Central projects will create a ‘developed Tamil Nadu’, says Narendra Modi

The Union government-funded infrastructure projects being implemented in Tamil Nadu on an outlay of over ₹3 lakh crore will help the Centre realise its dream of achieving ‘Viksit Tamil Nadu’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

Inaugurating the new terminal building at the Thoothukudi airport, he said his government, which had promised a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), was according the highest priority for infrastructure development. Hence, the port, rail and energy sectors were getting an unprecedented facelift nationwide, from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Modi said the Centre had released over ₹3 lakh crore since 2014 for strengthening Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure to make it ‘Developed Tamil Nadu’. This was three times higher than the funding provided by the previous United Progressive Alliance government to the State. He further said the north cargo berth at VOC Port, Thoothukudi; six-lane VOC Port Road; and four-lane Sethiyathope-Chozhapuram Highway would significantly catalyse the trade opportunities and employment generation for the locals.

In an apparent reply to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s recent assertion that the Centre was refusing to allocate funds for Tamil Nadu, he said the thrust being given for infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu by the Centre in energy, road, rail, and port sectors would phenomenally expedite the State’s growth while achieving the Centre’s goal of “Viksit Tamil Nadu”. He recalled that the National Democratic Alliance government had sanctioned 11 new medical colleges for Tamil Nadu, and the Centre was also developing harbours to improve their livelihood.

Terming India’s recent free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (U.K.) as “historic”, Mr. Modi said this agreement would open unprecedented export opportunities for Indian products. “As more than 99% of the ‘Make in India’ products will be available in the U.K. at lower prices, the rise in demand will increase production in India and generate more employment in the micro and small industries here. It will enhance the world’s faith in India, which will become the third largest economy in the world soon,” Mr. Modi said.

He added that home-grown weapon systems, which were used in recent ‘Operation Sindhoor’, had destroyed the terrorists’ hideouts and had given sleepless nights to the sponsors of terror.

Governor R.N. Ravi, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, Tamil Nadu Ministers T.R.B. Rajaa, P. Geetha Jeevan, and Anita R. Radhakrishnan and MP Kanimozhi were among those present.

State Finance Minister Thangam Thennerasu presented a memento to Mr. Modi on the occasion.