The carving out of Ranipet and Tirupattur districts from the Vellore district has been welcomed by traders and industrialists.
Ranipet is likely to comprise Arcot, Ranipet, Arakkonam and Nemili taluks and the Tirupattur may include Natrampalli, Ambur, Vaniyambadi and Tirupattur taluks. The remaining taluks of Katpadi, Vellore, Anaikattu, Gudiyatham and Pernambut are likely to be part of Vellore district.
The Chief Minister also announced that Kilvaithinankuppam (KV Kuppam) would be a taluk in Vellore district.
Reacting to the decision, party cadres from PMK, DMK and AIADMK took credit for Tirupattur becoming a district.
Former Tirupattur MLA T.K. Raja said, “The demand for creation of a new district in Tirupattur has been pending for long time. Creation of a new district will bring in more educational facilities and job opportunities for the locals.”
In 1994, Panruti S. Ramachandran and PMK Leader S. Ramadoss organised an agitation seeking the formation of Tirupattur as a district.
A trader from Natrampalli town Kamal Basha said residents had to go Vellore to meet officials for their requirements.
The plight of residents from hilly terrains, such as Jawadhu Hills and Yelagiri to reach Vellore, which was more than 90 kilometres away from Tirupattur, is unimaginable.
Surprise package
Calling it a surprise package from the Chief Minister, BHEL ancillary association-Ranipet, president, V. Vaheesan, said the decision would improve accessibility with the Collector and the district industries centre. Development of infrastructure would become easier as land was available in the town, he added.
He requested the State Transport Corporation to improve the bus services from Ranipet to other towns, as they are were not covering the town while coming from Vellore or Chennai.
With the Tirupattur made district headquarters, people could express their grievances to the Collector and their work would be completed soon.
He expressed the hope that it would help in bringing more jobs.
State secretary of Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary School Vocational Teachers Association, S.N. Janardhanan welcomed the decision of bifurcation of Vellore.
He welcomed the decision to make KV Kuppam, a taluk, but wanted Vaniyambadi to be made an educational district.
