Vellore Rewind 2018
Vellore Rewind 2018 is a look back at the summary of Top 10 events that happened in Vellore during the year 2018.
Summary of events from January to December:
1. Vellore Solid Compost Centres
Most of the garbage in Vellore were being dumped in Sadhuperi for almost a century. The city produces a waste of almost 200 tonnes everyday from the 60 wards of Vellore Corporation. Vellore Srinivasan formulated a waste management system that was adapted my many cities in Tamil Nadu as well as India. Following the huge success of this model, this waste management system was implemented in Vellore. Initially 4 compost centres were installed on all the four zones in Vellore Corporation. As it turned out to be a huge success, 42 micro compost centres were implemented covering all the areas in Vellore. Also it is the first city in India to get 42 Micro compost centres 5 years back. Corporation workers collect waste from each house hold and deposit at the nearest compost centre. The compost centre segregate the wastes and recycle them. Tax has been collected for this initiative by the Corporation along with the house and water tax.
2. Vellore Smart City Projects
Vellore is one among the four smart cities chosen in Tamil Nadu. Athena Infonomics which is a policy research, social science research firm out of Chennai along with Vellore Corporation did an extensive research about Vellore. After narrowing down the problems, they proposed solutions for the same and presented it to the Smart city competition. The proposal got through and Vellore was chosen for the smart city project. Smart roads and Smart Parks were given importance in the first phase of project. Following that Compost Centre waste management, multi level parking, bus stand expansion, maintaining Vellore Fort, metered water supply and few more are on the pipeline. Vellore is ranked in the 32nd position out of 100 smart cities that were evaluated in terms of the progress of smart city developments this year.
3. Vellore Katpadi Railway Station gets an Upgrade
Vellore Katpadi Railway Station is one of the most busiest railway station in Tamil Nadu. On an average, it serves 18,000+ passengers everyday. It has around 60+ passing trains through it everyday. The railway station got a major upgrade. The entrance hall of the Katpadi Railway Station was renovated. Also, they have established a lift and escalator. Also LED lights and energy-efficient fans were provided. In addition, 42 CCTV cameras have been installed at various parts of the station. Apart from these works are in progress for the subway between VIT Mens Hostel and VIT as Rail tracks are over it. Also an additional waiting hall and multilevel parking are on the pipeline. One of the major perks is the halt of Shatabdi Express between Chennai to Bangalore and Chennai to Coimbatore at Katpadi Station which will benefit a lot of business people, travellers to VIT, CMC and Golden Temple.
4. Vellore’s 1st mall – Velocity Mall
Velocity mall was finally launched during the mid of 2018 which was much anticipated. Velocity mall is Vellore’s first ever mall which houses a multiplex (PVR Cinemas), a restaurant and a fun game house. Located at Silk mill, Katpadi, Vellore the multiplex is a multistorey building close to 50,000 square feet with an adjacent parking facility. Mall houses PVR Cinemas (5 screens)in the ground and first floor. Hundreds Heritage multicuisine restaurant and Fun House (kids play centre) are available in the underground of Velocity mall. All these are functioning in full fledge since July 1, 2018.
One of the greatest addition to Velocity Mall is PVR Cinemas which is India’s leading multiplex. PVR Cinemas occupies close to 24,000 squarefeet out of 50,000 squarefeet of Velocity Mall. PVR Cinemas houses 5 screens and can accomodate approximately 900 persons. By that, PVR Cinemas is now the largest multiplex in Vellore.
5. FM Radios Broadcast – Vellore
After the long wait came the Commercial FM Radio Broadcast in Vellore. Popular Radio FMs Hello FM and Suriyan FM kickstarted their broadcasting services in Vellore from July 1, 2018 and July 5, 2018 respectively. Hello FM Vellore operates at the frequency 91.5 FM. Suriyan FM Vellore operates at the frequency 93.9 FM. Both of them cover over a radius of 30km in the city. VIT Community Radio 90.8 FM had been broadcasting for a radius of 15 km since 2014.
6. 100 Years of CMC Vellore
Christian Medical College&Hospital Vellore was started by Ida Scudder in the year 1918. She started CMC with 18 young women in the first batch. And now CMC has successfully celebrated the centenary year. CMC has been regarded as one of the best hospitals in the country as well as the continent. As a part of the centenarry celebrations, several medical conferences, camps and programmes were held althrough the year.
7. 10 Years of Vellore Corporation
Vellore Town was declared as a Corporation on August 31, 2008. Mr.M.Karunanidhi (Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu then) had felicitated the function and declared Vellore as Corporation. Mr.Karthiyean was declared as the first ever Mayor and notably he is the current MLA of Vellore Constitution. The city has evolved a lot over the past 10 years in terms of development in all the areas and has even attained the Smart City status recently. Thou Vellore has lot of shortcomings in terms of development, it strives to grow on its own down the lane and has seen its decade anniversary of Corporation in 2018.
8. Launch of Swiggy Food Delivery App – Vellore
Swiggy is an online food delivery app that lets you to order food and get it delivered to your door steps from your favourite restaurants. The billion dollar Indian company has finally leaped its foot in Vellore. Swiggy is the first unicorn company that made its way to Vellore. Swiggy currently serves food to your doorsteps from around 60+ restaurants in Vellore. They currently serve only within the Vellore city limits.
9. VIT Chancellor – Muthuvizha
VIT Chancellor Dr.G.Viswanathan has observed his 80th Birthday this year. Vellore residents from various organisations organised a ”Muthu Vizha” for him. The MuthuVizha was organised by the ‘MuthuVizha’ President Dr.Venkata Subbhu, Tamil Nadu Hotel Association President. Various Industrialists and Political Leaders attended the function to wish the Chancelllor. 1000s of locals gathered at this function which took place at Dhandapani Mahal, Vellore.
10. Indian Economic Association Meeting at VIT Vellore
Dr.G.Viswanathan, VIT Chancellor is the current Indian Economic Association President. He has been unanimously chosen as IEA President in the beginning of 2018. In the lines of Dr.Manmohan Singh, Dr.G.Viswanathan now holds the Indian Economic Association President post. He has conducted Indian Economic Association Meeting at VIT University, Vellore by the end of December which was the first of its kind meeting that happened at Tamil Nadu. The Meeting was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Governor Mr.Banwarilal Purohit. Various Politicians and Economists has participated in the meeting that held at VIT University.
Apart from these, there were few other notable events like Sathish Sivalingam winning Gold under 77kg Men’s Weightlifting category at Common Wealth Games 2018, Opening Tamil Nadu’s 1st Weightlifting Gym at Vellore, Renovation of Vellore Fort, Smart city projects. Vellore had a significant growth in the commercial space this year. Hathway which is one of the leading broadband provider has made its entry to Vellore. Next to Chennai, Vellore is the only city in Tamil Nadu that has got Hathway and they are deploying fibre optic cables in Vellore to deploy dish and broadband as a combined service which can be expected in the second quarter of 2019. Notably Hathway has been acquired by Jio during last year. One major area that Vellore has to concentrate is in the Education sector as Vellore stays at the bottom most in the district wise results for 10th and 12th Board exams.
With these in line, we have Naruvi Hospital coming up near Collectorate and CMCH up near Ratnagiri shortly by the end of this year. Works have been going on for the same in full fledge.
Let’s hope for a positive and constructive 2019 !
