writingonblog uncensored: US tariff shock puts 75,000 Tamil Nadu leather job...

writingonblog uncensored: US tariff shock puts 75,000 Tamil Nadu leather job...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Up to 75,000 jobs in Tamil Nadu’s leather sector are at risk after United States doubled tariffs on Indian imports t...

US tariff shock puts 75,000 Tamil Nadu leather jobs at risk

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

As many as 75,000 jobs in Tamil Nadu’s leather sector are at risk after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian leather imports to 50 per cent, threatening one of the state’s largest export industries and prompting calls for urgent intervention from New Delhi.

Tamil Nadu, which accounts for the bulk of India’s leather goods production, is expected to bear the brunt of the move. About 30 per cent of the state’s leather exports are shipped to the US, with some companies relying on the market for up to 60 per cent of their sales.

“The rise will hit the sector very hard,” said Abdul Wahab, managing director of KH Shoes. “US buyers are demanding discounts of up to 20 per cent, which they expect exporters to absorb. If we spend ₹100 to produce a product, they want it at ₹80. That is simply not viable.”

He added that several American brands had already put new orders on hold until the tariff issue is resolved. For existing contracts, exporters are reluctantly offering temporary discounts. “We can manage this for one or two months,” Wahab said, warning that companies may then be forced to cut 20–30 per cent of their workforce.

Industry executives have urged the government to provide immediate relief, including incentives to offset part of the tariff burden. Wahab suggested that the government absorb 15 per cent of the additional levy, exporters bear 5 per cent, and US buyers cover the rest. “This would ensure continuity of business and prevent job losses. Otherwise, countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia will take our place — and once this business goes, it will not return.”

Exporters are also calling for support from the Tamil Nadu government, including a stipend of ₹10,000 for laid-off workers to help with reskilling.

Israr Ahmed, director of Farida Prime Tannery, said companies were selling at a discount to keep US consumers from switching suppliers. “This buys us time, but the US was always the growth market. These tariffs will hurt India for a long time if it stays on,” he said.

The exposure is greater for Tamil Nadu than for most states. While the US accounted for 20 per cent of India’s $433.6bn merchandise exports last year, the figure was 31 per cent for Tamil Nadu’s $52.1bn exports.

The timing of the setback is particularly acute. India’s leather and footwear industry has set an ambitious goal of nearly doubling turnover to $47.1bn by 2029–30, up from $23.7bn in 2023–24. The plan includes raising exports to $13.7bn and creating 2.5mn new jobs on top of the 4.4mn already employed.

But exporters warn that unless the state and central governments step in quickly, the 50 per cent US tariffs could derail both investment and employment growth in one of Tamil Nadu’s backbone industries.

US Navy Submarine Tender USS Frank Cable Docks at Chennai

Chennai:
The US Navy’s USS Frank Cable (AS 40), the second Emory S. Land-class submarine tender, arrived at Chennai Port  underscoring the deepening maritime engagement between India and the United States at a time when the ties are facing the test over United States imposing new tariff regime on India.

This is the second visit of the vessel to India inthe last three years. The earlier one was on August 2022 at Visakhapatnam. The visit included a guided tour showcasing the ship’s mission, technical capabilities, and the professionalism of its crew.

"We have two such vessels and USS Frank Cable is likely to be decommissioned in the next 10 years," said Executive Officer (XO) of the ship Michael Rodriguez. Built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle and commissioned in 1979, Frank Cable was originally designed to service the US Navy’s nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class attack submarines. For more than a decade, the vessel operated from Charleston, South Carolina, supporting both attack and ballistic missile submarines.

Decommissioned in 1996, the ship was later reactivated and refitted to serve as the Seventh Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform in the Western Pacific, replacing the USS Holland. Since then, Frank Cable has become a familiar presence across the region, making port calls in cities from Brisbane and Singapore to Vladivostok and Subic Bay.

"We are submarine tenders and provide all services to our submarines. Anywhere in the world, the submarine can come to our side and we can provide everything to sustain the port," said Rodriguez. The vessel specialises in replenishing submarines and surface ships in the mid-sea. It primarily operates to provide consumables, electricity, water, spare parts, medical, mail and legal and repair services to submarines and their crews at sea. It also serves as an armoured depot by providing torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles to the submarines.

He said the visit is to reinforce the partnership.. "Our friends in the Indian Navy have hosted us for several events. Today, members of our crew were at a college here and they were learning how to play cricket and also had questions and answer session with students there," he said. The vessel will depart from the port on Thursday.

Chennai Metro clears safety hurdle as Phase 2 trains pass certification trials

CHENNAI:

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has completed a key milestone in its Phase 2 expansion, with conclusion of safety trials marking a significant step towards commissioning services on the Poonamallee Bypass–Porur Junction stretch.

The certification trials, conducted between  August 16 and  August 25, by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the Ministry of Railways’ independent testing agency assessed ride quality, traction and braking performance at speeds of up to 90 kmph.

The RDSO team also examined passenger comfort, braking reliability under different operating modes, and compliance with electrical and emergency safety standards.

According to CMRL, the trains successfully demonstrated the ability to stop safely under full passenger load, with braking and traction systems performing within design parameters. The evaluation confirmed that the rolling stock met both quality and safety norms, clearing the way for further approvals before commercial launch.

"The trails have been completed ahead of the scheduled date of completion, shows that CMRL rolling stock has demonstrated the safety and quality standards followed in the trains," a release stated.

writingonblog uncensored: VOC Port likely to float Outer Harbour Project ten...

writingonblog uncensored: VOC Port likely to float Outer Harbour Project ten...: CHENNAI: The upcoming tender for VOC Port’s Outer Harbour Project is likely to be floated under a revised  implementation structure. The fra...

writingonblog uncensored: VOC Port likely to float Outer Harbour Project ten...

writingonblog uncensored: VOC Port likely to float Outer Harbour Project ten...: CHENNAI: The upcoming tender for VOC Port’s Outer Harbour Project is likely to be floated under a revised  implementation structure. The fra...

VOC Port likely to float Outer Harbour Project tender under revised implementation structure

CHENNAI:

The upcoming tender for VOC Port’s Outer Harbour Project is likely to be floated under a revised  implementation structure. The framework, updated from the 2021 version, incorporates committee recommendations and stakeholder inputs and will be released shortly, according to Union Shipping Secretary T.K. Ramachandran.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday during a workshop-cum-roadshow on the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ initiatives, Ramachandran said the revised framework is part of wider reforms in public-private partnership (PPP) processes across major ports. With the abolition of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports, tariff-setting has shifted to a new market-linked regime. An adjudication board has been constituted to expedite dispute resolution, alongside a conciliation mechanism to encourage settlements before arbitration. Revisions to the schedule of rates are also under way.

The VOC Port Authority in Thoothukudi reissued a request for proposal (RFP) for its Outer Harbour Project in December 2024, after an earlier tender drew little interest. Only two firms—Vedanta and Premier Science and Technology—submitted bids in the first round, but both were disqualified. The eligibility criteria were later eased to encourage wider participation, yet the second attempt also failed to attract bidders.

Planned on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer basis, the project entails dredging and construction of a breakwater, with a total handling capacity of 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) to be developed in two stages. The first phase, costing an estimated ₹4,494 crore, will create a 2-million TEU capacity through Container Terminal I (berths I and II), along with dredging, breakwater works, and common facilities. The second phase, with an additional 2-million TEU capacity at Container Terminal II (berths III and IV), carries an indicative cost of ₹2,561 crore.

The outer harbour is critical for VOC Port, which is constrained by its inner harbour’s capacity. Global container ships have grown rapidly over the past five years, now exceeding 400 metres in length and capable of carrying nearly 22,000 TEUs. VOC Port, however, can accommodate only vessels half that size. According to the detailed project report, mere modernisation and berth optimisation will not suffice—an outer harbour is essential to handle future traffic and vessel sizes.

IPA to conduct feasiility study to develop Rameswaram as cruise tourism hub

CHENNAI:
In a bid to position southern coastline and island territories as new hubs for cruise tourism, the Indian Port Association (IPA) preparing feasibility studies for Rameswaram and Kanyakumari and exploring options in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

This comes after Tamil Nadu Mercantile Board had identified seven to eight possible sites, including Rameswaram. The feasibility study will be fully funded by IPA. This was disclosed during  a press conference chaired by Shipping secretary T K Ramachandran at a workshop-cum-roadshow on the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ recent initiatives, under the themes of ‘Projects, Schemes & Public-Private Partnerships’ and ‘Human Resource (Departmental & Institutional)’.

Talks are also underway with Southeast Asian nations to stitch together regional routes that could eventually link Indian ports with popular tourist circuits in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The IPA has already signed an MoU with Malaysia to study opportunities in the sector, with similar agreements expected soon with Jakarta and Bangkok, said Indian Port Association (IPA) managing director Vikas Narwal

The moves come in the wake of the first ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue, hosted in Chennai earlier this year. Shipping Secretary T.K. Ramachandran underscored the sector’s potential to generate employment and deepen regional tourism flows. “We have begun with domestic coastal cruises and want to extend these to neighbouring countries. Cruise tourism offers an ideal way of sightseeing, and frameworks are now emerging to simplify procedures across borders,” he said.

Chennai Port Chairman Sunil Paliwal said Cordelia Cruises is assessing routes that could link the Andamans with Southeast Asia. Cordelia plans to add a new vessel next year, which will be home-ported on the east coast, with Chennai expected to be the hub. Existing vessels will continue to operate on the west coast. Paliwal added that the port is upgrading its cruise terminal and improving facilities at Jawahar and Bharathi Docks.

The roadshow for India Maritime Week 2025 here drew over 150 participants, including officials from central and state governments, industry bodies and EXIM trade representatives. The India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled for October in Mumbai, will bring together 1,00,000+ delegates from 100+ countries and is likely to generate over 10 Lakh crores investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, MAR-a-thon – India’s Maritime Hackathon” was held here under the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative, it aims to foster maritime research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligning with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

writingonblog uncensored: Worker Dies, Another Injured During Metro Structur...

writingonblog uncensored: Worker Dies, Another Injured During Metro Structur...: Caption:  The workers were standing on the slider beam platform and operating the hydraulic jack. The hydraulic jack was in slider beam when...

Worker Dies, Another Injured During Metro Structure Load Test

Caption:  The workers were standing on the slider beam platform and operating the hydraulic jack. The hydraulic jack was in slider beam when it fell. Harness is not feasible

CHENNAI:

A worker died and another was injured during a preliminary load test on a metro structure on Corridor-4 near the ELCOT IT Park area in Sholinganallur, after a rope holding a slider beam slipped.  The accident that took place around 3:45 am on Friday.

According to T Archunan, Chennai Metro Rail’s Director for Projects, engineers had initially tested the structure with its full design load, which the structure successfully bore without any issues. However, when they attempted to increase the load by 25%—a standard procedure to check safety margins—the equipment failed. The rope snapped, causing the sliding beam to slip, leading to the fatal accident.

Preliminary load testing is an early-stage structural test carried out on newly constructed civil components—mainly viaduct spans, bridges, and station structures—before full-scale train operations begin. At this new site, the test was being conducted to assess the structure’s safety before work could proceed. Contractors and third-party consultants were present when the incident occurred, Archunan added.

On whether workers should have been secured with safety harnesses, Archunan said they were operating a hydraulic jack positioned on the slider beam. Since the jack was mounted on the same beam that eventually fell, using harnesses was not feasible in this instance. The workers were standing on the slider beam platform at the time.

The deceased has been identified as Bikee Kumar Paswan (26), a rigger from Jharkhand, while the injured worker is Santhosh Lohara (22), a Kalasi, also from Jharkhand. As immediate relief, the deceased’s family will receive ₹5 lakh under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The contractor responsible for the project will also provide additional compensation, Archunan added.

SpiceJet ramps up Boeing 737 leases ahead of winter travel surge

Chennai:

SpiceJet will add five more Boeing 737 aircraft to its fleet in October under short-term lease agreements, doubling the number of jets it had already planned to induct ahead of the busy winter travel season.

The Gurugram-based low-cost carrier said most of the planes will arrive in early October 2025, with a few joining the fleet by late September. All will operate under damp lease arrangements and remain in service until May 2026, covering both the peak winter period and the run-up to next summer.

The move builds on last month’s announcement that SpiceJet would bring in five Boeing 737s from another operator, taking total confirmed additions to 10. The airline is in talks to secure further capacity before the winter schedule begins.

India’s domestic aviation sector typically experiences a sharp rise in demand during the year-end holiday period, followed by sustained traffic through the spring festival season. The capacity boost comes as competition intensifies among carriers, with rivals also shoring up fleets to capture seasonal demand.

“SpiceJet is fully geared to meet the surge in travel demand for the upcoming winter and early summer seasons,” said Debojo Maharshi, the airline’s chief business officer. “With the induction of these additional Boeing 737s, we are ensuring that our passengers have more choices, greater connectivity, and a reliable, on-time travel experience.”

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro Rail Limited commissions consultancy...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro Rail Limited commissions consultancy...: CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has initiated consultancy contracts to develop Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for two significan...

Chennai Metro Rail Limited commissions consultancy for major corridor extensions

CHENNAI:
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has initiated consultancy contracts to develop Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for two significant extensions aimed at expanding the city’s metro network and boosting urban mobility.

The first project focuses on a roughly 7-kilometre extension of Corridor 4, stretching from Lighthouse to the High Court. This expansion is expected to enhance connectivity along the iconic Marina Beach and provide improved access to key government offices, including the Secretariat. The extension aims to cater to daily commuters as well as tourists, addressing the growing demand for seamless transit options in Chennai’s densely populated areas.

Meanwhile, the second project envisions a new 21-kilometre corridor linking Tambaram, Medavakkam, Pallikaranai, and Velachery with Guindy Metro Station on Corridor 1. Designed to integrate Chennai’s southern suburbs with the existing network, this corridor promises enhanced multimodal connectivity at key hubs such as Tambaram, Medavakkam, Velachery, and Guindy, facilitating smoother transfers across transit modes.

CMRL has appointed Systra MVA Consulting India Pvt Ltd to prepare the DPRs for both corridors, awarding contracts worth INR 38.2 lakh and INR 96.2 lakh for both the extensions respectively. The consultancy work is scheduled to be completed within 120 days.

The agreements were formalised in a signing ceremony attended by M.A. Siddique, Managing Director of CMRL; T Archunan, Director (Projects); and Parveen Kumar, Senior Vice President at Systra MVA Consulting.

The DPRs will conduct a comprehensive assessment covering alignment options, ridership projections, multimodal integration potential, and technical feasibility. These reports will form the critical groundwork for informed decision-making on project execution and funding, a release stated.

Tamil Nadu tightens scrutiny on property deals, Registration department orders mandatory reporting of cash payments above ₹20,000

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu has stepped up efforts to curb unaccounted cash in property transactions by issuing a directive that requires all cash payments exceeding ₹20,000 during registration to be reported to the Income Tax Department.

This circular, released on August 1, 2025, lowers the state’s internal vigilance threshold well below the ₹2 lakh limit stipulated under Sections 269SS and 269ST of the Income Tax Act, reflecting a more stringent approach to tackling tax evasion in real estate.

The order also warns registration officers of disciplinary action for failing to comply, underscoring the government’s intent to hold officials accountable for enforcement lapses. It follows a recent Supreme Court judgment that criticised weak enforcement of existing tax provisions and emphasised that ignorance of the law would not be accepted as a defence.

According to the circular, all registering officers must verify whether cash payments above ₹20,000 appear anywhere in the transaction documents and report such cases to the relevant income tax authorities. The directive requires courts to notify the tax department if a civil suit involves claims of cash payments of ₹2 lakh or more, and registration officials must escalate any information from any source indicating cash transactions above this limit. However, the most notable change is the requirement for routine reporting of cash payments above ₹20,000, even if only mentioned briefly in documents.

While Tamil Nadu already mandates digital payments for stamp duty and registration fees, these rules do not cover the transaction’s consideration amount, where much of the unaccounted cash is typically hidden. The new order aims to plug this gap by bringing greater scrutiny to the sale price and discouraging under-the-table payments, sources said.

However, the effectiveness of the order hinges on implementation, as many real estate deals involve informal arrangements and undisclosed payments that may never appear in official documents. By shifting the burden of vigilance to registration officers, the government hopes to deter cash transactions in property sales and strengthen the fight against black money in real estate. Whether this initiative will succeed in transforming entrenched practices remains to be seen.

Indian Army launches ‘Agnishodh’ tech cell at IIT Madras to fast-track battlefield innovation

CHENNAI:

In a strategic move to tighten the link between India’s academic research ecosystem and military modernisation efforts, the Indian Army has inaugurated Agnishodh, a dedicated defence research cell housed at the IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP).

The initiative, formally launched in the presence of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, marks a new chapter in the military’s pursuit of technological self-reliance under its broader transformation roadmap. Positioned as a key component of the Army’s Five Pillars of Transformation, the Agnishodh cell is expected to accelerate the infusion of frontier technologies into India’s defence apparatus.

Located within one of the country’s foremost deep-tech hubs, Agnishodh aims to serve as a live interface between operational military challenges and emerging research in areas such as additive manufacturing, quantum computing, wireless communications, and unmanned systems.

It also opens a new pathway for capacity-building within the Army itself — with plans to upskill personnel in next-generation technologies and foster greater institutional collaboration with academia and industry.

For IIT Madras and its research park, the partnership underscores a growing alignment between India’s academic institutions and national security imperatives. “We are honoured to support our armed forces in strengthening indigenous defence capabilities,” the institution said adding that Agnishodh reflects IITMRP’s broader mandate to channel deep-tech R&D into real-world impact.

The move comes amid renewed policy and budgetary push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing and procurement — with the government increasingly looking to leverage the country’s research talent and start-up ecosystem to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

writingonblog uncensored: IIT-Madras spinout TuTr Hyperloop and BEML to co-d...

writingonblog uncensored: IIT-Madras spinout TuTr Hyperloop and BEML to co-d...:  CHENNAI: IT Madras–incubated TuTr Hyperloop has partnered with state-owned engineering major BEML Ltd to develop the country’s first full-s...

IIT-Madras spinout TuTr Hyperloop and BEML to co-develop India’s first full-scale hyperloop pod

 CHENNAI:
IT Madras–incubated TuTr Hyperloop has partnered with state-owned engineering major BEML Ltd to develop the country’s first full-scale hyperloop passenger and cargo pod, marking a significant step forward for high-speed transport in India.

The partnership, formalised at a ceremony ihere on August 4, marks a major milestone in India’s high-speed transport roadmap. Under the agreement, BEML will serve as the principal manufacturing partner, lending its industrial scale and precision engineering capabilities to the prototype Hyperloop pod.

TuTr Hyperloop, founded by a team of engineers and researchers from IIT Madras, is among a handful of startups globally working to commercialise Hyperloop technology—a system where pods glide through low-pressure tubes using magnetic levitation (Maglev) and linear induction motors, potentially reaching speeds upwards of 1,000 km/h.

“This partnership is a leap forward for India’s aspirations in high-speed, clean transportation,” said Shantanu Roy, chairman and managing director of BEML. “It supports the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat by turning futuristic mobility into reality, powered by Indian innovation and engineering.”

The project aims to develop a full-scale prototype of the pod at IIT Madras, combining TuTr’s advanced R&D in propulsion and levitation with BEML’s legacy in manufacturing complex transport systems. If successful, the collaboration could position India as a global contender in next-generation mobility solutions.

“We’re translating scientific research into tangible transport technologies,” said Prof V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras. “With BEML’s support, we can now build at scale and precision, accelerating the journey from lab to market.”

While Hyperloop remains untested at commercial scale, the technology has captured the imagination of both policymakers and transport planners for its potential to dramatically cut travel times while reducing environmental impact. The BEML-TuTr initiative is expected to address some of the engineering and manufacturing challenges associated with deploying such systems in the Indian context.

Industry observers view the tie-up as a significant endorsement of Hyperloop’s feasibility—especially given BEML’s decades-long experience supplying critical infrastructure for metro rail, defence, and aerospace.

The collaboration adds to a growing number of university–industry partnerships that seek to move frontier technologies from concept to construction. For TuTr, the alliance offers a path to scale up its modular pod systems, eventually targeting deployment corridors across high-traffic freight and passenger routes.

Whether India’s first Hyperloop pod hits the track in time for its 2047 aspirations remains to be seen. But with this partnership, the country is inching closer to turning its sci-fi transit dreams into steel-and-composite reality.