Is PM Modi Inaugurating Development Projects Worth Rs 4,800 Crore in Tamil Nadu Today?

Chennai, July 26 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to visit Tamil Nadu today to inaugurate, lay the foundation stone, and dedicate a range of development projects across various sectors, collectively valued at over Rs 4,800 crore.

This visit follows his recent official trips to the UK and the Maldives.

His first stop will be Tuticorin, where he will unveil several infrastructure and connectivity initiatives designed to enhance the state's economic and industrial growth.

In a major advancement for regional air travel, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, which has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 450 crore.

Spanning 17,340 square metres, this terminal is equipped to process 1,350 passengers during peak hours and accommodate up to 20 lakh passengers annually, with plans for future expansion to support 1,800 peak-hour passengers and 25 lakh per year.

The terminal is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring 100 percent LED lighting, energy-efficient systems, and a treated water reuse system through an on-site Sewage Treatment Plant, which qualifies it for a GRIHA-4 sustainability rating.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will dedicate two significant national highway projects. The first is the four-laning of the 50 km Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch of NH-36, developed under the Vikravandi–Thanjavur corridor at a cost exceeding Rs 2,350 crore.

This project includes bypasses, a 1-km bridge over the Kollidam River, flyovers, and underpasses, which are anticipated to reduce travel time by 45 minutes in the region. The second project entails the six-laning of the 5.16 km NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road, constructed at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

This initiative will include multiple underpasses and bridges, aimed at facilitating smoother cargo movement, lowering logistics costs, and promoting port-led growth near the V.O. Chidambaranar Port.

Moreover, PM Modi will inaugurate North Cargo Berth–III at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, developed at a cost of approximately Rs 285 crore. This berth has a handling capacity of 6.96 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and will enhance dry bulk cargo operations in southern Tamil Nadu.

On the railway front, the Prime Minister will dedicate three vital projects to the nation. These include the electrification of the 90 km Madurai–Bodinayakkanur line, the doubling of the 21 km Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari section (part of the Thiruvananthapuram–Kanniyakumari corridor), and the doubling of the Aralvaymozhi–Nagercoil Junction (12.87 km) and Tirunelveli–Melappalayam (3.6 km) routes.

These projects, with a combined investment exceeding Rs 650 crore, will enhance connectivity, promote eco-friendly travel, and support economic growth in the southern districts.

To further boost the state’s energy infrastructure, PM Modi will lay the groundwork for an Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project to evacuate power from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 (2x1000 MW).

Additionally, the Prime Minister will participate in the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli, celebrating the birth anniversary of the esteemed Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I.