CHENNAI: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced a Rs 20,800cr supercritical thermal power project in Tuticorin, part of a wider Rs 55,628-cr push to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. He also announced a Rs 175cr semiconductor and electronics manufacturing park at Maduramangalam in Kancheepuram district.Making the announcements under Rule 110 in assembly, Vijay said the proposed 1,600MW thermal power plant, comprising two 800MW units, would be set up under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.It will gradually replace five 210MW coal-fired units at Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station commissioned in phases since 1979. While the existing units have a combined capacity of 1,050MW, the proposed plant will add 550MW to the state’s generation capacity.“With power load continuously increasing, investments in the generation sector are essential,” Vijay said. He also announced the ‘Tamil Nadu transmission improvement scheme’ at an estimated cost of Rs 33,066 cr. The scheme will focus on strengthening the network needed to evacuate power from generation centres and transmit it to major consumption hubs including Chennai.Under the scheme, 196 substations will be established and transmission lines extending over 15,000km will be laid, the CM said. Vijay further announced a Rs 1,762-cr distribution improvement scheme for Chennai, saying the city required stronger infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions during monsoon and summer.As part of the scheme, 36 new 33/11kV substations will be set up in and around Chennai, while ageing transformers and pillar boxes will be replaced. Vijay said the previous govt did not make significant investments in thermal and hydel power generation.On the proposed semiconductor park in Kancheepuram, Vijay said Sipcot would develop the facility. “The park will help attract investments of up to Rs 2,000 crore and create employment opportunities for 5,000 people,” Vijay said.He also announced a Rs 400cr FinTech Hub in Coimbatore, to be established by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation through public-private participation. “The hub will have office spaces, startup facilities, advanced laboratories and training and skill-development infrastructure aimed at attracting investments in financial technology and related sectors,” he said.For the central region, Vijay announced a multi-modal logistics hub in Trichy. Tidco will study and prepare a detailed project report for the facility that will support manufacturing industries and MSMEs in Trichy and neighbouring districts. The move follows the 2026-27 budget announcement on developing multi-modal logistics parks and dry ports at strategic locations.
