Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a multitude of infrastructure projects, collectively valued at over Rs 17,300 crore, in Tamil Nadu on February 27 and February 28, as announced by the PMO on Monday.
The Prime Minister will arrive in Madurai on Tuesday evening and participate in the program titled ‘Creating the Future – Digital Mobility for Automotive MSME Entrepreneurs’ in Tamil Nadu. During this event, PM Modi is slated to launch two significant initiatives aimed at supporting and uplifting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Indian automotive industry. These initiatives include the TVS Open Mobility Platform and the TVS Mobility-CII Centre of Excellence.
On February 28, around 9:45 am, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth about Rs 17,300 crore in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. One of the key projects is the Outer Harbor Container Terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, a crucial step in transforming the port into a transshipment hub for the east coast. This initiative aims to leverage India’s vast coastline and strategic geographic location, enhancing the country’s competitiveness in global trade while fostering employment generation and economic growth in the region.
During the Thoothukudi event, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate projects aimed at making V.O. Chidambaranar Port the first Green Hydrogen Hub Port in the country. These projects encompass a desalination plant, hydrogen production facilities, bunkering infrastructure, and more. Additionally, PM Modi will launch India’s first indigenous green hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel under the Harit Nauka initiative, manufactured by Cochin Shipyard, aligning with clean energy solutions and the nation’s net-zero commitments. Furthermore, he will dedicate tourist facilities in 75 lighthouses across ten states/UTs during the program.
The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation rail projects for the doubling of the Vanchi Maniyachchi – Nagercoil rail line, including the Vanchi Maniyachchi – Tirunelveli section and Melappalayam – Aralvaymoli section, developed at a cost of about Rs 1,477 crore. These rail projects aim to reduce travel time for trains heading towards Chennai from Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, and Tirunelveli.
Additionally, PM Modi will dedicate four road projects in Tamil Nadu, developed at a total cost of about Rs 4,586 Crore. These projects, including the four-laning of the Jittandahalli-Dharmapuri section of NH-844, two-laning with paved shoulders of the Meensurutti-Chidambaram section of NH-81, four-laning of the Oddanchatram-Madathukulam section of NH-83, and two-laning with paved shoulders of the Nagapattinam-Thanjavur section of NH-83, aim to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, enhance socio-economic growth, and facilitate pilgrimage visits in the region.