Delhi, 26 July (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects worth over ₹4800 crore at a public event in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, around 8 PM today on Saturday. The projects aim to improve regional connectivity, logistics, clean energy infrastructure, and the quality of life for citizens in Tamil Nadu.

On 27th July, he will celebrate the birth anniversary of Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I during the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

In Tuticorin, following his visit to Maldives, PM Modi will inaugurate a new terminal at Tuticorin Airport, costing approximately ₹450 crore, designed to accommodate growing aviation demands with a passenger capacity of 1,350 at peak hours and an annual capacity of 20 lakh. The terminal's features include 100% LED lighting and energy-efficient systems, achieving a GRIHA-4 sustainability rating.

PM Modi will also dedicate two major highway projects. The first is the 4-laning of a 50 km stretch of NH-36, built at a cost of over ₹2,350 crore, featuring bypasses, bridges, and flyovers, which will significantly reduce travel times and enhance connectivity to cultural and agricultural hubs. The second is the 6-laning of a 5.16 km stretch of NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road, costing about ₹200 crore, which will improve cargo flow and support industrial growth.

In addition, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the North Cargo Berth–III at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, costing around ₹285 crore, to boost cargo handling capabilities. He will also dedicate three key railway projects to enhance sustainable connectivity: the electrification of the Madurai–Bodinayakkanur line, the doubling of the Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari section, and the doubling of segments near Aralvaymozhi and Tirunelveli. These projects aim to reduce travel time and improve transport capacity.

Further strengthening power infrastructure, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for an Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for electricity evacuation from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, developed at a cost of around ₹550 crore. This includes a transmission line designed to meet the power demands of Tamil Nadu and neighboring states.

In Tiruchirappalli, PM Modi will release a commemorative coin honoring Rajendra Chola I during the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, celebrating 1,000 years since his maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple. Rajendra Chola I is recognized as a powerful ruler whose empire expanded significantly and who established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as an imperial capital. The temple serves as a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its architectural grandeur. The festival also celebrates Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, revered by the Chola dynasty and memorialized by the 63 Nayanmars. This year’s festival is particularly significant as it coincides with the birth star Thiruvathirai (Ardra) occurring on 23rd July.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar