Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, labeled the recent free trade deal between India and the United Kingdom as 'historic'. He highlighted that this trade agreement showcases the world's increasing trust in India. Talking about Operation Sindoor, he mentioned that weapons crafted under the 'Make in India' initiative played a significant role in obliterating enemy bases during cross-border military operations and have struck fear into adversaries.
The Prime Minister inaugurated projects costing 49 billion INR, underscoring the NDA government's commitment to Tamil Nadu's development. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating these projects, Modi expressed his gratitude for coming directly to Tamil Nadu after completing his overseas tour. During this tour, the India-UK free trade agreement was signed before his visit to the Maldives.
Modi remarked, 'India and the UK have signed a free trade agreement. This indicates the rising global trust and our self-assurance. With this confidence, we will build a developed India and Tamil Nadu.' Wearing traditional veshti, a shirt, and a shawl, he stated, 'The FTA with the UK accelerates our vision for a developed India and Tamil Nadu.' He reached here right after concluding his official trip to the Maldives.
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Railways: The Lifeline of Industrial Growth, says PM Modi
Promising a developed India and Tamil Nadu, he articulated, 'Infrastructure and energy are the backbones of any state's development; our focus on them over the past 11 years highlights our commitment to Tamil Nadu's progress.' The NDA government has constructed structures like the Atal Setu, Sonmarg Tunnel, and Bogibeel Bridge across the country, creating thousands of job opportunities. Regarding railways, he commented that it is the lifeline for industrial growth.
The projects inaugurated on Saturday address areas including airports, highways, railways, ports, and power in Tamil Nadu. Among the inaugurated projects is a new state-of-the-art terminal building at the Tuticorin airport, developed at an estimated cost of approximately 4.5 billion INR. As for the railway projects, there is the electrification of the 90-kilometer-long Madurai-Bodinayakkanur line, executed at a cost of 990 million INR, and the doubling of the 21-kilometer-long Nagercoil Town-Kanyakumari section, completed at a cost of 6.5 billion INR.
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PM Inaugurates Rail and Road Projects
The Prime Minister dedicated two strategically essential highway projects to the nation. The first involves the widening of a 50-kilometer stretch of NH-36 from Sethiyathope to Cholapuram into four lanes, developed at a cost of 23.5 billion INR. The second project is the widening of a 5.16-kilometer stretch of NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road into six lanes, constructed at a cost of approximately 2 billion INR. He inaugurated the North Cargo Berth-III at the VO Chidambaranar Port, developed with a cargo handling capacity of 6.96 MTPA at an investment of 2.85 billion INR.
On this occasion, he evoked renowned freedom fighters from the region—VO Chidambaram Pillai, Raja Veerapandia Kattabomman, and Sardar Veeran Azhagu Muthukon. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi graced the event. The state's finance minister Thangam Thenarasu presented the Prime Minister with a replica of Chennai's iconic Valluvar Kottam as a souvenir. Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, Union State Minister L Murugan, Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Minister P Geetha Jeevan, Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi, and top officials were present.
