Rail, gas and roads: PM Modi unveils Rs 5,650 crore development push in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched and laid the foundation for projects worth Rs 5,650 crore in Tamil Nadu, spanning railways, highways, clean energy and rural roads, saying the initiatives will strengthen connectivity, boost industry and create thousands of jobs across the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects across Tamil Nadu worth about Rs 5,650 crore, on Wednesday and said these projects would create thousands of jobs for the youth of the state.Clad in traditional shirt and dhoti, Modi unveiled the projects and said, "It is great to be here in the wonderful city of Trichy. Today's programme is an important one for the future of Tamil Nadu. It is related to projects worth Rs 5,600 crore. These projects are about infrastructure, for clean energy, petroleum-related manufacturing, highways, railways and rural roads. They will boost energy access, connectivity and create thousands of jobs for the youth of Tamil Nadu," he said.The Prime Minister flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains -- the Nagercoil–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express and the Podanur (Coimbatore)–Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express, two express trains - the Rameswaram –Mangaluru Express and the Tirunelveli–Mangaluru Express, and a new train service between Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur-Karaikkudi, strengthening rail connectivity between Tamil Nadu and other regions, including Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and eastern India.Flanked by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, L Murugan, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP Tamil Nadu Chief Nainar Nagendhran, Modi laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's City Gas Distribution Network in Nilgiris and Erode districts at an investment of more than Rs 3,680 crore.The project will provide PNG connections to over 8.8 lakh households, supply gas to more than 200 commercial establishments and establish over 201 CNG stations.Modi also dedicated to the nation the Rs 1,490 crore IOCL Lube Plant with a capacity of 672 Thousand Metric Tonnes Per Annum at Manali in Chennai. The plant will strengthen India's lubricants manufacturing capacity."You would be proud to know that this is one of the world's largest facilities of its kind. This plant will fulfill the demand of many important industries both in Tamil Nadu and outside. the increase in local production of lubricants also reduces imports and saves money for the nation," he said.After unveiling all the projects, Modi said, "Our goal is to create a developed Tamil Nadu for a developed Nation. The central government is fully committed to the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. We are working day and night for the State progress and we will continue to do so.".On the occasion, Modi inaugurated 89 rural roads spanning 370 km in Tamil Nadu, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, that would significantly improve the connectivity to markets, schools and healthcare facilities in rural areas."Each of these roads is not just a piece of infrastructure, patients can access better healthcare, students can travel to schools and colleges comfortably, farmers can travel to different places to sell their produce or to buy inputs overall, each roads lift the rural economy and increases ease of living," he said.On the the foundation stone laid for a greenfield bypass near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on NH-81, Modi recalled his visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram for the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival last year."We celebrated 1,000 years of the beginning of the construction of the Grand Temple by Emperor Rajendra Chola. It is an UNESCO recognised site visited by tourists across the world. Today, we are laying the foundation stone of an important highway project there. The existing highway is very close to the temple causing safety concern to the pilgrims. With the construction of a new bypass, other vehicles will now be diverted away from the temple. This means better safety for everyone." he said.Modi said he was happy to note that the Bharat Petroleum City Gas Distribution project would provide piped natural gas to nearly nine lakh families and hundreds of commercial organisations. "Piped gas will flow directly to the home, boosting ease of leaving. Thousands of jobs will be created directly and indirectly. Natural gas is an environmentally friendly fuel that plays an important role in reducing air pollution."Noting that natural gas is an environment friendly fuel that plays an important role in reducing air pollution, he said he had been informed that the positive environmental impact of this project over just 8 years would be equivalent to planting 4 crore trees.Observing that the Indian Oil Corporation's Lube blending plant in Chennai is one of the world's largest facilities of its kind, Modi said, "This plant will fulfill the demand of many important industries both in Tamil Nadu and outside. The increase in local production of lubricants also reduces imports and saves money for the nation."Referring to his trip to Madurai on March 1, PM Modi said he inaugurated 8 modernised redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat programme."Today, several new train services are being flagged off. They connect places like Nagercoil, Coimbatore, Rameswaram, Tirunelveli, Myladuthurai, Karaikudi with other regions. These new train services will increase tourism, boost the local economy and create many jobs for the youths," he said.Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented a memento and a shawl to the Modi, on the occasion.