Trichy is among the fastest growing Tier 2 towns in Tamil Nadu. A lot of investment is being planned by the State Government, by setting up SIDCO centres in and around the town. During the 1980s, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Late MG Ramachandran wanted the city to be the second capital for the state. What a clairvoyance he must have had.
After all, Trichy Airport has among the second highest foreign passengers landing and departing the city, mostly from Southeast Asian countries and the Middle East.
In March 2024, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the newly constructed integrated airport terminals, much to the excitement and comfort of departing passengers.
And back then, Airports Authority of India (AAI) had the rule of H1 bidder winning the tender, i.e., the one who bids the highest takes away the tender opportunity. This and many other such rudimentary conditions have changed over the years in the AAI Tenders, which is following the rule book of the private airport operators.
The fledgling city is famous various centres of worship, such as the Rockfort Temple – the hill is said to be as old as the Himalayas; the Srirangam Temple and a dozen Divya Desam Temples, Our Layd of Lourdes Church, the rock stone dam “Kallanai” built by the Chola Kings and several monuments.
Yet, every time I come here, I find that the city has not graduated to host coffee shops or cafes. This is due to two main reasons – international and domestic brands in F&B are not smelling the coffee here yet; on the other hand, the city lacks quality retail space to offer such businesses.
I have personally instigated several people in the town with deep pockets to develop the city’s first shopping mall but of no avail. The Femina Mall that’s in the city centre is a large hypermarket at best and houses a few local eateries and outlets.
A city of international stature such as Tiruchirapalli requires a handful of international and desi cafés which sell high quality coffee, tea and other beverages.
There are no more than a dozen good vegetarian restaurants whereas the city is dotted with several small and mid-sized F&B outlets that offer various veg- and non-veg cuisines. The night life is not there at all – forget top end pubs or restobars, the city has just. Graduated from neighbourhood TASMAC attached bars to private permit rooms in a few hotels.
Especially after the Covid-19 led lockdowns, several individuals have settled in their hometowns, especially tier 2 towns, so they can WFH as well as enjoy their lifestyle in Tier 2 towns. Trichy continues to be one of the most promising cities that I have travelled to in India in the last 2.5 decades of my professional career.
As MK Gandhi said, become the change that you want to see, I am trying my best to bring in as many brands as possible to the city, from apparel to luggage, F&B to QSR and what not.