Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu on February 14 to inaugurate several key projects. During his visit, the PM will dedicate various projects in the states, pitching for development.
In Kerala, the Prime Minister will dedicate the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP) of Bharat Petroleum. Expectedly, the project, which was completed at a cost of Rs 6,000 Crore, will help save nearly Rs 3,700 to 4,000 crore per annum in foreign exchange. With the commissioning of this project, the Kochi refinery will be the first Indian refinery to produce niche petrochemicals.
Next, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Ro-Ro Vessels at Willington Islands in Cochin. Named MV Adi Shankara and MV CV Raman, the Ro-Ro vessels will have the capacity to carry six 20-feet trucks, three 20-feet trailer trucks, three 40-feet trailer trucks and 30 passengers each. The project helps to reduce transportation costs and transit time. Further, Modi will launch the International Cruise Terminal “Sagarika”, India’s first full-fledged international cruise terminal, at Cochin Port. It was established for Rs 25.72 Crore and has state-of-the-art facilities.
Besides, the PM will also inaugurate the premier Maritime Learning Centre, Engineering Training Institute, Vigyana Sagar, Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The institute has an intake capacity of 114 fresh graduates. It was established at a cost of Rs 27.5 Crore.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Chennai Metro Rail Phase I extension, which was completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 Crore. Modi will inspect the passenger service from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar on his visit. The 9.05 km-long extension will link North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.
Later, the Prime Minister will launch the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. The new connection established at a cost of Rs 293.40 Crore will ease traffic from Chennai port. He will also initiate the Railway Electrification of single line section in Villupuram-Cuddalore-Mayiladuthurai-Thanjavur and Mayilduthurai-Thiruvarur established at a cost of Rs 423 Crore.
In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made his first visit to Kerala. Even before his arrival, the visit had triggered controversy after the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he was being kept away from a function by an outfit of the Hindu Ezhava community where Modi will be present. Later, the PM visited Guruvayur temple to offer prayers in his first visit to Kerala of his second term. He made the visit just a week after he was sworn in as the Prime Minister of the country for the second consecutive time. Earlier, in 2008, he had visited the temple after becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second time.
