Ranipet

Ranipet Ranipet
city
Population  (2001)
• Total	47,236

Ranipet (Ranipettai in Tamil) is a locality and part of Vellore city in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is a medium-sized community located about 26 kilometers from the Vellore city center and 100 kilometers from Chennai, the fourth largest urban area in India. It is a main junction in the Chennai-Bangalore highway. However, the city has been a victim of serious groundwater pollution by heavy metals and is considered as one among the most toxic places. Due to nature's blessings through periodical rain, the waste is cleansed and the water is purified and available for the residents of Ranipet. With growth in the IT industry, kids and youngsters educate themselves and move out of the town to find appropriate job opportunities. There has been a huge brain-drain in the past decade due to insufficient opportunities for technology workers. Most of the educated workforce move out to the nearest metropolitan city, Madras or others such as Bangalore or others. Some others even end up finding the right opportunity through consulting firms in the United states where their skills are valued with proper use.

The locality is situated on the eastern end of Vellore city, on the northern bank of the Palar river.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Ranipettai had a population of 47,236. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Ranipettai has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 74%. In Ranipettai, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Industry

There are a number of large and medium scale leather industries making both finished leather and leather articles such as shoes and garments for export. There are other small scale industries in Ranipet mostly engaged in chemical, leather and tool making. These industries are the major lifeline for the town.

One of the oldest companies in Ranipet that was formed in the 17th/18th centuries is EID.Parry named after Thomas Parry who sailed to India in a huge sail boat and started the East India Company. The branch of EID Parry located in Ranipet is one of the largest ceramic plants in south India. In addition to ceramics, the company also produces fertilizers in this location sold to farmers around the country. EID Parry also produces confectionaries in other locations. After the acquisition of the company Johnson & Pedder, EID Parry also acquired the pride of producing Ballerina ceramic designs in India. Most residents, several decades ago, worked for EID Parry before the expansion of Sipcot Industrial complex and arrival of central government aided engineering unit such as BHEL mentioned below.

The town is home to the Boiler Auxiliaries Plant of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a major Central Government owned enterprise. Bavina Cars is planning to set up a manufacturing plant at a cost of rupees 300 crores. The company has been permitted to produce 25,000 cars annually.

Ranipet also has about 250 small scale engineering units catering mainly to BHEL, Ranipet, probably the second largest fabrication cluster in India.

Hospitals

The Scudder Memorial Hospital provides nursing to many outpatients. It is a big hospital that was started even before one of the biggest hospitals called CMCH in Vellore.

Research Institutes

Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine: The Institute originally known as SERUM INSTITUTE was established at Madras (present day Chennai) in 1932 to produce anti-rinderpest serum and bull virus to combat rinderpest which was rampant then, posing serious threat to the livestock population. In 1942, the institute was shifted to Coimbatore Agricultural College Estate as an emergency measure due to World War –II. In March 1948, the institute was shifted to the present campus at Ranipet, facing the National Highway No.4 (Chennai – Bangalore) at a distance of 114 km from Chennai. The Campus with 192 acres area was a meat dehydration plant of the army and was acquired by the state government from the army under post war construction scheme. The institute has got vast development over 73 years and it’s now engaged in the production of various vaccines, (Bacterial and Viral Vaccines) against various diseases of livestock and poultry, diagnostic reagents and Pharmaceutical products for treatment of ailing animals. In addition, the institute extends disease investigation service to the field veterinarians.

Politics

Ranipet assembly constituency is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).

Food

Across the Palar river, a neighbouring town named Arcot, has a very famous Biryani hotel referred as "STAR BIRYANI" hotel. This is the best place to have Biryani carried out. I have tasted almost 60 varieties of Biryani but Arcot Biryani is the best of all. A must eat place....