The state government has released the names of 1,018 places through a notification as per the recommendation of an expert committee that proposed the changes.
The new changes have been introduced for writing Tamil place names in English in all the 37 revenue districts of Tamil Nadu. According to news daily Deccan Chronicle, minister for Tamil culture and Tamil development, Mafoi K Pandiyarajan in 2018-19 announced the change in names of the places in the state assembly.
Hereafter the district Collectors will take steps for changing the names of these places through the local bodies concerned. The changes will be implemented in collaboration by the Revenue Department and Municipal Administration Department. The place names fall within the jurisdiction of the respective local elected bodies.
For instance, the spelling of Coimbatore will now be changed into Koyampuththoor, Vellore will be now Veeloor as per the list.
The government order giving effect to that announcement said committees were set up in each district to recommend how place names should be written in English.
Here's a list of some of these places in Tamil Nadu whose spellings have been changed:
- Tondiyarpet - Thandaiyaarpettai
- Purasawalkam - Purasaivaakkam
- Vepery - Vepperi
- Perambur - Peramboor
- VOC Nagar - Va.OO.Si. Nagar
- Kodungaiyur - Kodungaiyoor
- Peravallur - Peravalloor
- Siruvallur - Siruvalloor
- Konnur - Konnoor
- Koyembedu - Koyambedu
- Egmore - Ezhumboor
- Chintadripet - Chintadaripettai
- Triplicane - Thiruvallikkeni
- Mylapore - Mayilaappoor
- Thiruvanmiyur - Thiruvanmiyoor
- Mambalam - Maambalam
- Saidapet - Saithaappettai
- Ekkattuthangal - Eekkattuththaangal
- Guindy Park - Gindi Poongaa
- Thiyagaraya Nagar - Thiyaagaraaya Nagar
- Pallikaranai - Pallikkaranai
- Okkiam Thorappakkam - Okkiyam Thuraipakkam
- Sholinganallur - Solinganalloor
- Uthandi - Uththandi
- Mugalivakkam - Mugalivaakkam
- Manappakkam - Manappaakkam
- Alandur - Aalandhoor
- Meenambakkam - Meenambaakkam
- Porur - Poroor
- Nanganallur - Nangainallur
- Adambakkam - Aadhambaakkam
- Ambattur - Ambaththoor
- Thiruvottriyur - Thiruvotriyoor
- Dharmapuri - Tharumapuri
- Madavaram - Maathavaram
- Dharapuram - Tharaapuram
- Coimbatore - Koyampuththoor
- Gudalur - Koodaloor
- Puducherry - Puthucherry (A place in TN)
- Varagur - Varagoor
- Talaivasal - Thalaivasal
- Kandalur - Kaanthaloor
- Thiruverambur - Thiruverumboor
- Tuvagudi - Thuvakkudi
- Manaparai - Manapparai
- Chattrappatti - Chatthirappatti
- Pudur - Puthoor
- Uthamapalayam - Uthamapaalayam
- Vellore - Veeloor
- Pernambut - Peranaampattu
- Vatalagundu - Vaththalakundu
- Thiruvarur - Thiruvaroor
- Muthupet - Muthuppettai
- Tiruthuraipundi - Thirutthurai Poondi
- Kudavasal - Kudavaasal
- Nidamangalam - Needaamangalam
- Orathanadu - Oratthanaadu
- Kattur - Kaattoor