The Coimbatore Passport Office plans to launch Short Message Service (SMS) alerts to passport applicants. The service is expected to become operational by January 2010, said B. Balamurugan, Passport Officer, Coimbatore.
The new services include SMS alerts on various stages of processing of applications and ‘first-in and first-out’ concept of seniority-based processing. All district passport cells would be computerised with online application facility. The SMS facility would enable the applicants to enquire about the status of their applications, Mr. Balamurugan said.
He held preliminary discussions with P.V. Raju, senior systems analyst from the Kochi Passport Office, where the SMS system is already operational, on the creation of the required infrastructure. During the process of applications, the passport office might raise queries on police verification details, original documents, previous passport etc. These queries are at present sent by post which consumes time. On receiving the SMS alert, the applicants could respond to the queries promptly.
The ‘first-in and first-out’ system would help eliminate attempts to bypass the seniority of applications. Once the police verification report is attached to the application, it will be serially numbered and processed only on that basis. In emergency cases, only the four designated Passport Issuing Authorities could assure early issuance of passport. The Coimbatore office which has a staff strength of only 21 as against the sanctioned 55 is overburdened. It has asked the district passport cells in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem and Namakkal to become online so that the workload could be minimised.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Coimbatore college students develop robotic vehicle
Three engineering students of a city college today claimed to have developed a multipurpose unmanned robotic vehicle which they believe would be useful for ISRO, in exploring the lunar surface in the next unmanned moon mission, besides Army and police in various activities.
The vehicle, which uses artificial intelligence with digital image processing sans any sensors, would do multi-various activities like car chasing, reading book and driving, the students of the Government College of Technology told reporters after a demonstration.
Ranganathan, S R Anantha Krishnan and S Rajesh Kannan, who developed the vehicle, said it was designed to ply on the road automatically and detect both moving and stationary objects such as other vehicles and human beings.
Since the vehicle fitted with a camera can also be controlled through wireless transmitter, it can be added to ISRO-2012 space programme for exploring moon, they said.
The vehicle, which uses artificial intelligence with digital image processing sans any sensors, would do multi-various activities like car chasing, reading book and driving, the students of the Government College of Technology told reporters after a demonstration.
Ranganathan, S R Anantha Krishnan and S Rajesh Kannan, who developed the vehicle, said it was designed to ply on the road automatically and detect both moving and stationary objects such as other vehicles and human beings.
Since the vehicle fitted with a camera can also be controlled through wireless transmitter, it can be added to ISRO-2012 space programme for exploring moon, they said.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Lakshmi Mills shifts operations from Coimbatore
The Coimbatore-based Lakshmi Mills Company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that in view of the recessionary trend in the market and considering the condition of the machinery in its Coimbatore unit, a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) has been given effect. Hence, the unit here stopped production since December 18.
The company, which was started in 1910, has units in Coimbatore, Kovilpatti and Palladam. The one in Coimbatore has 31,968 spindles and 114 looms. The installed capacity at the Palladam unit is 56,112 spindles and at Kovilpatti 62,928 spindles.
A company source told The Hindu that it was only shifting operations to Palladam and Kovilpatti from Coimbatore. The workers were given the option of shifting to the units in these two places or taking the VRS, which was open till the end of this month.
M. Arumugam, general secretary of the Coimbatore District Mill Workers’ Union, affiliated to the AITUC, said the unit here had 325 permanent workers. Of this, 125 had opted for the VRS and 45 opted to shift to the units in Palladam and Kovilpatti. “Our demand is to run the Coimbatore unit,” he said.
The company, which was started in 1910, has units in Coimbatore, Kovilpatti and Palladam. The one in Coimbatore has 31,968 spindles and 114 looms. The installed capacity at the Palladam unit is 56,112 spindles and at Kovilpatti 62,928 spindles.
A company source told The Hindu that it was only shifting operations to Palladam and Kovilpatti from Coimbatore. The workers were given the option of shifting to the units in these two places or taking the VRS, which was open till the end of this month.
M. Arumugam, general secretary of the Coimbatore District Mill Workers’ Union, affiliated to the AITUC, said the unit here had 325 permanent workers. Of this, 125 had opted for the VRS and 45 opted to shift to the units in Palladam and Kovilpatti. “Our demand is to run the Coimbatore unit,” he said.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Coimbatore Tidel Park to be ready by september 2009
Tidel Park in Coimbatore is expected to be ready for occupation by September 2009.
According to an official source, the park, which is a joint venture of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, Software Technology Parks of India and Tidel, will offer warm and fit-out shells for occupation on short-term and long term lease.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation for the park here in February 2007. With the construction rates escalating, the project cost was recently revised to Rs. 370 crore (from the earlier projection of about Rs. 335 crore) and works had started at the site.
The official told that the park would have a total built-up area of 17 lakh sq.ft. Of this, the IT floor area would be 9.14 lakh sq ft. Office space would be available in various modules in each floor for a lease period of three to 15 years. Booking of space had just commenced and the initial offer was Rs. 30 a month for a sq ft in the case of short-term lease and an one-time payment of Rs. 3,600 a sq ft for the 15-year lease.
According to an official source, the park, which is a joint venture of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, Software Technology Parks of India and Tidel, will offer warm and fit-out shells for occupation on short-term and long term lease.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation for the park here in February 2007. With the construction rates escalating, the project cost was recently revised to Rs. 370 crore (from the earlier projection of about Rs. 335 crore) and works had started at the site.
The official told that the park would have a total built-up area of 17 lakh sq.ft. Of this, the IT floor area would be 9.14 lakh sq ft. Office space would be available in various modules in each floor for a lease period of three to 15 years. Booking of space had just commenced and the initial offer was Rs. 30 a month for a sq ft in the case of short-term lease and an one-time payment of Rs. 3,600 a sq ft for the 15-year lease.
Chamber presses for logistics park, mass transit system
A mass rapid transit system, a logistics park for the trade and industry and other sections and ring roads are among the projects that the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore is listing as among the key infrastructure requirements of Coimbatore.
Chamber president D. Balasundaram placed these requirements before Union Minister P. Chidambaram, who released the first chapter of the Coimbatore 2025 plan at the launch of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the chamber of commerce in the city on Sunday.
The first chapter contains the population forecast for 2025 the chamber has made, with the past and current demographic profile, the pattern of migration and the urbanisation rate forming its basis.
“We presented a wish list for Coimbatore in January. They key requirements are two ring roads to connect all the highways, a mass transit system of both buses and trains, expansion of the airport for direct flights to Europe and an integrated logistics park,” Mr. Balasundaram said, making a fresh appeal to the Central Government.
From about 45 lakh, the district’s population would rise to 68 lakh in 2025. There was a need to plan the infrastructure to meet the demands of all sections – from the trade and industry to the people. The chamber would involve experts in various fields and universities in formulation action plans as part of the Coimbatore 2025 initiative.
Mr. Chidambaram said that while the chamber of commerce pursued this plan, high growth on the industrial front in Coimbatore must also be achieved. “Coimbatore must be a centre for attracting investments. But, outsiders will invest in Coimbatore only if the local people did so.”
Bad time should not return to Coimbatore, he said, alluding to the serial blasts of February 1998 and its impact on the district’s economy. “It is now looking ahead,” he noted.
Chamber president D. Balasundaram placed these requirements before Union Minister P. Chidambaram, who released the first chapter of the Coimbatore 2025 plan at the launch of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the chamber of commerce in the city on Sunday.
The first chapter contains the population forecast for 2025 the chamber has made, with the past and current demographic profile, the pattern of migration and the urbanisation rate forming its basis.
“We presented a wish list for Coimbatore in January. They key requirements are two ring roads to connect all the highways, a mass transit system of both buses and trains, expansion of the airport for direct flights to Europe and an integrated logistics park,” Mr. Balasundaram said, making a fresh appeal to the Central Government.
From about 45 lakh, the district’s population would rise to 68 lakh in 2025. There was a need to plan the infrastructure to meet the demands of all sections – from the trade and industry to the people. The chamber would involve experts in various fields and universities in formulation action plans as part of the Coimbatore 2025 initiative.
Mr. Chidambaram said that while the chamber of commerce pursued this plan, high growth on the industrial front in Coimbatore must also be achieved. “Coimbatore must be a centre for attracting investments. But, outsiders will invest in Coimbatore only if the local people did so.”
Bad time should not return to Coimbatore, he said, alluding to the serial blasts of February 1998 and its impact on the district’s economy. “It is now looking ahead,” he noted.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Rakindo Developers to invest in Coimbatore
A Rs 10-crore home ($2.5 million ) in a 400-acre Marina on the Bay of Bengal, just an hour’s drive from Chennai could be up for the taking in a few years. It will come up along with a miniport, and be developed as a luxury waterfront project.
Rakindo Developers, a 50-50 joint venture between Rakeen, promoted by the Government of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and the Chennai-based Trimex Group, is expecting to invest $5 billion worth in real estate projects in India totalling 50 million sq feet of development over the next 5- 8 years.
The Marina project that comes up on an estuary and a home-away-from-home in Kumarokom, in Kerala are the two luxury projects waiting for environmental clearances. The company is otherwise planning to focus on integrated townships as a model housing offering for different budgets, and plans to stay away from city projects.
It already has 4,000 acres, and according to the Managing Director, Mr Prasad R. Koneru, another 5,000 acres are in the offing. “We have already invested $100 million, and will be investing another $100 million in 2008,” said Dr Khater Massaad, CEO, RAK Investment Authority. The projects cover Coimbatore and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Kumarakom and Kochi in Kerala. An 800-acre township and SEZ has also been planned about 10 km from Coimbatore.
According to Mr Koneru, the SEZ will focus on IT and the township will also serve Tirupur. The traditional ground breaking ceremony of the 650 acres of phase one is expected to take place in February 2008. The company is hoping to have a 50-50 debt–equity ratio, and could consider raising equity down in 4-5 years.
RAK Investment Authority is also investing in a $2 billion mining project in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Government. The 1.5 million tonnes of alumina and 350,000 tonnes aluminium smelter project will also have a captive power plant.
Rakindo Developers, a 50-50 joint venture between Rakeen, promoted by the Government of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and the Chennai-based Trimex Group, is expecting to invest $5 billion worth in real estate projects in India totalling 50 million sq feet of development over the next 5- 8 years.
The Marina project that comes up on an estuary and a home-away-from-home in Kumarokom, in Kerala are the two luxury projects waiting for environmental clearances. The company is otherwise planning to focus on integrated townships as a model housing offering for different budgets, and plans to stay away from city projects.
It already has 4,000 acres, and according to the Managing Director, Mr Prasad R. Koneru, another 5,000 acres are in the offing. “We have already invested $100 million, and will be investing another $100 million in 2008,” said Dr Khater Massaad, CEO, RAK Investment Authority. The projects cover Coimbatore and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Kumarakom and Kochi in Kerala. An 800-acre township and SEZ has also been planned about 10 km from Coimbatore.
According to Mr Koneru, the SEZ will focus on IT and the township will also serve Tirupur. The traditional ground breaking ceremony of the 650 acres of phase one is expected to take place in February 2008. The company is hoping to have a 50-50 debt–equity ratio, and could consider raising equity down in 4-5 years.
RAK Investment Authority is also investing in a $2 billion mining project in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Government. The 1.5 million tonnes of alumina and 350,000 tonnes aluminium smelter project will also have a captive power plant.
Crisil report for Coimbatore corporation
The Coimbatore Corporation is awaiting a report on its creditworthiness, set as it is to implement a number of infrastructure development schemes for the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Credit Rating and Information Services India Limited (Crisil), a national level rating agency, is in the process of assessing its funding schemes and repayment potential.
While going for loans is decidedly an option, the civic body may also explore the possibility of floating infrastructure bonds. But the bond option is subject to Crisil’s grading.
The credit rating exercise is essential, as the corporations of 63 cities chosen for schemes under the JNNURM are expected to meet 30 per cent of the cost of projects on their own.
Grant
Schemes worth Rs. 3,186 crore have been drawn up for Coimbatore city, and 30 per cent of the amount has to be met by the Corporation. Central Government grants will cover as much as 50 per cent.
While the JNNURM envisages a 20 per cent grant from the State Government, it is being made available to the Coimbatore Corporation as an interest-free loan. This puts the burden of funding to an extent of 50 per cent on the Corporation.
As for its own contribution of 30 per cent, the resource mobilisation mode has been left to the civic body. It can raise loans provided it is found credit-worthy.
Report
“We expect the credit rating report to be submitted in a month,” says Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran, in response to a question on whether the civic body will go in for bonds.
“Bonds can certainly be an option. But a suggestion for this will be made by the agency on the basis of its findings,” he says.
The Commissioner’s response implies that it will depend on the Corporation’s credit-worthiness.
The Corporation had contemplated floating bonds for the underground drainage scheme a few years ago, but did not pursue it.
The local body is now set to take a fresh look at this option in the wake of Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin announcing a month ago that the Salem Corporation and some other municipalities in the State have the option of floating bonds to raise funds for infrastructure development schemes.
Credit Rating and Information Services India Limited (Crisil), a national level rating agency, is in the process of assessing its funding schemes and repayment potential.
While going for loans is decidedly an option, the civic body may also explore the possibility of floating infrastructure bonds. But the bond option is subject to Crisil’s grading.
The credit rating exercise is essential, as the corporations of 63 cities chosen for schemes under the JNNURM are expected to meet 30 per cent of the cost of projects on their own.
Grant
Schemes worth Rs. 3,186 crore have been drawn up for Coimbatore city, and 30 per cent of the amount has to be met by the Corporation. Central Government grants will cover as much as 50 per cent.
While the JNNURM envisages a 20 per cent grant from the State Government, it is being made available to the Coimbatore Corporation as an interest-free loan. This puts the burden of funding to an extent of 50 per cent on the Corporation.
As for its own contribution of 30 per cent, the resource mobilisation mode has been left to the civic body. It can raise loans provided it is found credit-worthy.
Report
“We expect the credit rating report to be submitted in a month,” says Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran, in response to a question on whether the civic body will go in for bonds.
“Bonds can certainly be an option. But a suggestion for this will be made by the agency on the basis of its findings,” he says.
The Commissioner’s response implies that it will depend on the Corporation’s credit-worthiness.
The Corporation had contemplated floating bonds for the underground drainage scheme a few years ago, but did not pursue it.
The local body is now set to take a fresh look at this option in the wake of Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin announcing a month ago that the Salem Corporation and some other municipalities in the State have the option of floating bonds to raise funds for infrastructure development schemes.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
SPi comes out with new Speech Recognition Technology
Manila-based SPi, a leading global BPO provider, on Wednesday introduced state-of-the-art Speech Recognition Technology into its transcription platform (Chartnet), at its facility here.
This new technology is considered to be the most advanced in the medical transcription industry and has transformed the Company's facility into a truly world-class one, S N Srinivasan, Director of India Operations, SPi Healthcare, told reporters on Wednesday.
With 40 million lines transcripted across the Globe this year, it would be doubled the next year using this advanced technology, he said.
On the benefits of the technology, Srinivasan said there would be significant improvements in accuracy, 30 to 50 per cent gain in productivity and faster turnaround times and the ability to take on higher volumes of work.
In addition, it would allow the company to advance the careers of its medical language specialists by providing them with higher level skillsets and a greater variety in the work that they are doing, he said.
The company, with delivery centres in Delhi, Chennai Puducherry and Coimbatore in India, would expand its client-base and also employees from the present 1500 across the country.
SPi, which took over a city-based medical transcription company a couple of years ago, would soon acquire two companies- one E-learning and another Multimedia-- in India, Srinivasan said.
This new technology is considered to be the most advanced in the medical transcription industry and has transformed the Company's facility into a truly world-class one, S N Srinivasan, Director of India Operations, SPi Healthcare, told reporters on Wednesday.
With 40 million lines transcripted across the Globe this year, it would be doubled the next year using this advanced technology, he said.
On the benefits of the technology, Srinivasan said there would be significant improvements in accuracy, 30 to 50 per cent gain in productivity and faster turnaround times and the ability to take on higher volumes of work.
In addition, it would allow the company to advance the careers of its medical language specialists by providing them with higher level skillsets and a greater variety in the work that they are doing, he said.
The company, with delivery centres in Delhi, Chennai Puducherry and Coimbatore in India, would expand its client-base and also employees from the present 1500 across the country.
SPi, which took over a city-based medical transcription company a couple of years ago, would soon acquire two companies- one E-learning and another Multimedia-- in India, Srinivasan said.
Coimbatore residents to play host during INTEC
Residents of Coimbatore can now play host to the visitors who will be here for the International Industrial Trade Fair (INTEC 2008) from February 1 to 6, 2008.
Apart from hotels, service apartments and guest houses, the event organisers plan to involve the residents to meet the accommodation needs for those will come to the fair.
K.V. Ganapathi, the INTEC chairman, says that the previous edition of the fair, which was held in 2006, had nearly two lakh visitors and 520 stalls on a total exhibition area of 7,800 sq.mt. The fair in 2008 will have close to 10,000 sq.mt of exhibition area. The number of participants and the visitor profile will also go up accordingly.
But Coimbatore does not have adequate number of hotels to provide accommodation to all of them. “Hotel facility is limited here. Some visitors and participants, especially those from foreign countries, ask for accommodation in a star hotel,” he says.
“Last year, we had to arrange accommodation at Tirupur for about 150 delegates who came from Sri Lanka,” he says. Some visitors stayed in Palakkad and travelled to the exhibition every day. Even those who come from Madurai or Hosur need accommodation for a day or two if they decide to purchase a machine at the fair. Apart from the participants and the visitors, a lot of people come here to help in erecting the stalls, etc.
Hence, the organisers have come out with a proposal to provide on the exhibition website ( www.intecexpo.com) the names and addresses of those who are willing to accommodate the visitors at their home on rent.
“The city has several apartments with the owners living elsewhere. Similarly, many of us have an extra bedroom that is normally not used by the family. These can be used by the visitors on a rental basis. They can decide whether they will be able to provide food and transportation facilities,” he says. While the visitor gets a peaceful and comfortable home stay, it is an income opportunity for the host.
The former president of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, D. Gandhi Kumar, points out that Dusseldorf in Germany is a major trade fair centre. Almost all the houses here accommodate visitors on a rental basis. “We have just introduced the concept to Coimbatore. We plan to organise major fairs here regularly. This will be mutually beneficial,” he says.
For details, contact INTEC 2008, CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore – 641014. Telephone: 0422-2593505, 2593507. email: cointec@vsnl.com
Apart from hotels, service apartments and guest houses, the event organisers plan to involve the residents to meet the accommodation needs for those will come to the fair.
K.V. Ganapathi, the INTEC chairman, says that the previous edition of the fair, which was held in 2006, had nearly two lakh visitors and 520 stalls on a total exhibition area of 7,800 sq.mt. The fair in 2008 will have close to 10,000 sq.mt of exhibition area. The number of participants and the visitor profile will also go up accordingly.
But Coimbatore does not have adequate number of hotels to provide accommodation to all of them. “Hotel facility is limited here. Some visitors and participants, especially those from foreign countries, ask for accommodation in a star hotel,” he says.
“Last year, we had to arrange accommodation at Tirupur for about 150 delegates who came from Sri Lanka,” he says. Some visitors stayed in Palakkad and travelled to the exhibition every day. Even those who come from Madurai or Hosur need accommodation for a day or two if they decide to purchase a machine at the fair. Apart from the participants and the visitors, a lot of people come here to help in erecting the stalls, etc.
Hence, the organisers have come out with a proposal to provide on the exhibition website ( www.intecexpo.com) the names and addresses of those who are willing to accommodate the visitors at their home on rent.
“The city has several apartments with the owners living elsewhere. Similarly, many of us have an extra bedroom that is normally not used by the family. These can be used by the visitors on a rental basis. They can decide whether they will be able to provide food and transportation facilities,” he says. While the visitor gets a peaceful and comfortable home stay, it is an income opportunity for the host.
The former president of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, D. Gandhi Kumar, points out that Dusseldorf in Germany is a major trade fair centre. Almost all the houses here accommodate visitors on a rental basis. “We have just introduced the concept to Coimbatore. We plan to organise major fairs here regularly. This will be mutually beneficial,” he says.
For details, contact INTEC 2008, CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore – 641014. Telephone: 0422-2593505, 2593507. email: cointec@vsnl.com
Catridge World opens outlet in Coimbatore
Cartridge World, retailer of printer cartridge refilling service, has opened a store here. This is the company’s first store in the State and the 15th in the country.
Naveen Rakhecha, Chief Executive Officer of Cartridge World (South Asia), told presspersons here on Tuesday that according to a study conducted by the company about a year ago Coimbatore was among the top 10 consumer cities for inkjet cartridges and among the top 15 consumer cities for toner cartridges.
The store would be a one-stop-shop for all printer and cartridge-related needs.
It would refill empty inkjet and laser cartridges of all brands, conduct cartridge care education to customers and sell printers and speciality paper.
It planned to establish 50 outlets by March 2008 in different parts of the country and scale it up to 250 by 2010.
In Tamil Nadu, three more outlets would come up in Chennai and the company planned to have its presence in Madurai, Tiruchi, Erode, Salem and Tuticorin.
At the global level, the company currently had 1,500 stores in 45 countries and would increase it to 4,000 outlets by 2011.
The Coimbatore outlet was located on 95/356, Avarampalayam Road, New Siddhapudur.
Naveen Rakhecha, Chief Executive Officer of Cartridge World (South Asia), told presspersons here on Tuesday that according to a study conducted by the company about a year ago Coimbatore was among the top 10 consumer cities for inkjet cartridges and among the top 15 consumer cities for toner cartridges.
The store would be a one-stop-shop for all printer and cartridge-related needs.
It would refill empty inkjet and laser cartridges of all brands, conduct cartridge care education to customers and sell printers and speciality paper.
It planned to establish 50 outlets by March 2008 in different parts of the country and scale it up to 250 by 2010.
In Tamil Nadu, three more outlets would come up in Chennai and the company planned to have its presence in Madurai, Tiruchi, Erode, Salem and Tuticorin.
At the global level, the company currently had 1,500 stores in 45 countries and would increase it to 4,000 outlets by 2011.
The Coimbatore outlet was located on 95/356, Avarampalayam Road, New Siddhapudur.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
