Four major projects in TN may come under scanner

Four major projects – the aero park; the sports city; the financial city; and the media and entertainment park – could possibly come under review with new Government taking over in Tamil Nadu.

Industry sources feel these projects will help the State move from being a ‘strong manufacturing base to knowledge industry.' But, the fear among industry is that some of the projects like aero park though initiated by the industry were considered to be ‘pet projects' of the former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr M.K. Stalin, who took keen interest in their implementation, and could (therefore or otherwise) be shelved.

“Politics should not come in the way of industrial development. If the projects were good, it should be taken up by the incumbent government,” said an industry source. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) was given the responsibility of these projects, which are under various stages, including appointment of consultants.

Aerospace ecosystem

The aerospace ecosystem that has potential to create direct and indirect employment for one lakh highly skilled resources and can attract an investment of nearly $10 billion was in fact mooted by the Confederation of Indian Industry. This ecosystem will enable global players to design, manufacture and maintain all types of aircraft for both civilian and defence needs.

PPP mode

The State Government had earlier announced that the aerospace park will be established through Public Private Partnership model to facilitate the growth of aerospace industries utilising the strengths and capabilities in engineering, auto and IT sector in the State.

The ecosystem will have dedicated runways, design and engineering city, manufacturing complex, satellite MRO facility, research and development centre and test laboratories, training/ simulators complex, aviation university, warehouse complex and MRO complex. In addition, there will be software and IT complex, pilots aid complex, international convention centre, global residential village, captive power generation complex, hospital, schools and other integrated amenities.

On the sports city, the Tamil Nadu Government identified Thiruvidanthai on the East Coast Road (ECR) and eight other nearby villages to establish Chennai Sports City in 1,500 acres in the Kancheepuram district. Due to the fast development of employment opportunities on the Rajiv Gandhi Salai (IT Corridor), there is need to develop social infrastructure in nearby areas.

In the proposed Chennai Sports City, multi-purpose outdoor and indoor stadia, training schools, sports facilities, hostels for sports persons and sports medical centre have been proposed to be created.

Even as the Financial City is planned in Sholinganallur and Perumbakkam villages on the southern fringes of the city, the State Government wanted to develop a Media and Entertainment Park there to give a thrust on digital post-production, animation and manpower development. The park will house integrated post-production complexes, animation zones, broadcasting and motion capture and visualisation studios.

Assertiveness

According to Mr Subu D. Subramanian, CEO, Defiance Technologies, a group company of Ashok Leyland, the new projects will help the government broad base the industrial sector and look beyond manufacturing sector in which the State is quite strong.

“With a strong majority, this government has lot more assertiveness. We cannot miss this opportunity in areas such as aero park, and media and entertainment,” said Mr Subramanian who has taken keen interest in the aero park in CII.

With more Defence companies, including the French company EADS, looking at India, it is time that Tamil Nadu moved fast in the aero park project. It is a similar situation with the media and entertainment industry with the State becoming a large sourcing for 2D and 3D work for global industry, he said.

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