Thoothukudi
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| Thoothukudi Tuticorin |
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| Pearl City | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | 8°49′N 78°08′E / 8.81°N 78.14°ECoordinates: 8°49′N 78°08′E / 8.81°N 78.14°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District(s) | Thoothukudi |
| Mayor | L. Sasikala Pushpa |
| Parliamentary constituency | Thoothukudi |
| Assembly constituency | Thoothukudi |
| Civic agency | Thoothukudi Corporation |
| Population • Density |
436,094 (2,007)[1] (2001[update]) • 46.75 /km2 (121 /sq mi) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
353.07 square kilometres (136.32 sq mi) • 4 metres (13 ft) |
Thoothukudi (Tamil: தூத்துக்குடி), also known as Tuticorin, is a port city and a Municipal Corporation in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District.
Thoothukudi is also known as "Pearl City".[2] It is a commercial seaport which serves the inland cities of Southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the major seaports in India with a history dating back to the 6th century AD. It is located about 190 kilometres (118 mi) northeast of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and 590 kilometres (367 mi) south of Chennai.
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[edit] History
Thoothukudi is part of the Pearl Fishery Coast, and is known for its pearl fishing and shipbuilding industries. Freedom fighter Vanchinathan killed the then Tirunelveli District Collector Ash during the freedom struggle in Maniyachi. To honour him, Maniyachi Railway station is called Vanchi Maniyachi Junction.[3]
The major harbour of Thoothukudi is well known as a pearl diving and fishing centre. It is one of the oldest seaports in the world and was the seaport of the Pandyan kingdom after Korkai, near Palayakayal. It was later taken over by the Portuguese in 1548, captured by the Dutch in 1658, and ceded to the British in 1825.[4] The lighthouse built in 1842 marked the beginning of the history of harbour development in the city. Thoothukudi was established as a Municipality in 1866 with Roche Victoria as its first chairman. It attained the status of Corporation on August 5, 2008 after 142 years of being a municipality.
[edit] Origin of the name
There are three theories as to the origin of the name:[citation needed]
- Thoothu (Dig) and Kudi (Drink) – The town had no rivers and the only source of drinking water was from wells.
- "Thoortha" means land "reclaimed" from sea (& river) while "Kudi" also stands for "settlement" or "colony". Hence "Thoortha Kudi" or "Thoothukudi" could mean a settlement built on land reclaimed from sea.
Finally, the name "Tuticorin" was used by Portuguese who came here.
Today the city is referred to as Thoothukudi in Tamil and in English.
[edit] Geography
Thoothukudi is in South India, on the Gulf of Mannar, about 590 kilometres southwest of Chennai's Kathipara junction.
[edit] Administration
Thoothukudi was a part of Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency till 2009. Thoothukudi was separated from Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency and became a new Lok Sabha constituency from 2009. The constituency comprises the whole of Thoothukudi District, which includes Vilathikulam, Thoothukkudi, Tiruchendur, Sri Vaikuntam, Ottapidaram and Kovilpatti.
[edit] Economy
The economy of Thoothukudi revolves around shipping, fishing, salt pan, and agricultural industries. Thoothukudi has a host of other industries including power, chemicals and IT.
[edit] Thermal power plant
The Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station has five 210 megawatt generators. The first generator was commissioned in July, 1979. This power station supplies about one-third of the total power demand of Tamil Nadu.[5]
[edit] Shipping
Thoothukudi has been a centre for maritime trade and pearl fishery for more than a century. Its natural harbour with a rich hinterland, facilitated development of the port. Thoothukudi was declared as a minor anchorage port in 1868.[6] In 1906, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, with the help of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, launched the first swadeshi ship S.S. Gaelia and S.S.Lawoe in British India from Thoothukudi Port.[7] After Independence, the minor Port of Thoothukudi witnessed a flourishing trade[citation needed] and handled a variety of cargo.
To cope with the increasing trade through Thoothukudi, the Government of India sanctioned the construction of an all-weather Port at Thoothukudi. On 11 July 1974, the newly-constructed Thoothukudi port was declared to be the tenth major port in India Second only to JN Port (Mumbai) in size. Thoothukudi is an artificial port.[8] This is the third international port in Tamil Nadu and its second all-weather port.[9] The port is also helping increase the tourism in the region. A new ferry has been commenced between Thoothukudi and Colombo.
Thoothukudi is one of the very few ports of India where Mechanised Sailing Vessels are operated.[citation needed] These vessels are operated at the Old Port which is termed by the port authorities as Zone B.
[edit] Fisheries
Marine fishing, Pearl and Valamburi Chunk fishing are famous in this district from the time immemorial.[citation needed] Thoothukudi is the main centre for deep sea fishing in the district which has a lengthy coast-line of about 140 km.[citation needed] Prawn culture was important and earned a considerable amount of foreign exchange.[citation needed] Now the prawn culture has been banned by the Supreme Court of India due to pollution issues.[citation needed] Thoothukudi Fishing industry thrives since this is the place known to attract varieties of fish daily unlike other centres.[citation needed] Fishes caught here are either sold locally or exported. Tuna which is caught here is dried and sold as Maasi. Dry fish from Thoothukudi is sent to Sri Lanka and many parts of South India. The fish-cake produced here are used for food for prawns and other fishes.[citation needed] There are 11 marine fishing villages.[citation needed]
There is one Joint Director of Fisheries and Assistant Directors of Fisheries in charge of Pearl-chunk fishing, Fishermen Training Institute and for technical guidance. There is fish-seed farm at Kadamba. Service centre/Base workshop of this district is situated at Thoothukudi. Fish is produced and supplied to the poor at cheaper rates.[citation needed] There is a fish curing centre at Palayakayal, Punnakayal. The estimated inland fish catch is 1,583 MT and Marine fish catch is 34,066 MT in the year 1999.[citation needed]
[edit] Transport
Thoothukudi has transport connections via road, rail, sea and air.
[edit] Roads
Tuticorin City is well connected by road. The Major Highways are,
- Tuticorin – Madurai – Trichy – (NH 45-B)
- Tuticorin – Palayamkottai (NH 7-A)
- Tuticorin – Palayakayal – Tiruchendur (State Highway)
- Tuticorin – Ramanathapuram (State Highway). Was recently upgraded as part of the East Coast Road (ECR) Project which will soon connect Tuticorin with Chennai through coastal line.[10]
Currently projects,
- Tuticorin – Palayamkottai (NH 7-A) Expressway 4-way laning
Proposed projects,
- The expansion of ECR from Tuticorin to Kanyakumari at a cost of
190 crores is planned.[11]
[edit] Railways
Tuticorin City railway station is one of the oldest[12] stations in India and South Indian Railway began a Madras – Tuticorin service connecting with the boat to Ceylon in 1899.[13] The station was declared a Model Station in 2007[14] and several infrastructure developments are in process.[clarification needed] There is also another station, known as Tuticorin Melur.[15]
[edit] Airport
Tuticorin Airport is at Vagaikulam, 14 km from the heart of the city. It was for some years closed to commercial traffic but reopened in April 2006.[citation needed] The State Government plans to extend the runway and modernize the airport to handle to more traffic and bigger aircraft.[citation needed] There was also a proposal in 2009 for a greenfield airport.[16]
Kingfisher & Spicejet are operating flights daily.
Spicejet Arrival 11:05, Departure 11:25
Kingfisher Airlines Arrival 15:50, Departure 16:05[citation needed]
Madurai Airport is the nearest international airport.
[edit] Port
Tuticorin Port is a natural deep-sea harbour. A luxury ferry liner, the Scotia Prince, is conducting a ferry service to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Ferry services between the two countries have been revived after more than 20 years.[17]
[edit] Culture
[edit] Language
There is a tradition that the Tamil language originated from the Pothigai Malai, a hill situated in Western Ghats near Papanasam, a small village in the Tirunelveli district.[citation needed] As per Hindu legend, Lord Shiva sent the two saints Vyasa and Agatyar (in Sanskrit Agastya) to create the divine languages Sanskrit and Tamil. Agatyar came to Papanasam and established the Tamil culture from the Pothigai Malai.[citation needed]
[edit] Media and communication
- Tuticorin has All India Radio Station which Carries AIR External Services for South Asia in English, Sinhala and Tamil (1053 kHz).
- FM Radio Stations in Tuticorin City include Suryan FM (93.5 MHz), Hello FM (106.4 MHz).
- CCL got the FM Radio License for Tuticorin under Phase II of FM Radio Licenses by Government of India.
- Tuticorin City is the landing point for the first undersea cable of BSNL, Ltd. Connecting Tuticorin with Colombo.[18] The optical fibre cable runs between Mt. Lavinia (Sri Lanka) and Tuticorin (325 km).
[edit] Education
Thoothukudi has numerous schools, including those classed as Primary, Middle and Higher Secondary,[19] as well as colleges.
[edit] Facilities
Tharuvai stadium hosts most of the local matches and is maintained by Sports Development Authoriy of Tamil Nadu.
Tuticorin Gymkhana Club has two Synthetic Turf Tennis courts, Tuticorin is the only other place after Chennai in Tamil Nadu to have this modern facility.[20]
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Parks
- Roche Park is situated on the southern corner of the city on the way to harbour.
- Harbour Beach park is situated near the harbor guest house.
- Nehruji Park is in the northern side of the city.
- Rajaji Park near Government Hospital which is full of trees.
- Teppakulam park around the Sundara Vinayagar Temple tank in the heart of the city.
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Thoothukudi |
- ^ "Upgrading of Tuticorin municipality". Chennai, India: thehindu.com. 4 November 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110453720300.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
- ^ "train originating in tuticorin named as "pearlcity express"". http://www.indiantrains.org/train-details/?number=12694&name=PEARL+CITY+EXP.
- ^ "Thoothukudi". Thoothukudi district, Government of India. http://thoothukudi.nic.in/upinfo/tourism/tutytourism.pdf. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2001
- ^ "power generation in tuticorin thermalpower plant". http://www.tneb.in/linkpdf/tttps.pdf.
- ^ "Thoothukudi Port". Thoothukudi district, Government of India. http://thoothukudi.nic.in/upinfo/Tut-port.html. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ "A belated remembrance". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 8 September 2008. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/09/08/stories/2008090850980500.htm. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ Official website of Thoothukudi Port(Construction Details)
- ^ Official website of Tuticorin Port
- ^ "The Hindu : Front Page : Work on ECR project resumes". Hinduonnet.com. 2007-12-02. http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/12/02/stories/2007120250370100.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "ECR expansion work soon". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 12 February 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/12/stories/2010021258310800.htm.
- ^ Railway Map of India – 1893
- ^ "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: IR History: Early Days - 2". Irfca.org. http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Plan to upgrade railway station in Tuticorin". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 29 January 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/29/stories/2007012911750300.htm.
- ^ "[IRFCA] Indian Railways Station Codes Index". Irfca.org. http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-codecs4.html. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Consolidated Construction to focus on infrastructure projects". Indo-Asian News Service. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20090220163007/http://www.freshnews.in/consolidated-construction-to-focus-on-infrastructure-projects-82093. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ "Tuticorin-Colombo ferry sets sail - Times Of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2011-06-14. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TNN13ferrydocTuticorin-Colombo-ferry-sets/articleshow/8842845.cms. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ BSNL picks Tuticorin to be landing station
- ^ "Insitutions". Tuticorin.net. http://www.tuticorin.net/institu.html. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Synthetic turf tennis court inaugurated in Tuticorin". The Hindu (Tuticorin, India). 28 April 2009. http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/28/stories/2009042850960200.htm.
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