writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu braces for US tariff shock

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu braces for US tariff shock: CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is prepared to absorb the impact of new US tariffs, State Industries Minister Dr TRB Rajaa said on Thursday, after US Pr...

Tamil Nadu braces for US tariff shock

CHENNAI:

Tamil Nadu is prepared to absorb the impact of new US tariffs, State Industries Minister Dr TRB Rajaa said on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump announced a 25% duty on goods imported from India, escalating trade tensions between the two countries.

Speaking on the sidelines of the second edition of Passenger Vehicle Expo, Dr Rajaa said India’s most industrialised state had already laid contingency plans to shield key sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, and footwear from sudden trade shocks. “We’ve seen the Covid impact, we’ve seen global disruptions,” he said. “If there’s one state that’s resilient enough to weather this, it’s Tamil Nadu.”

Dr Rajaa said he was “unhappy” with Trump’s rhetoric. “As an Indian, and as a representative of Tamil Nadu, I found the language disturbing. But we will stand by the Union government and hope the Prime Minister and his Cabinet respond with wisdom, balancing the interests of our farmers, the primary sector, and industry.”

Dr Rajaa warned against overinterpreting the tariff move based on a single post. “This is diplomacy in trade between two of the world’s largest economies,” he said. “It’s unfortunate the US President chose such a platform for such a major announcement. But I trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi will respond in the appropriate format.”

He added that President Trump “doesn’t seem to understand the Indian economy too well” and underestimated the resilience of large industrial states. “States like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are robust enough to take the hit. But I do worry about states that haven’t balanced services and manufacturing,” Rajaa said.

Anticipating shifts in global trade policy, Tamil Nadu had already begun building buffers, including diversified export strategies and new market linkages. “We’ve moved from leather to non-leather in footwear. Today we command 38% of India’s non-leather footwear exports — and it’s growing,” he said. “We’re not a state that puts all its eggs in one basket.”

The minister said Tamil Nadu was actively exploring new opportunities in technical textiles and had forged new trade ties with countries in East Asia and Europe. “Tamil Nadu is not reactive. We anticipate disruptions. That’s why we are India’s number one industrial state,” he said.

On August 4, Vietnamese EV major VinFast will unveil its integrated manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi — a cornerstone in Tamil Nadu’s electric mobility ambitions. The event will also mark the launch of TN Rising, a mini-investors’ conclave modelled on the Global Investors Meet, this time with a focus on the state’s southern districts.

“We want to showcase the full industrial potential of Tamil Nadu beyond Chennai,” Rajaa said, adding that a number of MoUs are expected to be signed at the event.

Despite the external volatility, the minister remained upbeat: “To our industries, I say this — don’t worry, we’ve got your back. The threat of tariffs will only strengthen our resolve to expand faster.”

writingonblog uncensored: CMRL to Enforce Fines on Use of Chewable Tobacco P...

writingonblog uncensored: CMRL to Enforce Fines on Use of Chewable Tobacco P...: CHENNAI: In response to mounting complaints about spitting and littering across its network, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will begin is...

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu moves to commercialise deep tech at ina...

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu moves to commercialise deep tech at ina...: CHENNAI:  Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated Tamil Nadu’s first Innovate in Tamil Nadu (IN²TN) Intellectual Property Concl...

CMRL to Enforce Fines on Use of Chewable Tobacco Products in Metro Trains, Stations

CHENNAI:
In response to mounting complaints about spitting and littering across its network, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will begin issuing fines to passengers caught consuming chewable tobacco products or spitting within the metro network.

Under provisions of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, and the Metro Railways Carriage and Ticket Rules, 2014, violators face monetary penalties for flouting cleanliness and behavioural norms, a CMRL release stated.

Although tobacco consumption is already banned across the metro system, CMRL has admitted that enforcement has been challenging, particularly as chewable forms such as gutkha and pan masala cannot be detected by metal detectors. These products are often consumed discreetly and result in unsightly spitting, triggering both health concerns and widespread public criticism.

To tackle the issue, CMRL has instructed security personnel to conduct random physical checks during non-peak hours and step up platform-level vigilance. Officials at the Central Security Surveillance Room in Koyambedu have also been asked to monitor CCTV footage more proactively and coordinate with on-ground teams when violations are detected.

Tamil Nadu moves to commercialise deep tech at inaugural IN2TN IP Conclave

CHENNAI: 

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated Tamil Nadu’s first Innovate in Tamil Nadu (IN²TN) Intellectual Property Conclave on Wednesday, emphasising the state’s ambition to transform into an innovation capital and intellectual powerhouse.

“This conclave will help researchers, startups, industries, and policymakers enhance intellectual property awareness. It will build a culture where IP is seen as both a creative and economic asset,” Stalin said. He highlighted Tamil Nadu’s emergence as a leader in building a structured, statewide innovation ecosystem.

The event, held at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, attracted over 1,500 participants from academia, industry, and government, featuring a showcase of 16 deep-tech inventions developed by researchers across the state.

Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, noted that Tamil Nadu accounts for nearly 17% of India’s patent filings, demonstrating how the state balances growth with social justice.

The conclave marked a shift from policy announcements to implementation, unveiling multiple technology transfers, funding support, and industry-academia partnerships.

Four patented innovations—including a gesture-controlled UAV, a medical drone, and a pregnancy monitoring device—were licensed to private firms through the newly launched Tamil Nadu Technology Transfer Facilitation Centre (TNTTFC) at the iTNT Hub.

Five startups in AI, robotics, space tech, and cleantech received grants totaling ₹53 lakh under the iTNT Foundation Fund, supporting ventures such as eco-friendly aluminium batteries and robotic surgical tools.

To scale up its deep-tech commercialisation efforts, the state also announced strategic partnerships with national and international organisations, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) India, the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), Bosch India, Mahindra & Mahindra, C-DAC Bengaluru, and I-STEM. These tie-ups are expected to bolster Tamil Nadu’s innovation infrastructure and connect its start-ups to global technology ecosystems. Legal partners also handed over Letters of Intent to support IP filing, awareness and commercialisation efforts across Tamil Nadu, including in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

The conclave also celebrated the graduation of 53 innovators from the BEACON idea-validation programme and welcomed 43 startups into new incubation cohorts.

Organised by the iTNT Hub under the Department of Information Technology and Digital Services, the event positioned Tamil Nadu as a national leader in technology commercialisation. With operational technology transfer systems and new partnerships in place, Tamil Nadu aims to become a hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship by connecting research with markets through a structured, collaborative approach.

Chennai's long-delayed MRTS merger with metro rail gains traction, but timeline remains elusive

Railways completes key infrastructure upgrade; committee finalises framework, but transfer awaits political and operational consensus

Chennai:

The long-pending merger of Chennai’s Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the city’s expanding metro rail network has moved a step closer to reality, following the completion of a critical infrastructure project and the finalisation of a broad framework for asset transfer. 

Official sources revealed that Railway Board in principle agreed to the proposal for handing over a formal decision is awaited.

In a written response to questions raised in Parliament by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that while the Indian Railways and the Tamil Nadu government have jointly prepared the principles for a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU), the operational merger would be contingent on resolving challenges related to train operations, asset maintenance, and safety.

The proposal to transfer MRTS operations to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) — first studied by a consultant appointed by CMRL in 2018 — had been on hold pending completion of the fourth railway line between Chennai Beach and Chennai Egmore, a 4-km stretch seen as critical for ensuring adequate rail capacity following the transfer.

That project, sanctioned in March 2022 at a cost of ₹279.8 crore, was commissioned earlier this year. A special committee comprising officials from Indian Railways and the state’s Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has since prepared the broad contours of the MoU, according to the Minister.

Yet despite these developments, the merger still awaits in-principle approval from the Railway Board, and no formal MoU has been signed.

In Parliament, Kanimozhi pressed the Ministry for transparency on the financial and operational models being considered and flagged the need for clarity on possible objections to the handover of MRTS infrastructure. “This merger has the potential to significantly improve commuter experience in Chennai through integrated services and unified ticketing systems,” she said, while underscoring the bureaucratic inertia that has delayed the project.

First conceived as a suburban rail line but plagued by low ridership and inadequate connectivity, the MRTS has long been seen as a candidate for integration with the metro system to improve last-mile access and urban mobility. But questions over asset ownership, funding liabilities, and regulatory oversight have slowed progress.

While officials agree that the handover would improve synergy between transport modes, particularly for multimodal commuting across Chennai, a formal agreement and timeline remain on hold — a reminder of the political and procedural friction that often attends large-scale urban transport reforms in India.