Industrialisation

Porto Novo iron works established

With a loan from the government, Josiah Marshall Heath set up iron and steel works at Porto Novo (Parangipettai) in South Arcot.

Parry's sugar factory at Nellikuppam

The firm founded by Thomas Parry set up a sugar plant at Nellikuppam, described as the first in India.

Binny's Buckingham Mill begins production in Madras

Registered in 1876, Binny and Co.'s Buckingham Mill went into operation in 1878, and the Carnatic Mills came three years later in 1881.

Lakshmi Mills founded in Coimbatore

G. Kuppuswamy Naidu founded Lakshmi Mills, one of the earliest composite textile mills of Coimbatore.

Madras State Aid to Industries Act

The Justice Party government passed a law to advance state loans for setting up industries in the Presidency.

Pykara hydroelectric power station commissioned

The Pykara hydroelectric scheme in the Nilgiris began generating power, the first major hydroelectric project in the Madras Presidency.

G. D. Naidu builds India's first indigenous electric motor

Coimbatore inventor G. D. Naidu, working with D. Balasundaram, developed India's first indigenous electric motor.

Standard Fireworks founded at Sivakasi

N. R. K. Rajarathnam founded Standard Fireworks at Sivakasi, first making matches and later fireworks.

India Cements founded

India Cements was started by S. N. N. Sankaralinga Iyer, whose first factory was at Thalaiyuthu near Tirunelveli.

Central Leather Research Institute founded in Madras

The Central Leather Research Institute was founded in Madras as a laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Ashok Motors (later Ashok Leyland) founded in Madras

Raghunandan Saran founded Ashok Motors in Madras to assemble cars; it became Ashok Leyland in 1955.

Standard Motor Products begins car production in Madras

Standard Motor Products of India completed its first locally built Standard Vanguard cars at Vandalur near Madras.

K. Kamaraj becomes Chief Minister

After Rajaji's resignation, K. Kamaraj became Chief Minister of Madras State and served for over nine years.

Integral Coach Factory founded at Perambur

The Integral Coach Factory, a railway coach manufacturing unit of Indian Railways, was established at Perambur in Madras.

Neyveli Lignite Corporation established

A central public sector company was set up to mine lignite and generate power at Neyveli in South Arcot district.

Hindustan Photo Films incorporated at Ooty

The public sector Hindustan Photo Films was incorporated to make photographic and X-ray films at Udhagamandalam.

Madras Rubber Factory incorporated to make tyres

Madras Rubber Factory, begun as a balloon maker at Tiruvottiyur, was incorporated to manufacture tyres.

Heavy Vehicles Factory set up at Avadi

Battle tanks became the business of the Heavy Vehicles Factory, which the Ordnance Factory Board set up at Avadi.

Sundaram Clayton founded by the TVS group

Formed with the UK firm Clayton Dewandre to build brakes and vehicle components, Sundaram Clayton laid the groundwork for TVS Motor.

Neyveli lignite thermal power station commissioned

The first units of the Neyveli Thermal Power Station, burning lignite from the Neyveli mines, were commissioned.

BHEL incorporated to run the Tiruchirappalli plant

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited came into being to set up heavy electrical factories, among them the boiler plant at Tiruchirappalli.

Madras Refineries formed as a joint venture

Madras Refineries Limited was formed by the Government of India, Amoco and the National Iranian Oil Company to build a refinery at Manali.

Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation established

The state government set up the Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to promote large industrial projects.

Madras Fertilizers incorporated

A Government of India and Amoco joint venture, Madras Fertilizers, was incorporated to produce fertilisers at Manali.

Ennore Thermal Power Station commissioned

The coal-fired Ennore Thermal Power Station north of Madras began generating electricity, with units added through 1975.

SIPCOT founded to develop industrial estates

The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu was set up to develop industrial parks across the state.

Construction of Salem Steel Plant begins

Following a Government of India decision in May 1972 to locate a special steels plant at Salem, construction got under way.

Titan Watches founded as Tata-TIDCO joint venture with plant at Hosur

Titan Watches Limited was incorporated in Chennai as a joint venture of the Tata Group and TIDCO, with a quartz watch plant at Hosur.

Ford enters India with plant near Chennai

Ford re-entered India through a joint venture with Mahindra and set up its main car plant at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai.

Hyundai Motor India formed, plant at Irungattukottai

Hyundai established an Indian subsidiary and a car factory at Irungattukottai near Chennai, where the Santro, its first car, was launched in 1998.

First Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet

The state held its first Global Investors Meet at the Chennai Trade Centre, signing more than 100 investment MoUs.