Tarapur, Maharashtra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tarapur | |
  Tarapur
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Maharashtra - Thane |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 10 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
37541 - |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 401504, 401506 - ++91 2525 - MH 04 |
Tarapur is an industrial town located some 45 km north of Virar, on the Western Railway line of Mumbai Suburban Division (Mumbai Suburban Railway). Tarapur can be reached from Boisar, the nearest railway station. It is 20 km off National Highway NH-8.
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[edit] Atomic power stations
The Tarapur nuclear power station [[1]] houses two boiling water reactors (BWR) with 160 MW capacity each, the first in Asia and a recent unit with two pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) with 540 MW capacity each. This PHWR based power station is not only the largest nuclear power reactor in the country but also the largest power unit in India. It was built seven months ahead of schedule, at a cost much lower than the original estimate.
Tarapur Atomic Power Station (320 MW) (T. A. P. S.) was constructed by the American companies Bechtel and GE. The new reactors (1080 MW) was constructed by L & T and Gammon India. Both these power stations are operated by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The personnel operating the power plant live in a residential complex called T. A. P. S. colony. This residential complex is a fifteen minute drive from Boisar, the nearest railway station. The residential complex was also constructed by Bechtel to house both Indian and American employees. Because, it was the home to American engineers and technicians, the residential complex had a very American small-town look, with neat sidewalks, spacious houses, a club with tennis courts and swimming pool, a commissary etc. While the original American residents have long gone, the colony continues to thrive.
[edit] Industrial estate
Tarapur also houses a huge industrial estate (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Tarapur Industrial Estate), which includes bulk drug manufacturing units, specialty chemical manufacturing units, steel plants and a few textile plants.
[edit] Prominent industries
Some of the prominent industrial units are Lupin (world's largest manufacturer of anti-TB drug rifampicin), Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, Aarti Drugs (anti-HIV drugs indinavir and nevirapine), Strides Arcolab, Camlin, S. D. Fine Chemicals, Siyaram, Pantaloon, Dicitex Decor, Sarex, Vasudhara Dairy (Amul ice creams), Vadilal Dairy, Viraj, Lavino Kapur, Ganesh Benzoplast (virtual monopoly in food preservative sodium benzoate), Mukat and Galaxy Surfactants.
[edit] Gas-fired power station
Tarapur Industrial Estate, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has proposed a gas fired power station for captive use at Tarapur Industrial Area. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has decided to explore the concept of group captive power plant (GCPP) as proposed in the Electricity Act of 2003. Subsequently Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as consultant to study the concept of GCPPs. (reference: http://www.midcindia.org/news/displayNews.php?articleId=52 )
[edit] Planning and layout
Unlike other industrial estates, this industrial estate has a pleasant look due to the roads crossing at right angles and lots of small gardens adjacent to the boundary walls of the industrial units. The location near Mumbai Port/Mumbai Harbour (MbPT) and JNPT as well as proximity to Trans Thane Creek (TTC) MIDC, Vapi GIDC add a great value to this industrial estate. It is located precisely on the most important rail-route i.e., Mumbai to Delhi and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, a part of the golden quadrilateral project.
[edit] Environment
The first "Common Effluent Treatment Plant" (CETP) in Maharashtra came up at Tarapur. (reference: http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/images/pdf/achivementsofmpcb.pdf) Tarapur Industrial Manufacturers' Association is responsible for planting saplings.
[edit] Residential
It is a nice residential location, too, due to excellent schools, hospitals, multiplex, shopping complexes, hotels and restaurants, and its proximity and good connectivity to Mumbai through road and rail.
Tarapur is spread across a number of villages which has a number of residential colonies, housing complexes, independent housing units and cooperative housing societies
The main shopping areas are Chitralaya and Boisar, which have a huge number of small and big shops selling almost everything.
[edit] Hotels
Contessa, Shilpa, Shivanand, Sarovar, Blue Diamond are a few good places.
[edit] Public transport
Rented cars/taxis, state transport buses (Maharashtra State Transport Corporation) and auto rickshaws are the general mode of transport.
[edit] Towns nearby
Boisar, Vangaon, Umroli, Palghar and Dahanu Road
[edit] Special personalities
Tarapur is the birthplace of Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
