SUBCON exhibition in Coimbatore from May 14 to 16

Coimbatore man attempts to save calf from electrocution, dies

Woman, son arrested for letting pet dog bite neighbours daughter in Coimbatore

State plans to set up govt-run cloud exchange hub to position Tamil Nadu at forefront of AI

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is planning to establish a government-run cloud exchange hub, aiming to position the state at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation. The initiative, part of broader efforts to expand Chennais data centre ecosystem, is expected to support research, analytics, and technological advancements. Speaking at the 7th ASSOCHAM Conclave on Smart Datacenters & Cloud Infrastructure, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the states Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, said that if Chennai captures a significant share of Indias growing data infrastructure market, it could provide a strong foundation for the AI industry. Chennais data centre capacity is projected to increase from 202.43 MW in 2025 to 551.15 MW by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.18%, according to PwC. The citys strategic coastal location, infrastructure, and government policies are driving investment. The Tamil Nadu Data Centre Policy 2021 has played a key role, offering tax breaks, land subsidies, and power tariff concessions to attract developers. These measures, Rajan said, are laying the groundwork for both digital infrastructure and broader economic transformation. PwCs report calls for further policy enhancements, including incentives for sustainable and energy-efficient data centres, expanded renewable energy support, and clear public-private partnership (PPP) guidelines. It also recommends streamlined regulatory processes and training programmes to develop a skilled workforce for the sector. With the adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies rising across enterprises, demand for scalable data infrastructure is growing. The spread of AI and big data analytics is also driving increased investment in high-capacity, energy-efficient facilities, the PwC report said. Beyond Chennai, other cities such as Coimbatore and Madurai are also poised to benefit. The PwC report said Coimbatores strong industrial base and educational ecosystem alongside Madurais growing IT workforce make them attractive locations for data infrastructure growth. With supportive policies, a skilled workforce, and accelerating investment, TN is positioned to become a national leader in digital infrastructure, paving the way for AI-led innovation.

TN man murders 80-year-old grandmother in fight over dads Rs 1.5 lakh solatium

COIMBATORE: A 80-year-old woman was killed in broad daylight by her grandson, allegedly over a dispute over accident compensation in Sundarapuram on Monday. The victim, Manonmani, was a resident of Sathiyamoorthi Nagar near Mariamman Temple in Kamaraj Nagar. Her son Murugesan died in a road accident three years ago in Velandhavalam. Following Murugesans death, his family was awarded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh. Of this, Rs 6 lakh was given to his widow Lakshmi, while his sons Sivakumar (25) and Vishnu received Rs 1.5 lakh each. Manonmani was allotted Rs 1.5 lakh, and the remaining Rs 4 lakh paid as legal fees. According to police sources, tensions within the family had been simmering for months. Sivakumar, Murugesans elder son, had been pressuring his grandmother to hand over her share of the compensation since November last year, and arguments grew between them. On Monday, around 1.30 pm, the dispute took a drastic turn as Sivakumar allegedly confronted his grandmother outside her home, demanding the money. When she refused, he allegedly took a knife from inside the house and attacked her, fatally slitting her throat before fleeing the scene. Despite efforts to rush Manonmani to a nearby government hospital, she succumbed to her injuries. Sundarapuram police have launched an investigation.

Fluid in lungs killed Kerala doctor who trekked 13 km in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

COIMBATORE: Collection of fluids in the air sacs of the lungs (pulmonary edema) likely claimed the life of a 26-year-old Kerala-based doctor during trekking at Topslip in Ulanthy forest range in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) near Pollachi on Sunday, revealed the postmortem report on Monday. Sources in the Vettaikaranpudur hospital confirmed to TNIE the postmortem of the deceased, Ajzal A Sain, a resident of Thiruvanathapuram, revealed that some fluids were stuck in his lung, causing him breathing difficulties as he was climbing in the high-altitude area. Ajzal was accompanied by his friend Fadil Thayyib Raj (27) and two guides of the Tamil Nadu forest department during the trek through the Topslip -Pandaravarai trekking route. Forest department sources said Ajzal had complained of dehydration when he returned to Topslip at 4.30pm after completing the trek. Subsequently, he was taken to the Vettaikaranpudur Primary Health Centre in the forest department-owned ambulance, where he was declared dead at 5.25 pm on Sunday. He was about to pursue a postgraduate medical course in the US and was preparing for an exam. He completed his MBBS in Kerala a year ago, said a source in the hospital.The 13-kilometre-long trek commenced at 8.30 am and ended at 4.30 pm at Topslip. Food and soft drinks were provided to the trekkers by the forest department. The deceased managed to climb more than 1,200 metres (MSL) through the mountain temperate and semi-evergreen forest, where the trek is categorised as tough. Ulanthy Forest Range Officer M Sundaravel expressed the incident as unfortunate. Speaking to TNIE , Sundaravel said After Ajzal showed breathing difficulties while trekking, our guides stopped for a while and gave him some rest before proceeding. He didnt exhibit any health issues during the trek.

Police step up canal patrolling in western Tamil Nadu after elderly couple's murder

COIMBATORE: Following the murder of an elderly couple living alone in a farmhouse in Erode district recently, the state police department has increased the patrolling units along irrigation canals, as suspects are believed to be using such channels passing through farmland to reach their target. Covering the districts of Tiruppur, Erode, and Coimbatore, which rely on major irrigation projects such as the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), and Noyyal River irrigation channels, the police have increased their canal-based patrolling units from 39 to 82. Due to the high number of isolated farmhouses in these western districts and purportedly similar methods (intruding into their target house using the canal route) deployed in previous crimes, the police are zeroing in on the rural areas of Erode, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore, all of which fall under the Coimbatore Range in the West Zone. A number of farmlands are linked to these three major irrigation projects, and the water distribution canals passing through them could have been used by the burglars to reach their target. To address this, we had initiated canal-based beat patrolling in Erode and Tiruppur districts four months ago and established teams in Coimbatore as preventive measures. The patrol teams concentrate on routes along the irrigation networks. Following the recent double murder in Erode, we have doubled the personnel in these patrol teams, said a senior police officer from the range. According to police sources, Tiruppur district, which has approximately 80 km of irrigation network, has seen its beat patrolling units grow from 23 to 35. Similarly, Erode district which previously had 11 beats, covering 50 km of water irrigation routes, has increased this number to 22. In the Coimbatore district, the number of teams has risen from five to 15 as it covers around 30 km of canals under PAP. All routing was established with the support of the water resources department, which manages these irrigation canals. Each patrol unit consists of two police officers, one of them is armed. An additional 300 police officers from Coimbatore and Salem ranges have been brought to Tiruppur and Erode for patrolling duties. Farmhouse murders: Cops to trace elderly living alone The patrolling officers are visiting each farmhouse personally to enumerate safety measures. They are checking for the presence of pet dogs, CCTV surveillance, alarm systems, network coverage, access routes, and the number of residents. They also evaluate whether there are any elderly residents, the distance of the farmhouses from nearby villages, and whether the villages have CCTV cameras in place. This information is being compiled, and the locations will be tagged on Google Maps, the police sources said. Additionally, officers are advising residents of the villages to create WhatsApp groups and use the police application Kaval Udhavi for emergency alerts, allowing them to inform local villagers and police during exigencies. They are also recommending that residents install CCTV cameras in their individual farmhouses and along roads leading to each village to monitor any suspicious activities. The cops are encouraging people in the surrounding Erode district to share any information they might have about the burglars, according to police. R Ramasamy and Bhagyalakshmi, an elderly couple who lived alone in a farmhouse in Vijayanagaram village near Sivagiri, were reportedly beaten to death by unidentified culprits a few days ago and around 10 sovereigns of gold jewels were looted from the scene.

Regulate summer camps at private schools

COIMBATORE: With summer holidays, private schools and play schools are organising special camps violating norms due to the laxity of educational officers, allege activists. Citing the alleged drowning of a four-year-old girl in a water tank at a play school in Madurai last week, they demanded regulation or a ban on summer camps held by private schools, considering childrens safety. In Coimbatore too, such summer camps for children are now being conducted by private schools without any checks as the educational officer of the school education department gives them a free hand, say activists. Coimbatore-based activist S Basha told TNIE that money-spinning summer camps violate norms and educational officers allow them to function. Following the girls death at a summer camp, the Madurai District Collector issued an order barring all types of schools from conducting any classes in the name of sports, special classes, evening classes, summer camps during summer holidays. The school licence, too, was cancelled, he said. Even after this incident, schools in Coimbatore are conducting summer camps for their own students and other children by fixing fees ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 12,000 for summer courses on handwriting improvement, drawing, interactive indoor activities, etc. If authorities were interested, they could have included these activities in the school curriculum and taught students instead of doing so under the guise of summer camps. But they aim to earn money from parents, Basha alleged. He urged the Coimbatore District Collector to ban summer camps as was done in Madurai. Meanwhile, the All Private Schools Association alleged that many unapproved playschools are functioning in Coimbatore without obtaining opening licences from the school education department. Association president Mayadevi Shankar told TNIE that instead of issuing notices to unapproved schools for explanation every year, the school education department and the district administration should close them down. She alleged that even unapproved schools conduct summer camps for children illegally. She claimed that there was no response from the district administration and the school education department despite petitioning them on this matter. Mayadevi pointed out that these private schools have no power to conduct summer camps and alleged some schools conduct summer camps for children aged 2. Education Development Committee coordinator S Shanmugasundaram told TNIE, We cannot say summer camps by private entities dont serve a purpose. Some children want to learn something during the summer. But there is a need for regulation and guidelines for the conduct of summer classes through a government body. As there is no regulation by the government, cheating occurs in some camps, and a few private institutions conduct summer camps on swimming, sports, etc, ignoring childrens safety, he said. When contacted, a principal of a private school in the city told TNIE that schools conduct camps at the request of parents because parents do not have time to care for their children during the summer vacation. She claimed no permission is required to conduct such camps. Repeated attempts to reach the Chief Educational Officer R Balamurali and DEO for private schools, Punitha Anthonyammal went in vain. When contacted, Coimbatore district collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar told TNIE that he would look into this matter through educational officers.

NHAI calls tenders for upkeep of Neelambur bypass; widening soon

COIMBATORE: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has floated a tender for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the 27-km Neelambur Bypass Road , which connects Madukkarai to Neelambur. The stretch, a vital part of the Salem-Cochin National Highway, was recently handed over to NHAI by L&T ahead of schedule, following talks facilitated by the Union government. Sources said NHAI already has a DPR in the works for the widening project and will complete it in the coming months. The road, originally constructed by L&T, was intended to decongest city roads. However, over time, the expansion of Coimbatore city and increased industrial activity have led to a surge in traffic along the route. The maintenance contract, valued at Rs 5.57 crore, covers a one-year period and includes routine upkeep of the road which sees heavy passenger and freight traffic. While the move was welcomed by commuters and industrial stakeholders, there is growing demand for long-term upgrades to the bypass. This bypass is an arterial stretch for traffic headed towards Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu. The current width is not congruent with volume. Accidents have become a daily affair and the stretch is notorious for bottlenecks. Widening the road is the need of the hour, said S Rajasekar, a commuter from Madukkarai. J Sathish Kumar, director of Kongu Global Forum, told TNIE , We appreciate the maintenance initiative, but what is really needed is a long-term solution. A six-lane bypass along with two service lanes and flyovers would improve the stretch, similar to the road in Kochi. There is ample space for widening the existing two-lane road along with service lanes, centre medians and stormwater drains. Locals have also pointed out a lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, inadequate lighting, and poor signage along the stretch, all contributing to the road being accident-prone. It should be noted that earlier, the NH wing of State Highways Department had requested NHAI to hand over the stretch for O&M as well as widening, but no call was made regarding this proposition.

Unusual gale uproots trees, trips power in southern districts of Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE/THANJAVUR: Rain accompanied by unusually strong gale and thunderstorms uprooted banana plants on several acres, upended electric poles, and snapped power lines in Coimbatore and delta districts on Sunday, leaving thousands of houses without power till Monday afternoon. In Coimbatore city and neighbouring areas alone, at least 400 localities reported power outage, sources said. Senior electricity board officials said the damage to power infrastructure in Coimbatore city was the worst in last 40 years. In Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai districts, harvest-ready banana plantations on at least 100 acres were damaged. Ten villages in Mayiladuthurai district were badly hit, including Alli Vilagam, Sembathaniruppu, Kathiruppu, Ponsei, and Keezhaiyur near Sirkazhi. In Thanjavur, harvest-ready crops at Thillaisthanam, Perumpuliyur, Sathanur, Konerirajapuram, Achanur, and Vadugakudi were affected, sources said. M Mathiyazhagan, a banana farmer from Vadugakudi in Thanjavur, said banana plants have either been completely uprooted or damaged. Farmers spent up to Rs 1.5 lakh per acre for cultivating banana plants. The government should give us a compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre, he said. Trees were uprooted at around 400 locations across Coimbatore on Sunday night 205 transformers report supply interruptions Officials said there would be around 1,000 trees per acre and compensation would be provided if at least 330 trees are damaged per acre. Only after completing the enumeration, the extent of damage could be ascertained, they said. Officials of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited said 13 feeders supplying power from the Kavundampalayam substation of the Coimbatore metro distribution circle was out of power since 7 pm due to fallen trees. The core area of Saibaba Colony, particularly along NSR Road, witnessed significant damage. Surrounding areas such as Kavundampalayam, Velandipalayam, KK Pudur, and Edayarpalayam, which have dense population, also suffered due the impact of the strong winds. Above 300 locations reported fallen trees and branches, leading to uprooting of EB poles and low-tension (LT) lines, which resulted in power outages affecting more than 15,000 individual connections in Coimbatore city. A total of 205 transformers reported supply interruptions, officials said. While EB employees were working to restore electricity lines, fire and rescue services personnel were engaged in clearing fallen trees and branches. In many places, we were not able to enter the area and a large manpower has to be deployed to clear the uprooted trees and broken branches. The electricity lines were restored by 2.20am on Monday, said an official.

The Hindu Career Counselling Fair to guide students in Coimbatore

Traditional Nilgiri tahr habitats in Coimbatore Forest Division show signs of population revival

Coimbatore police arrest Andhra native for cyber fraud

Coimbatore woman, aged 80, murdered by her grandson

PIL in Madras High Court challenges Coimbatore Collectors NOC to a new mosque

An office-bearer of Hindu Munnani had filed the case in his personal capacity

Industries urged to adopt rainwater harvesting in Coimbatore

Building blown off in blast at explosives manufacturing unit near Coimbatore

Laptop manufacturer, its Coimbatore dealer directed to pay refund and compensation to customer

Building collapses in blast at high explosives manufacturing unit near Coimbatore

Over 500 contract workers protest in Coimbatore demanding PF dues, fair wages, and direct employment

Coimbatore Corporation gets State government nod for 245-crore RO plant in city

Choose & Read, one of Coimbatores earliest lending libraries, continues to stay afloat despite challenges

It is soon set to celebrate 40 years of its existence with a mobile application to draw more readers

Flying squads to keep a tab on drug peddling across Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: After Chennai and Madurai, the health department has taken steps to form special flying squads under the drug administration department in all districts across the state. Officials from the department said preliminary work has started to launch the squads, and it is designated to curb drug abuse cases based on intelligence inputs. During the discussion on the Demands for Grants in the Assembly last month, Health Minister Ma Subramanian announced that they would launch special flying squads across the state to prevent the supply and smuggling of sedative drugs. Following his announcement, the food safety and drug administration department has started works to execute the plan. Officials of the department say the inception of flying squads is aimed at tackling drug abuses and also the sale of adulterated, counterfeit and spurious medicines. These squads, comprising drug inspectors, will work with the stakeholder departments such as the police, food safety and others. This strategic move has been approved by the state government to enhance surveillance and monitoring across the pharmaceutical supply chain, especially scheduled drugs. The primary objective of these squads is to conduct regular and surprise inspections, based on intelligence inputs about illegal drug supply through courier services and online services. By doing so, the department aims to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical market, said an official. The squads are functioning in Chennai and Madurai, and are working with a minimal manpower. Once it is expanded across the state, the department must form a team for two districts. In the administration, every zone has two districts. While the department is handling excess workload with minimal manpower, this initiative may add to the difficulties. We have sent the list of manpower availability and shortage to the headquarters when they started the preliminary works for the project. We expect the department to recruit additional manpower for flying squads, the official added.

Centres nod sought for Singanallur flyover in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: After years of delays and design revisions, the long-pending flyover project at Singanallur junction on Tiruchy Road in Coimbatore is finally inching forward. The National Highways wing of the State Highways Department has submitted a revised estimate of Rs 180 crore to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, seeking approval and funding to kickstart construction. The Singanallur junction, a notorious traffic bottleneck, was one of three critical intersections in the city identified as black spots due to frequent snarls and accidents. Along with Saravanampatti and Saibaba Colony, it was shortlisted for flyover construction to decongest key arterial roads and streamline vehicle movement in the rapidly growing city. The initial proposal, approved back in 2022, pegged the project cost at Rs 110.8 cr. However, it ran into repeated hurdles first due to overlapping plans with the proposed Metro Rail project and later because of a lack of bidders. The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) had recommended shelving the flyover works at all three locations, citing that the alignments clashed with routes planned for the upcoming metro. The suggestion triggered public backlash, with residents and activists demanding that road infrastructure projects not be sacrificed for plans still on paper. In response to public pressure, the state government decided to retain the flyover projects at Singanallur and Saibaba Colony, as the first phase of the Metro is planned along the Sathyamangalam and Avinashi roads, not Tiruchy Road. Tenders were issued for both projects, but while the Saibaba Colony flyover gained traction, the Singanallur flyover failed to attract credible bidders. Officials attributed the lack of interest to the outdated project estimate and technical challenges, including a 62-metre-long span that contractors considered unviable under the original budget. Compounding the issue was the steep rise in construction material costs during the delay, which the initial estimate did not reflect. The project was originally approved nearly four years ago. But with delays caused by Metro-related planning and inflation in material costs, the initial estimate was no longer practical, a senior official from the National Highways wing in Coimbatore told TNIE. Many contractors backed out citing the unworkable financials. We had to float tenders five times, but each attempt failed to attract the right bidders. To address the concerns, the department has now revised the project cost to Rs 180 cr and made adjustments to the flyovers design. The flyover will span approximately 2.4 kilometres, starting from Uzhavar Sandhai and ending near Jai Shanthi Theatre, with a four-lane carriageway running along Tiruchy Road (NH-81). The revised proposal has been sent to the Union Ministry for final clearance, and officials are hopeful that the green signal will arrive in the coming months. We expect to receive approval and funds soon. Once cleared, we can begin work without further delay, the official added. For thousands of commuters who navigate the congested Singanallur junction every day, the projects revival comes as a glimmer of hope. While metro rail remains a long-term solution, the immediate need for flyovers continues to resonate strongly with residents and traffic planners alike.

Heavy rain alert issued for nine TN districts; Chennai may receive light rain today

CHENNAI: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued a heavy rain alert for isolated areas located in the ghat regions of Coimbatore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur, Tiruchy, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kancheepuram and Nilgiris districts, for Monday. On Tuesday, heavy rain may be likely over isolated areas in the ghat regions of Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni and Dindigul districts. Meanwhile, Chennai received an unexpected spell of rain, accompanied by lightning and thunder, on Sunday afternoon. At the end of it, the observatory at Nungambakkam recorded just over 1cm of rain, while the one at Meenambakkam recorded 8mm, and the weather station at Chengalpattu recorded 1.9cm of rain. Although temperatures dropped briefly, Chennais Nungambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 38.8C for the day and Meenambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 39.6C, just falling short of the 40C mark. According to the RMC, the city may receive light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning on Monday too. Apart from Chennai, Coimbatore also received light rain on Sunday.

V-C search panels for four more varsities to be set up this week

COIMBATORE: The Vice Chancellor (V-C) search committees for four more universities will be constituted this week, higher education secretary C Samayamoorthy told TNIE. This follows the setting up of V-C search committees for Bharathiar University in Coimbatore, Periyar University in Salem, and Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy, all of which come under the state higher education department. A couple of days ago, the state government released a fresh notification constituting the V-C search committees for these universities, stating that the committees are to submit three names to the government instead of the Governor-Chancellor by July 25. The state government has permitted the existing V-C search committees formed last December to recommend candidates for the appointment of new V-C for the three universities. Besides, the first meeting for the Bharathiar University V-C search committee was held on April 30 at TANSCHE in Chennai. A meeting has also been convened for all the V-C search committees in Chennai on Monday to discuss the selection process of the V-Cs, sources added. In the V-C search panel of Bharathiar University, P W C Davidar IAS (retired) has been appointed as government nominee, P Duraisamy, former V-C of the University of Madras, appointed as syndicate nominee and G Thiruvasagam, former V-C of Bharathiar University and Madras University, appointed as senate nominee. In the V-C search committee of Periyar University, D Jothi Jagarajan, IAS (retired), has been appointed as a government nominee, and M Thangaraju, former V-C of Periyar University, and M Bhaskaran, former V-C of Tamil Nadu Open University, are nominees of the syndicate and senate respectively. In the V-C search committee of Bharathidasan University, K Deenabandu IAS (retired) has been appointed as a government nominee, S Subbiah, appointed as senate nominee and M Rajenderan, former V-C of Tamil University, appointed as syndicate nominee.

Couple killed as bike falls into pit dug up for bridge construction in Tiruppur

TIRUPPUR: A couple riding home on a two-wheeler with their daughter died after falling into a pit dug up for the construction of a bridge on the DharapuramKangeyam Road in Tiruppur district in the early hours of Sunday. The 12-year-old child, who survived the accident, spent a harrowing four hours in the pit until police arrived and rescued her. Collector T Christuraj directed officials to issue notice to the contractor after visiting the spot as there were neither barricades around the pit nor signage alerting motorists to the danger. The deceased were identified as K Nagaraj (44) and his wife Anandhi (38) of Servakarampalayam near Suriyanallur in Dharapuram. Their daughter, N Dikshitha, received first aid before being admitted to a private hospital in Coimbatore. According to police, Nagaraj was employed as a salesman at a Tasmac outlet in Palavanchipalayam. The family had gone on a pilgrimage to Tiruchendur on Friday and visited Thirunallar in Karaikal on Saturday. They returned to Dharapuram by bus early on Sunday. From the bus stand in Dharapuram, they took their parked two-wheeler and were heading home to Suriyanallur when the accident occurred, the police said. Victims died on the spot of head injuries Road widening work is currently under way on the DharapuramKangeyam stretch and a pit had been dug in Kullaipalayam for constructing a footbridge. Concrete had been laid at the base of the pit, but the area was left without adequate barricades or signage. Around 1.30 am, while passing through the area, Nagaraj lost control of the vehicle and the family fell into the pit. Both Nagaraj and Anandhi died on the spot of head injuries. Passersby alerted the Kundadam police, who arrived at the scene around 6 am and sent the bodies to Dharapuram government hospital for post-mortem. Dikshitha was rescued and taken to a private hospital for further treatment. A case has been registered against the private contractor responsible for the work. Further investigation is ongoing, Inspector A Pathra said. Chief Minister MK Stalin announced ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh each for kin of deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the daughter.

Kumki Narasimhan guards devotees visiting Poondi temple

Another kumki, Urigan, also from Kozhikamuthi camp, has been stationed near Managarai within the limits of the Coimbatore Forest Range and is being made to patrol the forest boundary

Over 6,700 candidates appear for NEET in Coimbatore across 14 centres

Lending a hand to reclaim lifes joys and livelihood

A Coimbatore hospitals mission to take quality hand surgical care to the millions who are less privileged

House in Coimbatore robbed of 25 sovereign jewellery, 50,000 cash

Body of Dubai-based travel agent exhumed from burial ground in Karur

COIMBATORE: A day after the Peelamedu police arrested five persons in connection with the murder of Dubai-based travel agent D Sigamani , police exhumed his body and held an autopsy, the second in a week, from a burial ground in Karur on Saturday. Sigamani (47), a native of Puliyanthoppu in Thanjavur, was working as a travel agent in Dubai. Police sources said allegedly, Sigamani developed an affair with Saradha, a receptionist at a farm in Dubai and a native of Gandhimaa Nagar. Sigamani had loaned Saradha some money and demanded to return it. The duo often quarrelled over this, and Sigamani also beat her. She returned to her house in Gandhimaa Nagar along with Sigamani on April 22. Police said Saradha gave Sigamani food laced with sleeping pills after he consumed liquor with her stepfather Thiyagarajan. When Sigamani was semiconscious, Thiyagarajan attacked him. With the help of henchmen, Saradha took Sigamanis body and buried it in Karur.

Ex-judge Mohan Ram convener of TNAU V-C search panel

COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu government on Friday constituted a three-member Vice Chancellor (V-C) Search Committee to recommend names for the appointment of a new V-C for Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore. K Mohan Ram, retired judge of the Madras High Court, has been appointed the government nominee and he is also convener of the V-C Search Committee. P Ramasundaram, former national coordinator, ICAR (NAHEP and NAIP) principal scientist, New Delhi, is the nominee of the Academic Council of TNAU. S Ramanathan, former Director of Research, TNAU, is nominee of the Board of Management of TNAU. Nominees of the Academic Council and Board Management of TNAU are members of the V-C Search Committee. Under section 11 of the TNAU Act, 1971, the government must constitute a search committee to recommend a panel of three names to the government for appointment of the V-C of TNAU. The committee is requested to recommend a panel of the three names of eligible candidates along with their bio-data to the government of Tamil Nadu for appointment of V-C, TNAU, said a notification from the Agriculture-Farmers Welfare Department dated May 2. The Governor of Tamil Nadu had nominated the convener of the last V-C search committee. As the state government is now empowered to appoint the V-Cs, the government nominated a retired judge of the Madras High Court as convener of the V-C search committee. As per the norm, the committee should submit its recommendation of three names for the V-C posts to the government within four months from the date of its constitution. Finally, the government will select the V-C for TNAU. The V-C search committee will start the process of V-C selection soon, sources added. The tenure of former TNAU V-C V Geethalakshmi, the universitys first woman V-C, ended on March 28. Governor RN Ravi in his role as the Chancellor appointed the university registrar as the acting V-C, till a V-C is appointed.

Vegetable show marks start of 2025 summer festival in Nilgiris

NILGIRIS: The 2025 summer festival kick-started in the Nilgiris with the commencement of a two-day vegetable show at Nehru Park in Kotagiri, on Saturday. Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru inaugurated the 13th vegetable show, with the main attraction being a jallikattu bull made of 2.5 tonnes of vegetables such as brinjal, potato, radish and carrots. Tourists and locals were seen taking photos of designs such as Tamil Maravan butterfly, made of carrots and beetroot, and Silambattam design, made of potatoes. Designs such as the Common emerald dove, made of brinjal, scarlet gourds and banana pepper, and a parrot made of green chilli and red chilli, were among the crowd favouries. A Thanjavur doll made of zucchini, carrots, radish, green chilli, red chilli and scarlet gourd, was also displayed by the horticulture department. Horticulture department officials and the Nilgiris district administration urged tourists to visit the park. Rose show, flower show, fruit show, spices show and hill crop show will also be a part of the summer festival and will be inaugurated in the coming days. Horticulture department officials in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Kancheepuram, Vilupuram, Erode, Theni and Tiruvannamalai districts have set up stalls to show the variety of crops being cultivated in these districts. The Nilgiris collector said those visiting the district must obtain an e-pass and refrain from carrying single-use plastics. She also sought cooperation from the public and tourists in avoiding plastic use.

Friend-circle guide to help kids ace test

COIMBATORE: The sunlight filtering into a quiet government school classroom in Coimbatore lands gently on a row of determined young faces. Its late afternoon and the Class 12 students with their heads bent over spiral-bound textbooks are deep in preparation. These thick Q&A books of 1,000 pages each arent provided by the school. However, for Tamil-medium students preparing for board exams, they are nothing short of essential. What makes them remarkable isnt just the content its the man behind them. P Raguraman, a 49-year-old civil contractor, has quietly spent the past two decades building more than just homes. Through his Kovai Aram Arrakkattalai (Aram Trust), hes been assembling and distributing study guides to thousands of underprivileged students (classes 10 and 12) across Coimbatore for free of cost. It started in 2003, when Raguraman noticed students in rural areas struggling to access exam materials. Many of them relied on torn library books or borrowed notes that were often incomplete. Seeing this gap, he reached out to educators, including retired teachers, and compiled a comprehensive Q&A guide that would cover the entire syllabus, something rural students could lean on during their most crucial academic years. For the first 10 years, I printed 5,000 books annually and personally distributed them to students in classes 10 and 12, says Raguraman. Later, I scaled it down to 1,000 for each grade due to financial constraints. A friend in Sivakasi prints them at a low cost, and I still visit the schools myself to hand them over. Each book costs around Rs 300 to print. A circle of 20 long-time friends has quietly backed the effort since the beginning one of them runs the printing press, offering the service at zero profit. The guides in Tamil include past board questions, model answers, and memory aids aligned with the state syllabus, all vetted for accuracy by experienced teachers. At a time when private tuition centres and coaching apps dominate urban education, Raguramans hand-delivered books continue to serve students in schools that lack even the basics. The message that travels with every book? That someone out there is rooting for them. Raguramans new book, a 128-page guide on food adulteration, lists methods to detect adulterants in over 120 common items like oil, milk and spices | S Senbaga pandiyan In 2006, the trust began organising mock board exams in school settings to help ease exam jitters. Over 1,000 students participate every year. And when NEET competition grew fierce in 2018, he added free preparatory material to help level the playing field for rural aspirants. But Raguramans work doesnt stop with academics. In 2012, he published Golden Hour, a first-aid manual with easy illustrations and step-by-step guide. More than 20,000 copies have been handed out to traffic police, students and members of the public. This year, he turned his focus to consumer safety. His new book, a 128-page guide on food adulteration, lists methods to detect adulterants in over 120 common items like oil, milk and spices. Priced at Rs 70, nearly 5,000 copies have already found their way to homes and shops across the district. The Aram Trust has also ventured into areas of quiet dignity. At a palliative care centre in Coimbatore, Raguraman helps fulfil final wishes of terminally ill patients from reuniting with distant relatives to enjoying their favourite home-cooked meal. In 2018, he organised a hair donation drive that saw over 100 women cut and donate their locks to make wigs for cancer patients. Yet, education remains closest to his heart. Each year, he arranges field trips for over 100 students to dairy farms, science museums, and cottage industries. The aim, he says, is to show young minds a world beyond textbooks. I always believed that life should mean something to society, once our familys needs are taken care of, he says. In the early 2000s, I saw rural students struggling to get hold of exam guides. When I saw the positive impact our Q&A books had on their results, I knew I had to keep going.As the summer holidays come to a close and classrooms are readied for a new academic year, Raguraman, too, feels the familiar excitement. While students get ready to step into their classrooms, he, too, is ready to walk through the school corridors again, carrying with him the quiet determination to help shape their future, one book at a time. (Edited by Adarsh TR)

CCMC aims to wrap up work on 24x7 water supply project by August 2

COIMBATORE: After years of delays, missed deadlines, and mounting public frustration, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) is making a final push to complete the long-overdue 24x7 drinking water supply project by August 2 this year. The project, being implemented across 60 wards by private contractor Suez India Projects Pvt. Ltd., has been fraught with challenges since its inception in 2019. The Rs 646.71-crore initiative, launched through an agreement signed in 2018 between CCMC and Suez, was initially expected to be completed by August 2023. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, labour shortages, coordination lapses, and allegations of substandard work pushed the project off track, forcing the civic body to extend the deadline to August 2025. Now, with mounting pressure from the CCMC councillors in view of the assembly election in Tamil Nadu next year, the CCMC is determined to wrap up the project within the next three months. Despite the urgency, progress has been slow. Only around 82% of the work has been completed so far, with several wards still lagging behind. Councillors across zones have expressed disappointment over the poor execution and delays, particularly the inability to resume roadwork due to incomplete House Service Connections (HSCs). As far as the Central Zone is concerned, the work is fully completed only in wards 31, 32, 46, and 47. In many other areas, Suez has left out 20 to 50 houses without HSCs, which is delaying road restoration. Without connecting all houses, we can't move ahead with road-laying, Central Zone Chairperson Meena Logu told TNIE. Councillors are not happy with the quality of the work. The road surfaces are uneven, and the work is being done without proper supervision. All stakeholders - the public, councillors, CCMC, and Suez - should have coordinated better from the beginning. In response to mounting criticism and pressure, the CCMC recently took over pipeline installation in several areas, adjusting the costs against the Suez bill. The civic body also imposed fines and issued repeated warnings to the firm. These actions appear to have prompted Suez to speed up execution in recent times. 24x7 water supply is now available in 37 District Metered Areas (DMAs), covering 58,732 connections. In 18 DMAs, 29,194 connections receive intermittent supply through newly laid pipelines. Out of the planned 54 km of pipeline along a 25 km national highway stretch, 15 km has been completed. Of the seven railway crossings in the project, work is done at six locations, with the final one underway. However, financial bottlenecks continue to hinder progress. Sources said the CCMC owes a substantial amount to Suez, which has slowed down the deployment of additional manpower and completion of the project on time. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said, The firm is waiting for the release of Operation & Maintenance (O&M) funds. We have forwarded the request to the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) and are waiting for their approval. Once we get the green light, we will release the pending dues. In the meantime, work is being carried out in full swing. With the August 2 deadline fast approaching, civic officials remain hopeful that the long-promised 24x7 water supply will soon become a reality for Coimbatore's residents. But with many streets still dug up and tempers running high, timely completion and road restoration remain critical to regaining public trust and preparing the city for the political season ahead. 24x7 Water Supply Project Funding Total Project Value: Rs 646.71 cr Government of India share: Rs 166.99 cr Government of Tamil Nadu share: Rs 101.21 cr Concessionaire: Rs 129.34 cr Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board: Rs 66.8 crore CCMC: Rs 182.37 crore (Smart City Projects fund Rs 150.73 cr + Rs 31.64 cr from General fund) Operation & Maintenance for 25 years: about Rs 2,000 cr Beneficiary Wards Zone | Total Wards | Ward Numbers North | 11 | 3, 12, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 East | 13 | 24, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 Central | 20 | 31, 32, 46, 47, 48, 49, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 West | 10 | 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 71, 72, 73,74, 75 South | 6 | 76, 77, 78, 79, 86, 87 TOTAL | 60 | Progress of work SUBJECT | TOTAL | COMPLETED SO FAR Main pipelines | 74 km | 58.96 km Supply pipelines | 1,744 km | 1,684.50 km House Service Connections | 1,50,000 | 1,24,515 Over Head Tanks | 33 | 25 District Metered Areas | 97 | 37 (fully finished) & 18 (intermittent supply) ------------------------------ Overall progress - 82% completed

Gold, cash stolen from house in Coimbatore city

Solution in sight for traffic snarls at Lanka Corner in Coimbatore

Coimbatore Collector calls on public to follow forest fire safety measures as summer heat escalates

Coimbatore atheist murder case: CCTV camera at witnesss home damaged

DPR to be finalised soon for jewellery industrial park in Coimbatore

Multiple organs harvested from brain-dead man in Coimbatore, saves seven lives

Travelling public in Coimbatore urge Southern Railway to operate Vande Bharat to Chennai with 16 coaches

AI and AR integrated training modules introduced in government schools in Coimbatore through CSR initiative

NEET exam to be held in 14 centres in Coimbatore

Contract drivers protest in Coimbatore over job security

CCB books chairman,directors of Chennai FIIT-JEE in Rs 4-crore cheating case

CHENNAI: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) has registered a case against private coaching institute FIIT-JEE Chennai head Ankur Jain and other directors following serious allegations of fraud. After FIIT-JEEs Kilpauk centre abruptly closed down, over 100 parents accused the institute of having taken them for a ride, the police said. The parents claimed they were cheated of nearly Rs 4 crore by FIIT-JEE after it collected Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per student for coaching programmes targeting competitive exams like JEE and NEET, the police said. Parents alleged that the institute failed to deliver promised academic services, and refund requests were repeatedly ignored, the police said. FIITJEE, a Delhi-based coaching institute, operates across the country through tie-ups with private schools. The police said the sudden closure of the Kilpauk centre is blamed on the freezing of bank accounts at FIIT-JEEs Delhi headquarters that prevented the institute from paying salaries to its teaching staff, thus crippling its operations. One of the complainants, Aravind, said he paid Rs 1.74 lakh for his daughters enrolment, only to find the institutes services abruptly withdrawn. Similar closures have been reported in other states, causing disruption nationwide, police said. A case under relevant sections of the BNS was registered on April 22 and the officers are probing possible collusion with private schools, police added. The CCB has confirmed that six FIIT-JEE centres in Tamil Nadu, including in Chennai and Coimbatore, continue to operate. The members of the staff at these centres claim that classes are running smoothly and that the Kilpauk case appears to be an isolated one. The investigation is under way. It may be noted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also investigating a Rs 250-crore scam allegedly involving over 15,000 students. Raids on FIITJEEs Delhi and Noida offices had reportedly led to seizure of Rs 10 lakh in cash and gold worth Rs 5 crore. Two Pink autos driven by men seized, 5 drivers fined Chennai: A few days after TNIE published a report highlighting that several Pink autorickshaws were being driven by men instead of women, the social welfare and women empowerment department took action on Friday and seized two such autos operated by male drivers. Additionally, the traffic police imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on five male drivers, Rs 1,000 each, for permit violations. The Pink Auto scheme, launched on March 8 this year, was introduced to promote womens entrepreneurship and improve the safety of female passengers. As part of the initiative, a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh was offered for the purchase of CNG or hybrid autorickshaws, with permits granted only on the condition that the vehicles be owned and operated exclusively by women.

Garbage collection disrupted due to sanitation workers protest in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Garbage collection across several wards in Coimbatore came to a halt on Friday after drivers of dump trucks and garbage transfer vehicles working with the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) staged a protest near the Ukkadam garbage transfer station. The protest comes in the wake of a new private agency taking over solid waste management operations in the city from Friday. The workers, who were engaged under the previous contractor, raised serious concerns over job security and long-pending employee benefits. Their demands include a wage hike, proper regulation of Provident Fund (PF) and Employees' State Insurance (ESI) contributions, permanent employment status, and an end to the contract labour system currently followed by CCMC. We've been working as drivers and sanitation workers under the Corporation for years. The previous contractor didn't provide basic safety equipment or ensure PF and ESI benefits. Despite submitting several petitions, there was no resolution, said one of the protesting workers. According to them, Corporation officials had earlier promised to negotiate with the incoming agency and secure written assurances on employee benefits and job continuity. However, with no updates or formal communication from the authorities, the workers said they felt compelled to protest. They are now seeking a detailed report and written assurance on the dues owed by the previous contractor and a clear plan on the new agency's policies regarding existing workers. Senior CCMC officials, including Deputy Commissioners A Sulthana and T Kumaresan, along with health department authorities, held discussions with the protesting workers. The officials assured them that steps would be taken to address their concerns within a month. Meanwhile, the protest has left garbage collection operations in limbo, impacting several parts of the city and raising concerns about sanitation and public health.

Southern Railway launches new train from Chennai to Jodhpur

CHENNAI: To cater to the growing demand for travel to Jodhpur and other parts of Rajasthan, Southern Railway is launching a new train service from Chennai to Bhagat Ki Kothi, located about 3.5 km from Jodhpur, a major tourist hub. The new service will operate five days a week and is expected to reduce the black-market sale of Rajasthan-bound tickets, which are often sold by travel agents allegedly at a premium of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 above the regular fare. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the inaugural special train on Saturday. Regular operations will commence on May 5 from Chennai Central and May 7 from Bhagat Ki Kothi. Currently, Jodhpur is connected by a weekly train to four key destinations in Tamil Nadu Chennai Egmore, Tiruchy, Rameswaram and Coimbatore. However, many Rajasthan natives who migrated to Tamil Nadu 50-60 years ago and have since settled across the state face significant travel challenges due to the lack of a daily service. The Chennai-Jodhpur and Chennai-Jaipur routes frequently experience huge demand, especially during festivals and summer holidays, resulting in ticket shortage. A Uttam Kumar, a resident of Mannady, shared his experience: Due to the high demand, I used to send my staff to queue up from 6 am at the ticket counter to book Tatkal tickets to Jodhpur. During summer, I often paid travel agents an extra Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for AC tickets. According to an official release, the new train will depart from Chennai Central at 7.45 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving at Bhagat Ki Kothi at 12.15 pm on the third day. In the return direction, it will leave Bhagat Ki Kothi at 5.30 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, reaching Chennai at 11.15 pm on the next day. The train will consist of the following coaches: 2 AC two-tier, 4 AC three-tier, 4 AC three-tier economy, 6 sleeper class, 4 general second-class, 1 second-class coach equipped for passengers with disabilities, and 1 luggage-cum-brake van. Nagercoil Vande Bharat to run with 20-car rake Chennai: To manage the extra rush, the railways has decided to augment the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express with four extra chair car coaches starting from May 8. Currently operating with a 16-coach rake, the train will be upgraded to a 20-coach configuration, according to a statement from the Railways.

Rs 9,900-crore Koyambedu-Pattabiram metro corridor gets in-principle nod

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has granted in-principle approval to a Rs 9,928-crore 21.76-km metro rail corridor linking Koyambedu and Pattabiram, as the state moves to expand urban transport infrastructure in tune with the rapid suburbanisation of Chennais western periphery. The project includes three highway flyovers coming up at a cost of Rs 464 crore and is intended to reduce congestion along Outer Ring Road. The plan has been forwarded to the centre for clearance under an equity-sharing framework, with TN also seeking loan assistance from bilateral and multilateral lenders. The corridor is designed to enhance connectivity to Pattabiram, where the state is banking on a Rs 330 crore Tidel IT Park, which was opened recently to catalyse development. The upcoming tech hub Chennais third after Taramani and Coimbatore is expected to reshape the economic landscape of north-western Chennai. Located in north-western Chennai, TIDEL Park ensures seamless connectivity through upgraded road networks and the upcoming Metro, offering easy access for employees and clients across the city and suburbs, said VS Sridhar, executive managing director, Tamil Nadu & Kerala, and head of GCC Advisory-Operations at Cushman & Wakefield. The metro extension is also strategically aligned with emerging residential and commercial zones in Thirumazhisai, Tiruvallur, Kundrathur, Ambattur, Tiruttani, Avadi and Poonamallee areas that are increasingly viewed as ripe for urban and industrial growth. The proposed link is expected to not only serve as a transport backbone but also unlock new employment corridors. The proposed extension will commence at the existing Koyambedu metro station and traverse through bustling localities including Padi Pudhu Nagar, Mogappair, Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal and Avadi, before culminating at Pattabiram (ORR). Along this route, passengers will enjoy seamless integration with important transport hubs such as Ambattur Estate terminus & Ambattur OT, Avadi railway station and a major bus terminus, facilitating easier transfers and reducing travel time. The Detailed Project Report (DPR), submitted to the state government in February, outlines a transit-oriented approach aimed at integrating mobility solutions with regional development strategies. Ridership 87.6L in April Chennai: CMRL recorded a total ridership of 87.6 lakh passengers in April, marginally higher than the 87 lakh reported in January and 86.7 lakh in February. March remained the busiest month of the year with 92.1 lakh passengers using the network. Wednesday saw the highest footfall for the month with 3.49 lakh commuters travelling across the system.

Woman lures ex-lover from Dubai, kills him with stepdad aid

COIMBATORE: In a macabre murder, a Dubai-based travel agent was lured to Tamil Nadu by his ex-lover and bumped off with the help of her stepdad. T Thiyagarajan (69), stepfather of Saradha (32) are main accused in the case, is already convicted for murdering his stepdaughters husband in 2018 and was currently out on bail pending appeal. The deceased has been identified as D Sigamani (47), a native of Tiruvarur district who operated a travel agency in Dubai. His family resides in his hometown in TN. The Peelamedu police have altered the missing person case into murder after Thiyagarajan surrendered before a court in Coimbatore. Five others, including Saradhas mother and sister, were arrested in the case on Friday. The Peelamedu police have also sought the permission of revenue authorities to exhume Sigamanis body which was buried by Karur police as unclaimed body 10 days ago. Henchman assisted the accused in the crime When she sought the money back, Sigamani allegedly harassed her, leading to the plot to eliminate him. Thiyagarajan of Thoothukudi district was living in Gandhimaa Nagar in Coimbatore for over 30 years with his partner, Gomathi, mother of Saradha. He is a life convict in a previous murder case involving Saradhas husband, Gunavel, and had been out on bail after appealing the sentence at the Madras High Court. According to police, Saradha returned to Coimbatore on April 20 and informed Thiyagarajan about the issue with Sigamani. On April 22, Sigamani arrived in Coimbatore, allegedly to meet Saradha. Thiyagarajan, meanwhile, enlisted the help of henchman Kutty Thangam alias Puthiyavan of Thachanallur in Tirunelveli to execute the murder. On the night of April 24, Sigamani was served food laced with sedatives and subsequently murdered. The following morning, Thiyagarajan, with the help of Puthiyavan, transported the body in a car to K Paramathi in Karur district and dumped it in an isolated area. As the body remained unidentified, Karur police carried out postmortem procedures and buried it. When Sigamanis wife Priya could not contact him, she checked with his Dubai office and learned he had travelled to Coimbatore. She filed a missing complaint with the Peelamedu police on April 28. While the investigation was underway, Thiyagarajan, realising the tightening police net, surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate-II court in Coimbatore on April 30. Following his confession, police arrested him on Thursday and reclassified the case as murder. On Friday, they apprehended the other accused: Gomathi, her daughters Saradha and Neela (30), the hired killer, and another woman from Erode who assisted them in the crime.

NGO appeals to drop Coimbatore Corporations plan to commercialise tanks

Coimbatore city police open virtual witness room

Coimbatore police arrest five for murder of Dubai-based travel agent

The murdered man has been identified as D Sigamani, 47, of Puliyanthoppu in Thanjavur district. He had been running a tour and travel firm in Dubai for two decades.

Sanskrit summer camp to be held in Coimbatore

Coimbatore Corporation appoints new firm for solid waste management operations

Four arrested for illegal mining, transportation of red earth near Coimbatore

Gale damages over one lakh banana crops in Sirumugai region in Coimbatore district

Farmers cultivating Perur Patteeswarar Temple land in Coimbatore seek to halt evictions, demand legal protection

T.N. CM Stalin distributes awards to three farmers for excellence in organic farming

G. Sampathkumar from Coimbatore district secured the first prize, while T. Jagadeesh from Tiruppur district and V. Kalidoss from Nagapattinam district received the second and third prizes, respectively

Accused who fled from combined court complex in Coimbatore apprehended by Selvapuram police

COIMBATORE: A 39-year-old accused in a robbery case who gave the police a slip at the combined court complex in Coimbatore city on Monday was caught by the Selvapuram police on Thursday. D Senthil Kumar of Mettur in Salem district had fled just before the court pronounced him guilty in a 2006 case. Kumar told police during questioning he had fled to Krishnagiri along with his wife and two children, aged 10 and four, on a two-wheeler after fleeing from the court premises on Monday evening. The police, however, suspect somebody might have helped him in the flight as he is not in good health to make good his escape alone. He was apprehended from the Tiruvannamalai Road in Krishnagiri town in the early hours of Thursday and brought to Coimbatore in the evening. He was then remanded to the Coimbatore Central Prison. Mobile tower data helped the police to trace his location. A separate case has been registered against Kumar now for escaping from police custody, said police sources. Though he escaped from the courtroom, the judge sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him. Thereafter, the Selvapuram police formed a special team led by Inspector K Pandiammal to arrest him. On August 26, 2006, Kumar and his two associates Ramesh, alias Ramesh Kumar, of Mettur and Mathim, alias Mathivanan, intercepted and attacked Mahesh Maruthaiah of Srinagar and snatched a bag containing cash. The robbery happened when Mahesh was on his way to his uncle Ramachandran's house at Chokkampudur on a two-wheeler. Mahesh was looking after his uncle's business and he used to hand over the daily collection to his uncle. Knowing it, the three had assaulted him with weapons and robbed him. The Selvapuram investigation wing police registered a case against them under Sections 392 and 397 of the IPC and arrested Senthil Kumar and Ramesh. Mathivanan is yet to be caught. Ramesh died during the trial. Senthil Kumar had been appearing for the trial regularly. The trial was on before the First Additional Subordinate Judge, Coimbatore.

Tamil Nadu HR&CE department to start preliminary works of Lord Muruga statue project in Maruthamalai

COIMBATORE: The HR&CE department is set to start the preliminary works for the 184-foot-high Lord Muruga statue project in the foothills of Maruthamalai. The works will commence after the HR&CE Commissioner's order followed by a government order, which is expected to be out within a month, said sources. The department would acquire eight acres near the Government Law College, Coimbatore, to create basic facilities, including a car park and a bus stand for parking HR&CE buses. R Senthil Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple, told TNIE While the total height of the statue from the base to the top will be 222 feet, the height of the statue alone will be 162 ft. Along with peedam, the statue height would be 184 ft. The HR&CE department has three acres. We have decided to acquire eight acres from the revenue department. The Lord Muruga statue will be installed amidst a garden. Separate places for parking cars and tourist vehicles will be allotted, said Senthil Kumar. The department has also decided to carry out welfare measures for wild elephants and take measures to protect devotees from leopards. Since the pathway is used by the elephants regularly at night, we will be constructing a pond to meet their water needs. It will be built near the residential quarters of the forest staff with donor funds. We will also be constructing watchtowers to monitor elephant movements early. We will also be covering the hillside using a fence to prevent leopard intrusions, the official explained. Sources said that HR&CE will also be setting up near the statue an information centre on the history of Maruthamalai as well as separate places symbolising Lord Muruga's six abodes (Arupadai Veedu), viz., Thiruparankundram, Tiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Tiruttani, and Pazhamudircholai.

Madras HC orders stay on cancellation of network charges on industrial rooftop solar power

COIMBATORE: The Madras High Court has ordered an interim stay on cancelling the network charges on rooftop solar used for industrial purposes. A division bench passed the order on April 28 on a petition filed by the TNEB against an individual mill owner. Senior Counsel and DMK MP P Wilson appeared on behalf of TNEB. In December 2024, the court ordered the cancellation of network charges on rooftop solar on a petition filed by several industrial associations such as SISPA, SIMA, TASMA and RTF, among others. While they had been urging the government to implement the court order, the stay is on an individual respondent. Industrialists have expressed concerns that using the stay, the TNEB plans to collect network charges from all users. They said TNEB is still collecting network charges despite the court order in December 2024 Even though several industrial associations filed a caveat petition on the collection of network charges on rooftop solar, the TNEB filed the petition by selecting a textile mill owner from Coimbatore. Based on the petition, the high court ordered a stay on the individual mill. But, the TNEBs plan is to obtain the stay and collect network charges from all users. This will be detrimental for industrial development in Tamil Nadu, said Jayabal M, president of Recycle Textile Federation. Based on the Generic Tariff Order for Grid Interactive PV Solar Energy Generating Systems (GISS), issued by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) on October 22, 2021, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has gradually increased the rooftop solar network charges from 0.83 paisa to Rs 1.04 for high tension consumers and Rs 1.27-Rs 1.59 per unit for low tension consumers. Appealing against the decision, the South India Spinners Association (SISPA) filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court in August 2022, challenging the levy of network charges on rooftop solar generators, said S Jagadesh Chandran, secretary, SISPA. The case was heard on August 25, 2022, and after arguments from both sides, the court issued an interim injunction against TNPDCL, directing it not to demand network charges from the members of the petitioner association until further orders. Despite the stay, TNEB collected the charges. An HC order published on March 23 directed the authorities not to collect network charges from our association members who have installed rooftop solar. Despite the order, TNEB imposed the network charges on LT lines, he said. Speaking to TNIE, J Radhakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman & Managing Director, TNEB & TNPDCL, said, As discussed in the current budget session, the government has decided to make policy changes in renewable energy. A consultative meeting will be convened with the participation of all stakeholders. They will be consulted on the grievances relating to network charges. The government does not want to take it adversely through the court. The matter will be resolved soon.

Tamil Nadu Assembly budget session ended on a high with bold resolutions, landmark legislations

CHENNAI: Bold resolutions, landmark legislations, fierce debates, witty remarks, quick replies, walkouts by and evictions en masse of opposition parties marked the recently concluded budget session of the state Assembly. The intense debates on delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, NEET and two language policy; resolutions on Waqf Act and retrieval of Katchatheevu; key legislations including those on nominating around 14,000 persons with disability to all local bodies, stringent punishment for those using coercive methods to recover loans, establishment of a university in the name of M Karunanidhi, booking those dumping medical waste under Goondas Act, and a high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Kurian Joseph to study centre-state relations, were the highlights of this session. Colony fades into oblivion One of the key announcements made by the CM was the decision to remove the term colony from the government records and public usage, as the term has been regarded as a symbol of dominance and euphemism for untouchability. The Assembly also adopted a resolution moved by the CM urging the union government to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in toto on the basis that this bill would severely affect the minority Muslim community. When the Act was passed in the Lok Sabha, the CM criticised it in the House. Perhaps for the first time, the chief minister raised slogans within the House, demanding that the bill be withdrawn. The resolution moved by AIADMK seeking to remove Speaker M Appavu from office was defeated by a margin of 91 votes. AIADMK moved the resolution despite knowing well that it would be defeated. Uproar and suspensions The house witnessed fierce debate between Chief Minister MK Stalin and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami on various subjects, mostly over law and order issues. Palaniswami also clashed with the Speaker on multiple occasions. He suspended 15 AIADMK MLAs for a day for displaying sheets with slogans printed on it inside the house, and for disrupting the proceedings. On another occasion, they were evicted en masse for disrupting the proceedings. In an announcement that was considered surprising from the Dravidian model DMK government, HR and CE Minister PK Sekarbabu announced three sky-high statues of Lord Muruga, who is hailed as Thamizh Kadavul (God of Tamils), at Marudhamalai in Coimbatore, Thindal in Erode and Kumaragiri in Ranipet, at a cost of Rs 146.8 crore. Order in house Meanwhile, the way Speaker M Appavu, a teacher by profession in his early life, conducted the house proceedings in the last four years reminded one of former Speaker PTR Palanivel Rajan, a strict disciplinarian. He was always attentive to the debates and corrected the members, including ministers, when their reply was irrelevant or when they meandered. Appavus style has also invited criticisms from the opposition who claimed that the speaker was answering on behalf of the ministers. But he has taken criticisms in his stride, even during tough situations. Many members, after exchanging angry remarks with the speaker, were seen talking to him with ease when they approached him to explain the matter. Leader of the House Duraimurugan, with his decades-long experience as a senior legislator, has also taken it upon himself to ease tensions when the need arose. Ending on high note Another significant development that took place during the session was the resignation of ministers V Sethil Balaji and K Ponmudy. At the fag end of the session, the CM brought cheers to government employees and teachers by making nine key announcements which would cost the state exchequer more than Rs 5,000 crore.

Parents anxious as RTE admissions yet to begin in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: Many parents across Tamil Nadu are awaiting the School Education Departments notification on Right to Education (RTE) admissions in private schools, for the 2025-26 academic year. Parents said that the admission process through the single-window portal usually commences in April and the notification is released in March. A parent, P Devaraj from Thondamuthur in Coimbatore, told TNIE that currently, admissions have started at private and government schools since March, for the next academic year. He said that he has been waiting to admit his four-year-old son to the kindergarten section in a private school under the RTE Act. As the government is delaying the release of RTE notification for admissions, I am confused if I should admit my son to a government school instead, he said. Many other parents share Devarajs plight. V Eswaran, Founder of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam, told TNIE that under the RTE Act, over one lakh students from economically weaker backgrounds get admitted to 25% of seats in the lower classes at private schools in the state. As the government has not released the notification, people are left in the lurch, he said. Last year, parents submitted admission applications from April 22, and educational officers scrutinised them in May. Eligible students were admitted on June 3. Now, even though the School Education Minister announced that schools would reopen on June 2, ground work for RTE admissions is yet to commence. This delay will affect admissions, he said. He pointed out that the central and state governments together cover their education fees and suspects that the state government plans to drop RTE admissions, citing the central governments failure to release grants. Eswaran warned that if the state government does not release the notification in five days, they would hold a protest on May 8. KR Nandakumar, general secretary, TN Nursery, Matriculation and CBSE Schools Association, told TNIE that several parents have been enquiring about RTE admissions since April. Even when we enquired with the Directorate of Matriculation Schools (DMS), officials did not give a reason for delay, he said. A top official from DMS told TNIE that RTE admission notification would be released in five days.

Two arrested for sexual assault in Coimbatore

Minister inaugurates government exhibition in Coimbatore

Robbery case convict who escaped from Coimbatore court arrested in Krishnagiri

How Coimbatores trees tell tales of time, travel and belonging

The Design Mills tree walk in Coimbatore turns a lazy Sunday into a lush, leafy classroom of living history

AAI calls for tenders to expand car parking area at Coimbatore International Airport

Coimbatore resident gets life imprisonment for patricide

Coimbatore Corporation contract sanitary workers boycott work demanding salary hike

Sankara Eye Hospital to screen all school students in Coimbatore

Customers in Coimbatore preferred low weight jewellery for Akshaya Tritiya

Steel wire fence work in Coimbatore forests halted as Madras High Court orders status quo

Two kumkis to drive out wild elephants entering villages in Coimbatore district

Coimbatore court convicts five for murder attempt in 2017

Major manufacturing sectors of Coimbatore hit by low demand

WRD imposes ban on bathing in water bodies surrounding Aliyar reservoir in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Following the drowning deaths of three college students from Chennai in Aliyar River last week, the Water Resources Department (WRD) of Parambikkulam Aliyar Project (PAP) has imposed a ban on trespassing and bathing in catchment areas, canals and rivers surrounding the Aliyar reservoir in Pollachi. The ban on entering these water bodies has been communicated through hoardings placed at four locations the first check dam of Aliyar River near the dam shutters, a known tourist attraction, the water catchment area of the dam on Valparai Road and the Pallivilangal canal. Aliyar River and dam are very deep, and entering them for bathing or swimming poses a life-threatening risk, and hence, it is prohibited, said sources from the WRD. Warning boards have been installed at locations where people have been known to trespass into the waterbodies. Additionally, temporary staff, along with police personnel and home guards from Aliyar station have been appointed to monitor these vulnerable areas and prevent illegal entry. According to officials from the fire and rescue services department, there have been nine reported drowning deaths in the Pollachi region over the past three-and-a-half months. They emphasised that many areas along the Aliyar basin are dangerous to the public, and these locations should be sealed off to prevent entry. Of the reported deaths, four occurred near the Aliyar Dam, and four others along the same stretch at Ambarampalayam. We are only informed of cases where our support is needed. There may be more drowning incidents in the Aliyar basin. As the number of tourists visiting the attractions around Pollachi continues to rise, the district administration is taking preventive measures and has called a meeting this week to discuss permanent solutions, said a senior official from the fire and rescue services department. According to WRD sources, over 3,000 people visit Aliyar on weekdays, and the number can rise upto 5,000 on weekends. With an increase in tourists visiting riverside locations in the Aliyar basin, the risk of drowning has also increased. The WRD is preparing a proposal to the government to install strong fences where necessary to prevent trespassing. Pollachi Sub-Collector (in charge) Viswanathan said temporary measures have been taken to prevent tourists from entering dangerous areas on the riverbed, adding that a permanent solution is being sought.

CAG report pulls up DME, Kovai ESI hospital dean for financial burden on Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The failure of director of medical education and the dean of ESI Hospital in Coimbatore to include hospital outsourcing charges of Rs 12.34 crore as expenditure while claiming reimbursement from Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) caused a financial burden on the state's finances, found Comptroller and Auditor General of India report for the year ended March 2023. During 2017-2021, the DME incurred consolidated expenditure of Rs 656.92 crore for outsourced services in all its medical institutions. This included Rs 12.34 crore of admissible outsourcing charges in respect of ESI hospital, Coimbatore. Due to the failure of the DME and dean to include these charges in the hospital's statement of expenditure for the financial years 2017-2021, the state government lost out on reimbursement of outsourcing charges from ESI corporation and had to bear the consequent additional financial burden. The matter was referred to the government in August 2023 and again in September and February, but a reply was not received till March 2024, the report said. The CAG report also said food safety officers in the audited districts did not have complete data of food business operators (FBO) functioning within the area assigned to them. In the absence of records relating to inspection, it could not be established that all registered FBO were actually inspected at least once in a year by the food safety officers as per the regulations. Inordinate delay in testing the samples and reporting the results, allowed the untested food to be consumed by the public. This defeated the basic objective of food safety and exposed the public to unsafe food, the report added. The government replied in April and June 2024 that with a limited number of 250 FSO, it was practically not feasible to conduct enumeration of FBOs and their regular updation. The government further added after filling all the FSO vacancies, periodical enumeration would be conducted.

Motorists demand expedited construction of Coimbatore's Saibaba Colony flyover

COIMBATORE: With traffic snarls worsening on Mettupalayam Road, especially near Saibaba Colony junction, commuters are growing frustrated over the slow progress of the ongoing flyover construction. Many have urged the Highways Department to expedite the project to ease congestion on one of Coimbatore's busiest arterial roads. The flyover, being constructed by the National Highways wing of the State Highways Department, begins at Alagesan Road and ends near the MTP Road Bus Terminus at Eru Company. It is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 75 crore. Though work began on September 19 last year, the project has faced numerous roadblocks and only 35% of the construction has been completed so far. With the official deadline set for August 2026, commuters fear that delays could stretch this further. UGD pipelines and high tension electricity cables on the road have not been shifted yet by respective departments, thereby delaying progress, sources said. Motorists say traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours, has made commuting daunting. It is a nightmare to cross this stretch in peak hours, said R Chandhini, an office-goer. What used to be a 10-minute drive now takes 40 minutes. We're not against development, but the pace of work is affecting many of us. S Thangavel, a retired government employee, shared a similar view. The dust, diversions, and delays have made it difficult for senior citizens like me. Authorities should consider the impact of this project on people's lives and look to speed up construction. People pointed out that after going through hardship during construction of Kavundampalayam and GN Mills flyovers on Mettupalayam Road, they have been once again left to commute through congested sections due to Saibaba Colony flyover construction on the same stretch. Speaking to TNIE , a senior NH official refuted the slow progress of the project and said works are expected to be completed before the deadline. Once the project began, we quickly constructed the piers and works are progressing in full swing. As a result, around 20 out of 23 pillars have been constructed. The remaining three will also be installed, once UGD pipelines are shifted. We have completed around 35-40% of work now and plan to finish the project by the end of this year, although the deadline is next year, the official added.

Tree transplantation begins ahead of Avinashi-Mettupalayam road widening

COIMBATORE: In a bid to improve road infrastructure while preserving the environment, the state highways department officials, in collaboration with Green Care NGO, has started the tree transplantation drive on the Mettupalayam-Avinashi stretch. A total of 262 trees are set to be transplanted and around 1,400 trees will be razed down to make way for the road widening project works. The state government has sanctioned Rs 238 crore under the Chief Minister's Rural Road Development Programme (CMRDP) to upgrade the 38-kilometre stretch between Avinashi and Mettupalayam into a four-lane highway. The project spans 13 km in Tiruppur district and 25 km in Coimbatore district, with land acquisition already initiated in three locations. As road widening works are under way, environmental concerns have been brought to the fore. The officials in Tiruppur district have already felled as many as 470 trees on the Avinashi-Annur stretch. A survey conducted in Coimbatore district identified 1,604 trees that obstruct the expansion on the Mettupalayam-Annur stretch. Of these, 1,342 trees are set to be felled, while the remaining will require only branch trimming. However, not all trees will be lost. Following an inspection by the district green committee, officials were advised that 262 of the trees could be salvaged through transplantation. Taking this recommendation forward, the state highways department, in collaboration with the environmental NGO 'Green Care', launched a tree replantation drive at Kanjapalli on Monday. On the first day, around six trees were carefully uprooted and relocated. Speaking to TNIE , Green Care founder Syed explained the meticulous process involved in tree transplantation. A majority of the trees on the stretch are Tamarind trees which cannot be transplanted as its success rate is very low. So we have avoided them and are transplanting other tree varieties. The replantation effort includes native species such as Poovarasu, Mandharai, Neem, Pungan, Ayan, and Arasu. Meanwhile, the Coimbatore district green committee has demanded that the 40-km Mettupalayam-Avinashi stretch be converted into a green corridor with adequate tree plantation on both sides. S Sivaraja, a member of the district committee and Kowshika Neer Karangal Trust's secretary told TNIE , We have asked the officials to ensure that 10 saplings are planted for each tree cut by the highways department. Also, we have urged the officials to cut the trees only after they plant all the saplings. Since the road was covered with lush green trees and played a vital role in the environment, we have demanded the district collector to take necessary steps to convert the 40-km stretch into a green corridor by planting trees on both sides, about 5-6 ft from the edge of the road. The collector has assured us to assess the matter and take necessary steps. Delay by TNEB, railways holds up Avinashi Road flyover work

Elephant dies of infection in Coimbatore; forest vet rules out injuries

COIMBATORE: A 17-year-old wild elephant died without responding to the treatment at the Koothamandi Reserve Forest near Sirumugai in the district on Tuesday morning. The forest veterinarian who examined the animals carcass refuted the claims that the animal was bleeding. Based on Coimbatore forest veterinarian A Sukumars recommendation, the forest department staff provided medicines laced with fruits in the last one week as the animal was weak and continued to stand in a particular place in the reserve forest. While it was monitored during the day, the jumbo joined its herd at night and roamed the reserve forest before separating in the morning. The Sirumugai forest range staff provided medicines and water, which it also consumed regularly. However, its health did not improve and the elephant was found dead at 6.22 am on Tuesday. Sukumar, along with Vet Assistant Surgeon K Vijayaragavan of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and Sasi Gurunathan of Therampalayam Animal Husbandry Department carried out the postmortem in the presence of forest department officials and members of an NGO. There were no external injuries. It may have died due to multiple organ failure induced by infection from consuming fodder or water. We will know how the animal was infected only after testing the samples of the organs at the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) in Chennai this weeks, said an official.

Tamil Nadu colleges collected Rs 23 crores excess fee in 2021-2024: CAG

CHENNAI: The CAG, in its compliance audit report tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday, said government aided and private arts and science colleges have collected excess application fees, more than prescribed norms, from students. The report mentioned that due to failure of joint directorates of collegiate education and state government in monitoring compliance of fees collection as per government guidelines, several government aided and self-financing colleges collected extra fees amounting to Rs 23.14 crore from 2021 to 2024. The report said that as per guidelines, application fee of Rs 48 and Rs 58 for UG and PG courses respectively and registration fee of Rs 2 alone should be collected from students. However, scrutiny of records (July 2021) maintained by the Joint Directorate of Collegiate Education (JDCE), Chennai and Tirunelveli Regions (April 2022) and data collected from 95 government aided/self-financing colleges functioning under the eight regional offices of the JDCE (Chennai, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Tirunelveli and Vellore) revealed that excess fees had been collected. From 2021 to 2024, excess application fee between Rs 50 and Rs 545 was collected from 1,29,579 applicants (other than SC/ST category) instead of the government rate of Rs 48 and Rs 58.

Preparation of city logistics plan for Chennai and Coimbatore is on

Ailing tusker dies despite treatment in Coimbatore

Man arrested for sexually harassing minor girl near Coimbatore railway station

A windfall for public libraries in Coimbatore

CAG flags 12.34 crore loss to exchequer caused by Director of Medical Education and Dean of Coimbatore ESI Hospital

Man convicted in robbery case escapes from Coimbatore court prior to pronouncement of sentence