Ranipet

Ranipet Ranipet,vellore
neighbourhood
Government
• Mayor	P. Karthikeyan

Ranipet, Vellore (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. 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, Chennai or others such as Bangalore, Bombay, Delhi, etc. 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.

Ranipet is 110 km from Chennai, by road. Walajah Road Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead. The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport.

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 early 19th century is EID Parry named after Thomas Parry who sailed to India and started a merchant business in India. 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. Arcelor-Mittal Dhamm processing Ltd invested more than 100 crores . Metco Roof has acquired land for their new unit.

Leathers

Ranipet once glorified as fast developing industrial zone. but faced some repression. Ranipet indiretly had 2008 repression as leather business and exports very important trade. Now it is in progress for development with a new Special Economic Zone at Nellikuppam, a sub-urb of ranipet.

Ranipet homes KH Groups companies nearly 400 small and medium leather units are placed.

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 (0.78 km²) 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

R.Gandhi is the sitting MLA and District secretary DMK Ranipet assembly constituency is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).

Food

Across the Palar river, a neighbouring town named Arcot, famous for markets of vegetables, Kichili samba rice, sweets, agri products, electrical and electronic market.(Note) World Famous Arcot Star Hotel Biriyani.