New Delhi, 10 March (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a high-impact visit to Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, inaugurating and laying foundation stones for transformative development projects worth approximately ₹16,450 crore across infrastructure, energy, and connectivity sectors.

According to the Prime Minister's Office,PM Modi will kick off proceedings around 1:30 PM in Ernakulam, Kerala, launching initiatives valued at ₹10,800 crore and addressing a public gathering. Later, at approximately 5:45 PM, he will head to Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu to unveil projects worth ₹5,650 crore.

In Ernakulam, a highlight includes the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's (BPCL) ₹5,500 crore-plus polypropylene unit at Kochi Refinery, boasting 400 kilotonnes per annum capacity to bolster domestic production for packaging, automobiles, medical devices, and textiles. Road infrastructure upgrades feature prominently: inauguration of the six-laning of NH-66's Thalapady-Chengala section and the six-laning of the Vengalam-Ramanattukara Kozhikode Bypass, enhancing traffic flow, safety, and tourism.

Further boosting rural access, PM Modi will dedicate 23 roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), redeveloped railway stations at Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram, and Changanassery via Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and the Shoranur-Nilambur rail electrification. He will flag off a new Palakkad-Pollachi train service, strengthening inter-state rail links for daily commuters, pilgrims, traders, and tourists, alongside a 50 MW floating solar project at West Kallada in Kollam district to champion clean energy.

In Tiruchirappalli, PM Modi will lay the foundation for BPCL's city gas distribution network exceeding ₹3,680 crore, piping natural gas to millions of households in Nilgiri and Erode districts while establishing CNG stations. He will dedicate Indian Oil Corporation's 672,000 metric tonnes per annum lube blending plant in Chennai's Manali, inaugurate 370 km of 89 PMGSY rural roads in Tamil Nadu, and lay the foundation for a greenfield bypass near Gangaikondacholapuram on NH-81.

The visit culminates with flagging off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two express trains, and one passenger service to fortify Tamil Nadu's rail network.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar