The Hindu Business Line : CII state council outlines inclusive growth plans

Blueprint
Expansion of Chennai airport to meet present requirements
Satellite city vital for organised growth
Expediting CityConnect, a forum for all to voice their views on the master plan

MR GOPAL SRINIVASAN

Chennai April 17 Expansion of the Chennai airport, a satellite city near Chennai and improvements in urban infrastructure development programmes in Coimbatore and Madurai are the top priority items on the agenda of the Tamil Nadu State Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The State Council is concurrently working on long-term goals for inclusive growth through voluntary affirmative action, skills development and entrepreneurship development.

Programme details

Outlining the CII's programme for the year in Tamil Nadu, the CII's State Council Chairman, Mr Gopal Srinivasan, said the Confederation has initiated steps to put together a framework that would help in long-term growth of the State.

It would address issues such as inclusive growth, affirmative action by the industry, skills development programme, particularly for the SC/ST to ensure that the benefits of economic growth reaches all sections and entrepreneurship development.

The framework would take the form of a report outlining a 20-year vision for competitive and inclusive Tamil Nadu.

The report to be presented to the State Government would have inputs from a cross section of the society including industry experts, economists, academicians and school students.

Short-term problem solving has to be balanced with finding resources for long-term growth, Mr Srinivasan said.

On the immediate needs, he said that the CII was of the view that the Chennai airport has to be expanded to meet the present requirements.

The industry association would work with the Government and take up the issue `strongly' with the authorities concerned.

"The delay in the Chennai airport project is not good for the city," he said, adding that the present location "is ideal''.

Second airport

However, a second airport is a long-term solution that has proven effective in many Asian cities. Chennai too should have a second airport in the long run, he said.

For the organised growth of Chennai, a "satellite city is mandatory''. While smaller townships were coming up on a few hundred acres, a city-size project has to be initiated.

CII would also expedite CityConnect, a forum for all to voice their views on the master plan for Chennai.

On the mass transportation issue, for example, there is a lot of focus on the Metro project. But data shows that "not one Metro project was profitable''. Rather an elevated bus way is a viable option. Low cost infrastructure such as the elevated busway in Pune is the need, Mr Srinivasan said.

The CII is for immediately rolling out the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for urban development in Coimbatore and Madurai.

More Stories on : Economy | Industry Associations | Tamil Nadu

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