The Hindu : Front Page : Plan to promote industries in Tier-2 cities, south Tamil Nadu

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Sunday, Jul 22, 2007
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Plan to promote industries in Tier-2 cities, south Tamil Nadu

R.K. Radhakrishnan

Funds allocated for infrastructure
Expansion of airports being pursued

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government will encourage new industries to come up in Tier-2 cities and in south Tamil Nadu to ensure uniform development across the State.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, in an interaction with The Hindu on Thursday, said the Government had set apart sufficient funds for developing infrastructure in Tier-2 cities as well as the industrially-backward south Tamil Nadu.

The Nanguneri industrial park was one of the many places which could be looked at by industrialists, he said.

Though not much work was done after the announcement of the development of an industrial park there, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government had focussed its energies on improving facilities in the area. These efforts would ensure that infrastructure was in place at an early date, he said, adding that the problems of low voltage were being addressed seriously.

“Once the 10,000 transformers are in place and the planned sub-stations are operational, we will have no voltage problems. We are at it,” the Chief Minister said when asked about supply of quality power to industries.

Road network

The road network was being given attention simultaneously so that there could be no problem in the transport of finished goods from industries. Also, in consultation with the Centre, expansion of airports in Tier-2 cities was being actively pursued. In fact, the State had an integrated plan to develop infrastructure across Tier-2 cities and the improvements were being closely monitored from Chennai by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. These facilities would be in place soon and hence there was no need for industries to concentrate around Chennai, he said.

In fact, the Chief Minister talked about the need for industries to move to Tier-2 towns when the new team of office-bearers of the Confederation of Indian Industry made a courtesy call on him at the Secretariat early this week. They too agreed with his views that dispersing the industries across the State would ensure that the fruits of development reached all sections across the State.

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