-PM Modi to inaugurate New Terminal Building at Tuticorin Airport

-PM Modi to dedicate to the nation multiple rail and road projects worth over ₹3600 crore for efficient regional connectivity

-PM Modi to lay the foundation stone for the Inter-State Transmission System for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant for electricity transmission

-PM Modi to inaugurate cargo handling facility at V.O. Chidambaranar Port

-PM Modi to visit Tiruchirappalli on the occasion of Adi Thiruvathirai Festival

-PM Modi to participate in Commemoration of 1000 years of maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola I to South East Asia & Commencement of Construction of Gangaikondacholapuram temple

Delhi, 25 July (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate, and dedicate various development projects worth over ₹4800 crore at a public event in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu on 26th July after returning from the UK and Maldives. He will also participate in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I during the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple on 27th July.

In Tuticorin, the Prime Minister will launch several projects enhancing regional connectivity, logistics, clean energy, and citizens' quality of life. Key among these is the inauguration of the New Terminal Building at Tuticorin Airport, built at a cost of ₹450 crore, designed to handle growing aviation demands with a capacity for 1,350 passengers during peak hours and an annual capacity of 20 lakh passengers. The terminal features 100% LED lighting, energy-efficient systems, and a Sewage Treatment Plant, striving for a GRIHA-4 sustainability rating, which is expected to stimulate tourism, trade, and investment in southern Tamil Nadu.

In road infrastructure, the Prime Minister will dedicate two significant highway projects. The 50 km NH-36 Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch, costing over ₹2,350 crore, includes three bypasses, a 1 km four-lane bridge, four major bridges, seven flyovers, and underpasses, reducing travel times significantly and enhancing connectivity to cultural and agricultural hubs. Additionally, the 6-laning of the 5.16 km NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road, developed at ₹200 crore, is aimed at easing cargo flow and supporting port-led industrial growth.

In an enhancement of port infrastructure, the North Cargo Berth–III at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, with a capacity of 6.96 MMTPA, will also be inaugurated, worth ₹285 crore, to address dry bulk cargo demands and optimize handling efficiencies.

Further, the Prime Minister will dedicate three railway infrastructure projects aimed at improving sustainable connectivity. The electrification of a 90 km Madurai–Bodinayakkanur line promotes eco-friendly transport, while the ₹650 crore doubling of a 21 km Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari section will strengthen links with Kerala. The doubling of the Aralvaymozhi–Nagercoil Junction and Tirunelveli–Melappalayam sections will reduce travel times and enhance economic integration.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation for a major power transmission project, the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for electricity evacuation from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, costing around ₹550 crore. This project aims to strengthen the national grid and meet rising power demands in Tamil Nadu and surrounding states.

In Tiruchirappalli, PM Modi will release a commemorative coin honoring Rajendra Chola I during the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, celebrating both the emperor's legacy and the significance of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, associated with his reign, which exemplifies Chola architectural prowess and has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The festival reflects Tamil Shaiva Bhakti traditions celebrated by the Cholas and the contributions of the 63 Nayanmars. This year's festival is especially significant as it coincides with Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar