Tamil Nadu Allocates 45,000 Acres for Industrial Land Bank, Completes 14,000 Acres Acquisition.

To accelerate industrial growth, the Tamil Nadu government has identified 45,000 acres for an industrial land bank, completing the acquisition of 14,000 acres. New SIPCOT industrial parks are being set up in Thanjavur, Perambalur, Dharmapuri, and Theni districts to ensure balanced development, Governor RN Ravi stated during his address to the Assembly on Monday. However, the Governor exited the Assembly within three minutes, citing the absence of the National Anthem, leaving Speaker M Appavu to deliver the prepared speech.

Chief Minister MK Stalin's recent investment drive brought in ₹7,500 crore, creating 11,500 jobs, including Ford's plans to resume manufacturing in Chennai. Since 2021, the state has secured over ₹10 lakh crore in private investment commitments, bolstering industrial growth across all regions.

Notable developments include Thoothukudi’s emergence as a green hydrogen hub, solar investments in Tirunelveli, IT and aerospace growth in Coimbatore and Hosur, and the northern region’s continued leadership in automobile manufacturing.

The state also launched a Self-Certification Scheme to streamline building plan approvals, benefiting over 36,000 applicants in just three months. Additionally, Tamil Nadu has integrated 157 regulated markets into the e-NAM platform, enabling ₹5,779 crore worth of agricultural transactions since 2021.

Despite progress, challenges remain. The Union Government has withheld ₹2,152 crore under the Samagraha Shiksha Scheme, impacting the salaries of 2.2 lakh teachers and the education of 44 lakh students. The state has urged the Centre to release funds urgently.

In infrastructure, the state has strengthened 9,653 km of rural roads under a flagship scheme and plans to renew another 10,000 km. Moreover, Tamil Nadu has received approval for a 50:50 equity share in Chennai Metro Rail Phase II, paving the way for project completion.

The Governor also emphasized the state's demands to the 16th Finance Commission, seeking equitable resource allocation to address urbanization, natural disasters, and ageing demographics. The state hopes these recommendations will lead to progressive financial reforms.

HBL