PM Modi’s big gift to Kerala: Inauguration and foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 10,000 crore, new flight of development in every sector from refinery to highway.

Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several major development projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore during his visit to Kerala. The Prime Minister launched projects of various central government ministries including the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Railways during the programs organized in this coastal city.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone of a polypropylene unit costing over Rs 5,500 crore at the Kochi refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), inaugurated two major highway projects (each costing over Rs 2,000 crore) and dedicated to the nation a Rs 142 crore initiative taken in the rail sector. The Prime Minister also flagged off a new rail service aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening sustainable transportation in the region.

PM Modi also inaugurated three railway stations redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme – Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram Railway Station and Changanassery Railway Station – during the event. These stations have been developed and modernized at a total cost of about Rs 52 crore. At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister said that the expansion of the petroleum sector is very important for ‘Self-reliant India’ and ‘Make in India’. He said this was the thinking behind laying the foundation stone of the polypropylene unit at Kochi Refinery.

PM Modi said that this unit will produce about four lakh tonnes of polypropylene and will prove beneficial for packaging, textiles, automobiles, medical devices and many other industries.

He said that India is becoming a huge manufacturing center today. The Prime Minister said, “The country is also making rapid progress in the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors. Energy consumption is very high in such works. Therefore, the need for green and clean energy is increasing.”

He said, “India has already become one of the leading countries in the world in terms of solar energy. It should make further progress in solar power generation, and as a step in this direction, the foundation stone of a 50 MW solar project has been laid at West Kallada.”

Prime Minister Modi also said that India’s investment in modern infrastructure is appreciated across the world. He said a record share has been allocated for infrastructure in the budget presented this time by the Central government, and Kerala is benefiting immensely from this investment.

The two national highway projects inaugurated by PM Modi include the construction of six-laning of the Thalapady-Chengla section of National Highway-66, built at a cost of over Rs 2,650 crore. Additionally, the Kozhikode bypass from Vengalam to Ramanattukara, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 2,140 crore, was also inaugurated.

PM Modi said that both these projects will improve connectivity to Azhikkal port and reduce traffic problems in Kozhikode. He also said that these will benefit the farmers of the state and promote tourism. Modi also inaugurated 23 rural roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Kerala.