Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a new international airport in Hosur — an industrial border town hardly 40 kms away from Bangalore. The announcement, made under Rule 110 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday, is to build an airport in 2,000 acres of land and is designed to handle 30 million passengers annually.
The ambitious project is part of the state’s goal of transforming Hosur into a major economic development hub. Chief Minister Stalin said that the airport would facilitate the socio-economic development of the state’s Hosur, Krishnagiri, and Dharmapuri regions.
“Since the establishment of our Dravidian model governance, Tamil Nadu has been advancing in all sectors,” said Stalin, adding that the state is implementing various long-term plans to transform Hosur into a major economic development hub by developing modern infrastructure.
Hosur has a significant place in the state as a hub for electronics manufacturing, thanks to its strategic proximity to Bengaluru and robust infrastructure. The town has attracted significant investments, especially in the electronic and electric vehicle sectors. Major companies like Tata Electronics and TVS have set up operations in the region.
Industries Minister T.R.B Rajaa highlighted the strategic importance of Hosur, given its proximity to Bengaluru and Chennai, and its burgeoning manufacturing ecosystem.
Calling the announcement a “monumental step forward for the region” and a “a game-changer”, Rajaa said: “This project will greatly enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth, benefiting not only Hosur but also neighbouring districts such as Dharmapuri and Salem, while also providing a significant boost to various parts of Bengaluru”.
J. Jeyaranjan, vice-chairperson of the State Planning Commission, said the airport will enhance the region’s connectivity and attract further investments, solidifying Hosur’s position as a major industrial and economic hub.
Story continues below this ad
In April 2022, the state’s then industries minister Thangam Thenarasu announced an industrial housing project close to the Tata Group’s massive electronics ecosystem near Hosur at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore, the development of another industrial estate by SIPCOT and upgradation of infrastructure in existing hubs under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model.
Library and Knowledge Centre in Tiruchi
In addition to the airport, CM Stalin also announced “a world-class” library and knowledge centre in Tiruchirappalli. Named after Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar (late M Karunanidhi), a government release said this facility will serve as a hub for intellectual growth, fostering the youth’s educational and cultural development.
“The Dravidian movement is a grand intellectual movement… To ensure that people in other parts of Tamil Nadu benefit from libraries, we inaugurated the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai on 15-7-2023. Continuing this initiative, we announced in this year’s budget that a grand library and knowledge centre would be established in Coimbatore,” Stalin said in his announcement.
He added: “Now, I am delighted to inform this assembly that a world-class grand library and knowledge centre will be established in Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the Kaveri river”.
Story continues below this ad
The new library in Tiruchirappalli aims to emulate the success of the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram, which was established by former CM Karunanidhi. The Anna Centenary Library is a vast eight-story facility accommodating 1,200 people simultaneously and covering 3,30,000 sq. feet.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
