Nokia Siemens Networks, a major enabler of telecommunications services, is planning to expand its Chennai (Oragadam) manufacturing facility from 35,000 sq. m. to 55,000 sq. m. and increase the number of product lines to 33.

The reason for expansion comes in the wake of growing demand for telecom equipment with increasing in GSM (Global System for Mobile) footprint, rapid growth in the 3G (third generation) market and the expected rollout of TD-LTE (time division duplex-long term evolution).

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Ashish Chowdhary, Head of India region, Customer Operations East and Executive Board Member, Nokia Siemens Networks, said the company, since inception in 2008, had invested $75 million in the Chennai facility.

Of which, the company would now spend $15 million in the expansion programme. The Chennai facility had rolled out more than 8.6 lakh units till date.

Of this nearly 40 per cent were exported last year. Similarly, it also planned to increase the product lines from the current 28 to 33.

The expansion would allow Nokia Siemens to export about 37 per cent of the facility's production across the Asia Pacific.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Ltd's factory at Chennai is likely to manufacture boilers for thermal power projects in the country. "It is 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Doosan," Shinde added.

This facility would produce equipment to aid generation of around 3,000 MW every year. A new manufacturing facility will be useful, as India is looking to scale up its power equipment manufacturing capacity.     

On the capacity addition front, he said, "We would add 17,000 MW during the current financial year (2011-12)...and have so far done 37,000 MW in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12)," he added.     

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd is the country's biggest power equipment manufacturer, with the capacity for fabricating equipment with a power generation capacity of 15,000 MW per annum. This could be further scaled up to 20,000 MW per annum by March, 2012.  

At present, in the private sector, a joint venture of Larsen & Toubroand Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the sole player with a manufacturing facility operational at Hazira, in Gujarat. This plant has the capacity to produce boilers and turbine generators with a capacity of 4,000 MW per annum.     

Alstom and Bharat Forge have another JV company, which aims to produce turbine generators with a capacity of around 5,000 MW per annum. Their plant, which is coming up at Mundra, in Gujarat, is expected to be operational by 2012.     

In addition, a JV between Toshiba and JSW is expected to be commissioned next month, which would produce turbine generators of 3,000 MW capacity every year.    

A Gammon -Ansaldo JV is also setting up a manufacturing plant at Tiruchy, in Tamil Nadu, which would be operational by December, 2012. The plant would produce boilers to aid generation of 4,000 MW per annum.    

Another such boiler manufacturing facility being set up by Thermax -Babcock & Wilcox to aid electricity generation of 3,000 MW is to be completed by the end of 2011.

Government of India will be investing around $1billion on the internal security modernizing programmes, said Mr S Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Police Modernization, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, while delivering a Special Address during the inaugural session of 5thInternational Conference and Exhibition on Internal Security: Integrating Technologies for Internal Security. Security forces accounts for around 60-70 percent of the overall procurements of equipments and solutions for security.

Mr MK Chhabra, IG (Modernization), BPR&D observed that given the geographical diversity and multiplicity of threats, Indiais uniquely placed as far as its internal security requirements are concerned. Therefore, we need customised security solutions as per the expectations and requirements of the Indian Security Forces. 

Industry requests the government to come out with concrete budgetary figures about the internal security requirements. The quantification would help the industry to make its business plans and enter into internal security market with unprecedented vigour, said Mr Rothin Bhattacharyya, Chairman CII Internal Security Committee.

CALL RAILWAY POLICE:
Next time you travel in a train and require assistance from the Police, dial 9962 500 500. This new facility was launched in the city on Monday 25th Dec 2007.

On receipt of the call from the traveling public, the personnel at the Railway police control room would ascertain the details and in turn, convey the message to the escort policemen traveling in the particular train, who would reach to the seat/berth of the passenger's compartment and take action. In case the escort personnel in absent in the moving train, the control room would alert the next approaching railway police station so that proper assistance can be provided.