Tarapur, Maharashtra

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Tarapur | type = city | latd = 19.85 | longd = 72.7
locator_position = right | state_name = Maharashtra
district = Thane
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 10
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 37541| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = +91 2525
postal_code = 401504, 401506
vehicle_code_range = MH 04
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Tarapur is a census town in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It 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.

Economy

Atomic power stations

The Tarapur nuclear power station houses two 200 MW (De-rated to 160MW) boiling water reactors (BWRs), the first in Asia, and a recent unit with two 540 MW pressurised heavy water reactors. 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 commissioned seven months ahead of schedule, at a cost much lower than the original estimate, by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

Tarapur Atomic Power Station (320 MW) (T.A.P.S.) was constructed by the American companies Bechtel and GE near village Akkarpatti. The new reactors (1080 MW) were 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.

Industrial estate

Tarapur also houses two huge industrial estates (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Tarapur Industrial Estate and Additional Tarapur Industrial Estate), which include bulk drug manufacturing units, specialty chemical manufacturing units, steel plants and a few textile plants.

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, Aceelene Suitings, Pantaloon, Dicitex Decor, Sarex,Supertex, Sarex overseas , Vasudhara Dairy (Amul ice creams), Vadilal Dairy, Viraj, Lavino Kapur, Ganesh Benzoplast (virtual monopoly in food preservative sodium benzoate), A.M. Todd Company (world's largest mint flavour company), Mukat Tanks & Vessels ( Steel Pipes ) and Galaxy Surfactants,New Alliance Dye Chem Pvt Ltd (manufacturing sequestering agents).

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. [cite web
url = http://www.midcindia.org/news/displayNews.php?articleId=52
title = REL to set up power plants at Thane, Butibori
accessdate = 2007-04-24
last =
first =
work =News and Events
publisher =Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation]

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.

Environment

The first "Common Effluent Treatment Plant" (CETP) in Maharashtra came up at Tarapur. [cite web
url = http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/images/pdf/achivementsofmpcb.pdf
title = Achievements of MPCB (2004-2005)
accessdate = 2007-04-24
last =
first =
work =
publisher =Maharashtra Pollution Control Board] Tarapur Industrial Manufacturers' Association is responsible for planting saplings.

Geography

Tarapur is located at coord|17.7|N|75.47|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Tarapur.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Tarapur] ] . It has an average elevation of 456 metres (1496 feet).

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.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Tarapur had a population of 7012. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Tarapur has an average literacy rate of 1%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 1%, and female literacy is 1%. In Tarapur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Attractions

The Tarapur beach with a dilapidated Portuguese Fort, which currently in custody of Abijeet Vinayak Chorge, and the Chinchani beach at a distance of 2 km are beautiful.

Public transport

Rented cars/taxis, state transport buses (Maharashtra State Transport Corporation) and auto rickshaws are the general mode of transport.

Towns nearby

Boisar, Chinchani, Vangaon, Umroli, Palghar and Dahanu Road

References