range of books on subjects ranging from popular fiction, non-fiction, computing, self-help, health, management, travel and coffee table books.
While the average number of titles in a Odyssey store is 30,000, some of the large format stores have up to 80,000 titles.
Odyssey, which started off in 1995 as a book store in Chennai, was acquired by Deccan Chronicle Holdings in September 2005 for Rs 61.2 crore. The retail chain’s revenue is expected to touch Rs 110 crore this financial year.
Source: Business STandard
Airlines from Singapore can operate to Coimbatore
India and Singapore have agreed to increase the number of seats being offered by their designated airlines in a phased manner till winter 2009.
The designated airlines of Singapore will now be allowed to operate regular flights to Coimbatore, there by increasing its footprint here. This was firmed up at the conclusion of bilateral air services agreement between India and Singapore here late on Tuesday night.
The agreement not only permits airlines from Singapore to increase the current number of flights that they operate to some cities here but also allows similar freedom to airlines from India.
In August 2005, when the last round of air services between India and Singapore were successfully exchanged airlines from Singapore were allowed to increase frequency to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
At present, Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Silk Air operate regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad Kochi among others.
Air India, Air India Express, Indian, Air Sahara and Jet Airways operate regular flights from various points within the country to Singapore, while Singapore Airlines operates regular flights to India.
Source: Moneycontrol.com
The designated airlines of Singapore will now be allowed to operate regular flights to Coimbatore, there by increasing its footprint here. This was firmed up at the conclusion of bilateral air services agreement between India and Singapore here late on Tuesday night.
The agreement not only permits airlines from Singapore to increase the current number of flights that they operate to some cities here but also allows similar freedom to airlines from India.
In August 2005, when the last round of air services between India and Singapore were successfully exchanged airlines from Singapore were allowed to increase frequency to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
At present, Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Silk Air operate regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad Kochi among others.
Air India, Air India Express, Indian, Air Sahara and Jet Airways operate regular flights from various points within the country to Singapore, while Singapore Airlines operates regular flights to India.
Source: Moneycontrol.com
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Measures to improve Safe drive in Coimbatore
The Coimbatore Corporation began on Wednesday painting a reflector road marking at the centre of main roads in the city to make them safe for driving at nights.
Mayor R. Venkatachalam said a 2.5 mm thick coat of thermoplastic paint mixed with glass beads was painted as divider markings to provided a high-level reflection during night.
The markings were made on Brooke Bond Road and LIC Road on Wednesday.
The Corporation would provide these markings on Huzur Road, Goods Shed Road, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road, 100 Feet Road, Race Course Road, D.B. Road, the main roads in Bharathi Park.
The Mayor said the markings would be made on every other major road with heavy traffic so that accidents were avoided when the lighting was poor.
Suource: The Hindu
Mayor R. Venkatachalam said a 2.5 mm thick coat of thermoplastic paint mixed with glass beads was painted as divider markings to provided a high-level reflection during night.
The markings were made on Brooke Bond Road and LIC Road on Wednesday.
The Corporation would provide these markings on Huzur Road, Goods Shed Road, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road, 100 Feet Road, Race Course Road, D.B. Road, the main roads in Bharathi Park.
The Mayor said the markings would be made on every other major road with heavy traffic so that accidents were avoided when the lighting was poor.
Suource: The Hindu
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Coimbatore Administration to continue with Demolition
The administration here has made it clear that the ongoing demolition of unauthorised structures will not be halted. Wilful violations cannot be spared from action while an opportunity can still be provided to those who are willing to demolish their structures. The drive aims to bring about a culture of compliance with rules.
Absence of any open resistance so far to the drive by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) is being attributed to the lack of political interference. Efforts by traders or building owners to meet persons at the highest level of the Government too have failed.
Business circles
It is learnt that a team tried to meet Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai on Monday to request for some respite but could not meet them. Sources even among the business circles here say that such efforts are not being entertained. This, by itself, is said to be providing tremendous support to the drive. Traders and owners of lodges, however, managed to meet Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and submit a petition that calls for the regularisation of buildings on which Property Tax is being collected.
The petitions says 75 per cent of the buildings in the city will have to be demolished if that is the only solution to correct building rule violations.
Out of the 573 buildings targeted, two have been taken up so far. And, there are reports of only behind the scenes effort at moving the Government.
The sources say that the action has been initiated in view of a public interest litigation filed in the High Court by the Coimbatore Consumer Cause. The consumer body's petition, however, only seeks measures to prevent violations in the future. But, the sources say that action has been initiated now on the existing structures also in view of the case coming up for hearing.
Source:The Hindu
Absence of any open resistance so far to the drive by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) is being attributed to the lack of political interference. Efforts by traders or building owners to meet persons at the highest level of the Government too have failed.
Business circles
It is learnt that a team tried to meet Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai on Monday to request for some respite but could not meet them. Sources even among the business circles here say that such efforts are not being entertained. This, by itself, is said to be providing tremendous support to the drive. Traders and owners of lodges, however, managed to meet Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and submit a petition that calls for the regularisation of buildings on which Property Tax is being collected.
The petitions says 75 per cent of the buildings in the city will have to be demolished if that is the only solution to correct building rule violations.
Out of the 573 buildings targeted, two have been taken up so far. And, there are reports of only behind the scenes effort at moving the Government.
The sources say that the action has been initiated in view of a public interest litigation filed in the High Court by the Coimbatore Consumer Cause. The consumer body's petition, however, only seeks measures to prevent violations in the future. But, the sources say that action has been initiated now on the existing structures also in view of the case coming up for hearing.
Source:The Hindu
Monday, January 08, 2007
High attrition rate worries industries in Coimbatore
Engineering units here, including some of the large-scale ones, are worried about the high rate of attrition, with the problem worsening during the last six months to one year.
On an average, it was about 15 per cent even three months ago and has gone up further now, says C.R. Swaminathan, Chief Executive of the PSG Industrial Institute. "The only reason is better remuneration," he says.
Earlier the problem was felt at the shop floor level - workers and trainees. Now, the units face a number of manager-level people too moving one unit to another.
"They get a huge elevation. It is a dramatic jump," says Vanitha Mohan, Executive Director of Pricol.
"The job market is full of opportunities. Yet, at the social level those who constantly switch jobs should look at issues such as stability at career and home too," she laments, adding that the only solution is to have constant back up of people exclusively trained by units for their needs.
Mr. Swaminathan feels that the problem is temporary. The Coimbatore units too will gradually start offering more facilities.
Source: The Hindu
On an average, it was about 15 per cent even three months ago and has gone up further now, says C.R. Swaminathan, Chief Executive of the PSG Industrial Institute. "The only reason is better remuneration," he says.
Earlier the problem was felt at the shop floor level - workers and trainees. Now, the units face a number of manager-level people too moving one unit to another.
"They get a huge elevation. It is a dramatic jump," says Vanitha Mohan, Executive Director of Pricol.
"The job market is full of opportunities. Yet, at the social level those who constantly switch jobs should look at issues such as stability at career and home too," she laments, adding that the only solution is to have constant back up of people exclusively trained by units for their needs.
Mr. Swaminathan feels that the problem is temporary. The Coimbatore units too will gradually start offering more facilities.
Source: The Hindu
Friday, January 05, 2007
Coimbatore needs Better Infrastructure
Ask anybody - a visitor or a local citizen - what the city needs, and little doubt, the unanimous response will be better infrastructure.
Signboards
Good and clean roads, underground cables and sewage systems, more signboards, to name a few. A city that enables hassle-free daily life is what one craves for.
Coimbatore may have met the requirements of its residents and visitors till a couple of years ago.
Needs up
But the needs, especially with regard to roads, have gone up manifold now. Bursting industrial activity, growing population and the increasing number of vehicles are the reasons. And, these are only set to go up in the coming years.
Expansion
Let us consider Avanashi Road for instance. With the city expanding beyond its boundaries on this stretch, we have any number of schools, colleges, textile mills, commercial complexes and hospitals.
Airport
With the airport too located just off the main Avanashi Road and the Information Technology park planned in Peelamedu, this road is today the busiest in the city.
So, for a visitor who comes by flight, it easily takes over 20 minutes to reach the city from the airport.
Study
The Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore Zone, commissioned a study in 2005 to make Avanashi Road world-class.
The Rs. 20-lakh study went into the details of the pedestrian and vehicle use, and suggested a Rs. 130-crore project with six lanes, underground cables and flyovers.
This was to ensure a smooth ride for the vehicles without stopping for any signal for 16 km from the Neelambur bypass.
Release
Almost 10 months since the release of the study, indications are that widening of the road to make it six-lane will be taken up initially.
The Mettupalayam Road, another major entry point to the city, is yet to see any such concrete effort for its improvement.
Meanwhile, associations such as Residents' Awareness Association of Coimbatore have been pointing out that with more apartments coming up in the city, access roads should be at least 40 feet wide, giving enough room for footpaths and trees on either side.
Data
The RAAC has collected data of several apartments that have bad access roads, adding to congestion and traffic snarls.
It seeks rules that will ensure that apartments come up only in areas that have wide access roads.
Traffic
In some places, though the road may be 40 feet, there are no footpaths. Vehicular traffic is high in peak hours, and pedestrians are forced to use the road too, says a RAAC representative. So it is not just main roads but also those within the city that demand attention. And, with inevitable growth, the need for infrastructure projects gains importance.
Problems
Meanwhile, as the city continues to suffer from traffic problems and bad roads, the Corporation is in the process of finalising a consultant to study and suggest a comprehensive traffic and transportation system for the city.
Transportation
The local body plans to spend roughly Rs. 700 crore on transportation systems under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
What it takes
Proposal to make Avanashi Road six-lane
Coimbatore Corporation plans comprehensive study
RAAC seeks wide roads in residential areas too
Source: The Hindu
Signboards
Good and clean roads, underground cables and sewage systems, more signboards, to name a few. A city that enables hassle-free daily life is what one craves for.
Coimbatore may have met the requirements of its residents and visitors till a couple of years ago.
Needs up
But the needs, especially with regard to roads, have gone up manifold now. Bursting industrial activity, growing population and the increasing number of vehicles are the reasons. And, these are only set to go up in the coming years.
Expansion
Let us consider Avanashi Road for instance. With the city expanding beyond its boundaries on this stretch, we have any number of schools, colleges, textile mills, commercial complexes and hospitals.
Airport
With the airport too located just off the main Avanashi Road and the Information Technology park planned in Peelamedu, this road is today the busiest in the city.
So, for a visitor who comes by flight, it easily takes over 20 minutes to reach the city from the airport.
Study
The Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore Zone, commissioned a study in 2005 to make Avanashi Road world-class.
The Rs. 20-lakh study went into the details of the pedestrian and vehicle use, and suggested a Rs. 130-crore project with six lanes, underground cables and flyovers.
This was to ensure a smooth ride for the vehicles without stopping for any signal for 16 km from the Neelambur bypass.
Release
Almost 10 months since the release of the study, indications are that widening of the road to make it six-lane will be taken up initially.
The Mettupalayam Road, another major entry point to the city, is yet to see any such concrete effort for its improvement.
Meanwhile, associations such as Residents' Awareness Association of Coimbatore have been pointing out that with more apartments coming up in the city, access roads should be at least 40 feet wide, giving enough room for footpaths and trees on either side.
Data
The RAAC has collected data of several apartments that have bad access roads, adding to congestion and traffic snarls.
It seeks rules that will ensure that apartments come up only in areas that have wide access roads.
Traffic
In some places, though the road may be 40 feet, there are no footpaths. Vehicular traffic is high in peak hours, and pedestrians are forced to use the road too, says a RAAC representative. So it is not just main roads but also those within the city that demand attention. And, with inevitable growth, the need for infrastructure projects gains importance.
Problems
Meanwhile, as the city continues to suffer from traffic problems and bad roads, the Corporation is in the process of finalising a consultant to study and suggest a comprehensive traffic and transportation system for the city.
Transportation
The local body plans to spend roughly Rs. 700 crore on transportation systems under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
What it takes
Proposal to make Avanashi Road six-lane
Coimbatore Corporation plans comprehensive study
RAAC seeks wide roads in residential areas too
Source: The Hindu
Coimbatore Corporation to renovate bus stand
The Coimbatore Corporation is planning to renovate its bus stand opposite the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
If the plans turn into a reality, the stand will help passengers wait inside for buses.
At present, they wait for buses at the exit near the main road (Tiruchi Road) under the sun or in rain while vagabonds use the stand as their home.
A couple of months ago, the Corporation demolished its old shopping complex in front of the stand, as it was weak and obstructed traffic flow.
The rear of the complex had been turned into a public toilet and a stand for some private vehicles that transported dead bodies brought out of the hospital.
Built at a cost of over Rs. 3 lakh more than 10 years ago, the bus stand became one of the most abused facilities put up by the Corporation.
Mayor R. Venkatachalam said on Thursday that a private organisation had offered to renovate the stand at Rs. 18 lakh.
Glazed tile flooring, a coat of paint, enough lights and chairs were measures planned to turn the stand into a good facility for the public.
The organisation had also offered to construct a pay-and-use toilet to prevent abuse of the stand.
The Mayor, Corporation officials and representatives of the private firm visited the stand on Thursday morning to make an on-the-spot assessment of the needs of the passengers.
"The firm has offered to construct and arch and put up a board displaying `Coimbatore Corporation Bus Stand.'
It has also offered to meet the cost of maintenance and pay power consumption charges," the Mayor said.
But, the firm wanted to keep the money collected at the toilet for its maintenance.
As for the rest of the stand, the firm intended to make gains through the display of advertisement.
Besides, it wanted seven to eight years of maintenance period instead of one, which the Corporation offered.
After going through an image of the bus stand that showed how it would look after the facelift, the Mayor told the firm that the proposal would be placed before the Corporation Council for its approval.
While this would take some time, the Mayor said immediate action would be taken to repair bus shelters along the hospital compound.
Finding some fibre roof sheets missing or broken, the Mayor asked the officials to take up repairs immediately.
"We found two coconut trees on the hospital premises leaning over the compound. Coconuts from the tree had fallen on the sheets and damaged them," he said.
The Mayor directed the officials to use zinc sheets on the shelters as they could withstand the impact.
"A toilet will be constructed closer to curve into Arts College Road. This will help prevent people from urinating on the footpath," the Mayor said.
The footpath would also be repaired. All these works were expected to be over before Pongal on January 15. The Corporation would request the Regional Transport Office to shift the bus stops away from the hospital gate. Halting of buses near the gate obstructed traffic on the road and blocked the entry of vehicles into the hospital.
Source: The Hindu
If the plans turn into a reality, the stand will help passengers wait inside for buses.
At present, they wait for buses at the exit near the main road (Tiruchi Road) under the sun or in rain while vagabonds use the stand as their home.
A couple of months ago, the Corporation demolished its old shopping complex in front of the stand, as it was weak and obstructed traffic flow.
The rear of the complex had been turned into a public toilet and a stand for some private vehicles that transported dead bodies brought out of the hospital.
Built at a cost of over Rs. 3 lakh more than 10 years ago, the bus stand became one of the most abused facilities put up by the Corporation.
Mayor R. Venkatachalam said on Thursday that a private organisation had offered to renovate the stand at Rs. 18 lakh.
Glazed tile flooring, a coat of paint, enough lights and chairs were measures planned to turn the stand into a good facility for the public.
The organisation had also offered to construct a pay-and-use toilet to prevent abuse of the stand.
The Mayor, Corporation officials and representatives of the private firm visited the stand on Thursday morning to make an on-the-spot assessment of the needs of the passengers.
"The firm has offered to construct and arch and put up a board displaying `Coimbatore Corporation Bus Stand.'
It has also offered to meet the cost of maintenance and pay power consumption charges," the Mayor said.
But, the firm wanted to keep the money collected at the toilet for its maintenance.
As for the rest of the stand, the firm intended to make gains through the display of advertisement.
Besides, it wanted seven to eight years of maintenance period instead of one, which the Corporation offered.
After going through an image of the bus stand that showed how it would look after the facelift, the Mayor told the firm that the proposal would be placed before the Corporation Council for its approval.
While this would take some time, the Mayor said immediate action would be taken to repair bus shelters along the hospital compound.
Finding some fibre roof sheets missing or broken, the Mayor asked the officials to take up repairs immediately.
"We found two coconut trees on the hospital premises leaning over the compound. Coconuts from the tree had fallen on the sheets and damaged them," he said.
The Mayor directed the officials to use zinc sheets on the shelters as they could withstand the impact.
"A toilet will be constructed closer to curve into Arts College Road. This will help prevent people from urinating on the footpath," the Mayor said.
The footpath would also be repaired. All these works were expected to be over before Pongal on January 15. The Corporation would request the Regional Transport Office to shift the bus stops away from the hospital gate. Halting of buses near the gate obstructed traffic on the road and blocked the entry of vehicles into the hospital.
Source: The Hindu
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Bharathiar varsity gets ready for silver jubilee celebrations
"The University will get a new clock tower, a compound wall and a recycling waste water plant, all at a cost of Rs. 33 lakhs, for the silver jubilee celebrations," Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam, told presspersons here on Tuesday.
This would be in addition to the new auditorium, ladies hostel and civil services coaching academy that the varsity would get in this connection.
Also, the whole university would get networked at a cost of Rs. 64 lakhs. In order to organise the Community Service Project, "Padithathai Pirarukku Padikka Koduppom', in an orderly and systematic manner, the Vice-Chancellor had called for a meeting of the principals of all colleges on January 9.
The project that is aimed at making the 1,68,000 students of the university collect used academic and literary books from households, would take place on January 26.
Through this, the university expected to collect at least ten books for every student.
The books would be handed over by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on February 24 - on his visit to the university on the eve of its silver jubilee celebrations - to the rural library heads from Coimbatore, Erode and the Nilgris district, said the Vice-Chancellor.
Source: The Hindu
This would be in addition to the new auditorium, ladies hostel and civil services coaching academy that the varsity would get in this connection.
Also, the whole university would get networked at a cost of Rs. 64 lakhs. In order to organise the Community Service Project, "Padithathai Pirarukku Padikka Koduppom', in an orderly and systematic manner, the Vice-Chancellor had called for a meeting of the principals of all colleges on January 9.
The project that is aimed at making the 1,68,000 students of the university collect used academic and literary books from households, would take place on January 26.
Through this, the university expected to collect at least ten books for every student.
The books would be handed over by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on February 24 - on his visit to the university on the eve of its silver jubilee celebrations - to the rural library heads from Coimbatore, Erode and the Nilgris district, said the Vice-Chancellor.
Source: The Hindu
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