The State government plans to establish an industrial park on 281.85 hectares of reclaimed land from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) here.

The plant, located at Thiruverumbur on Tiruchi-Thanjavur highway, was established in 1965. Its core products include steam generators for coal-based power plants and industrial usage, steam generators for nuclear power plants, which are designed and manufactured here supporting the power sector and other Industries. The plant also hosts the Centre of Excellence for Coal Research, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Fabrication Technology and Welding Research Institute (WRI).

According to sources, the premises of BHEL, Tiruchi, spans over about 2,000 acres of land. The State government, when K. Kamaraj was the Chief Minister, allotted land parcels on different occasions for establishing the plant. The land parcels located in Thuvakudi and Navalpattu villages of Thiruverumbur taluk were allotted free of cost. While most of the landholdings were government poramboke, a small parcel of land was acquired from private landholders and handed over to the Ministry of Heavy Industries for establishing the plant.

BHEL thereafter established its Heavy Pressure Boiler Plant on it. It subsequently built a Seamless Steel Tube Plant. In a later period, the Welding Research Institute also came into being. To provide accommodation to its staff members and engineers, BHEL also established a township on about 300 acres. While the majority of land parcels are under effective usage by BHEL, the revenue officials here claim that a few parcels of land remain unused.

Taking into account the need of the Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce Department for creating a land bank, the State government mooted a proposal to get back over 600 acres of unused land about two years ago when K. Pradeep Kumar was the Collector of Tiruchi district. He made a spot inspection along with the revenue officials and measured the unused land. He subsequently submitted a report on it. Based on it, the State government has issued a Government Order dated January 13,2026, thereby reclaiming 216.48 hectares in Navalpattu village and 65.37 hectares in Thuvakudi village from the BHEL.

Citing the GO, R. Balaji, District Revenue Officer told The Hindu that necessary changes on land records pertaining to 696.17 acres had been made. The current value of reclaimed land was pegged at about ₹2,600 crore. The Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu had decided to acquire the land parcels at Navalpattu and Thuvakudi for establishing an industrial park. Preliminary steps had been taken to establish the industrial park.

However, sources in BHEL said that it was wrong to claim that some land parcels remained vacant. The lands were required for the future expansion of BHEL. A writ petition had been filed before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, challenging the GO on reclaiming the assigned land.