Tamil Nadu Pushes Centre for Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram Industrial Corridor

Tamil Nadu has requested the Union government to consider a proposed Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram industrial corridor and pressed for support for seven industrial park proposals under the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (Bhavya).

Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Minister S. Keerthana raised the demands during the third meeting of the apex monitoring authority of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (Nicdit), held in New Delhi on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and senior officials in attendance.

Keerthana urged the Centre to initiate feasibility and alignment studies for the proposed Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram corridor. The corridor is designed to enhance industrial connectivity between key regional hubs, encourage manufacturing, and generate new investment and employment opportunities across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

During the discussions, Sitharaman recalled that a Chennai–Thoothukudi industrial corridor proposal had been introduced in 2014. She noted that, despite follow-up efforts by the Centre, the project had not received adequate focus from successive state administrations.

In response, Keerthana stated that Tamil Nadu would submit a formal representation to both the Union Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to formally pursue the Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram project and its associated studies.

The state also sought central backing for seven proposals submitted under the first round of Bhavya, a Central sector programme aimed at creating plug-and-play industrial parks. Goyal indicated that a fair proportion of Tamil Nadu's proposals would be considered, provided they meet the prescribed guidelines, eligibility criteria, and conditions.

The Tamil Nadu government confirmed that it will prioritise these seven proposals and ensure the timely completion of all required submissions and compliances.