Twinkling lights, neatly laid roads, well-maintained lawns – the Nandambakkam trade centre in Porur gets a fresh look as the second Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) organised by the Tamilnadu government is all set to commence by next week.
The State Cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at the Secretariat today discussed investment proposals by various companies. “Proposals made by firms from various sectors, investments to be made by them in the State, clearances to be given by the government, granting approvals in a fast manner and other things were discussed in detail at the Cabinet meet,” sources said.
The Cabinet meet lasted for three hours this morning and other topics including the upcoming budget session of the Assembly, floor space index for real estate projects and granting permission to private universities were also discussed, added the source.
The residents of Porur are in an awe after seeing the arrangements made by the government in the locality. The encroachments over the pavements have been cleared and levelled properly. New reflectors were put up and huge pyramids explaining the action plan for 2nd global investors meet have been erected near Kathipara bridge.
“We feel really proud and happy to see our area like this. The roads are spic and span, no garbage is seen overflowing the dumpsters, and no littering here and there. We wish this situation continues all days,” says Suresh, a resident of Nandambakkam.
The owners of neighbourhood hotels said that all the rooms in the locality are booked for the next week. Apart from the Trade Centre, the nearby IDBL ground has been cleaned by the authorities. It has taken a new avatar with all the shrubs and thorny trees having been removed. The car parking lots are marked clearly for the convenience of visitors. With the government gearing up for GIM, it has already cleared more than Rs 50,000 crore worth of investment proposals in the State in the last two months.
The government had also approved proposals of 30 firms that sought to invest 49,000 crore in the State. Palaniswami had said in the Assembly session that proposals of 27 companies that would be expanding its operations in Tamilnadu had been approved.
“These companies are expected to generate job opportunities for about 50,000 people,” he said. The GIM this year is expected to focus more on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and affirming the same, Palaniswami had said the State government’s single window portal for MSMEs was ensuring time-bound processing of applications and issue of clearances by various departments.
The government had received 329 applications on that front and approvals of MSME proposals would lead to generation of jobs for more than 15,000 people, the CM said.
Photos: K VIJAY ANAND