Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep on January 2-3, 2024, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects totaling an investment of over Rs 19,850 crore.
On January 2, the Prime Minister will start his schedule in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, where he will attend the 38th Convocation Ceremony of Bharathidasan University as the Chief Guest. Following this, at a public function in Tiruchirappalli, he will inaugurate the New Terminal Building at Tiruchirappalli International Airport and dedicate several projects in the railway sector. These railway projects include the doubling of the Salem–Magnesite Junction–Omalur–Mettur Dam section, the Madurai - Tuticorin rail line, and three rail line electrification projects, expected to boost rail capacity for freight and passenger movement in Tamil Nadu.
Moreover, the Prime Minister will dedicate five road sector projects, including the four-lane Trichy – Kallagam section of NH-81 and the four-lane Chettikulam - Natham section of NH-785, aimed at improving travel safety and reducing travel time in the region. He will also lay the foundation stone for a 31 km long four-lane road from Mugaiyur to Marakkanam of NH 332A, enhancing connectivity to strategic locations like the Mamallapuram World Heritage Site and Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant.
In the shipping sector, the inauguration of the General Cargo Berth-II at Kamarajar Port is planned, which will likely strengthen India's trade capabilities.
The Prime Minister's visit also includes significant announcements in the Petroleum and Natural Gas sector, with projects worth over Rs 9000 crore to be dedicated to the nation. These projects comprise a 488 km long natural gas pipeline by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and a 697 km long Vijayawada-Dharmapuri Multiproduct Petroleum Pipeline by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
A significant highlight of the visit will be the dedication of the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam, showcasing a substantial advancement in India's nuclear technology sector.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate a 500-bed Boys’ Hostel at the National Institute of Technology in Tiruchirappalli, demonstrating the government's focus on enhancing educational infrastructure.
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