The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Three-day Tiruchi auto fair kicks off

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Saturday, Oct 02, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Three-day Tiruchi auto fair kicks off

Special Correspondent

Photo:M.Moorthy

wide range:Transport Minister K.N.Nehru at the Auto Fair 2K10 organised by Tiruchi Auto Parts Dealers Association in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: A three-day auto fair, organised by the Tiruchi Auto Parts Dealers Association, opened in the city on Friday.

The fair with about 120 stalls showcases a range of automobiles, auto components and accessories. Leading auto majors have also set shop at the fair to display their products.

Steps by government

Inaugurating the fair, K.N.Nehru, Transport Minister, highlighted the steps initiated by the government to promote and support the automobile industry in Tamil Nadu so much so that the state has come to be known as the Detroit of India.

Tamil Nadu also had the second highest number of registered vehicles in the country, next only to Maharashtra.

The state also had the highest population of two-wheelers, he said.

“Rapid growth”

R.Subramanian, President, TVS & Sons Ltd., said t the automobile industry has witnessed rapid growth in Tamil Nadu. Being a labour intensive industry, it was also generating employment. He, however, observed the industry was faced with a skill gap impacting on the employability of youths.

To overcome this, his company has started a community college in Madurai to train youths, including school drop outs.

The government was also taking steps to improve the employability of youth, he said.

S.Narayanan, Executive Director, Madras Auto Service, Chennai, and others were present on the occasion.

Variety of products

According to A.Chandrasekaran, chairman of the fair, about 150 manufacturers, distributors and allied sectors of the automobile industry were taking part in the event. Apart from car, two-wheeler and heavy vehicle sellers and re-sellers, spare parts distributors, vehicle insurers, auto financing and leasing companies, body builders, garage equipment dealers, tyre and battery companies, oil and lubricants suppliers were also exhibiting their products.

Vintage cars and motorcycles

A separate section features a handful of vintage cars and motorcycles.

The fair, underway at the St.John's Vestry Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. till Sunday.

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