New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled a series of development initiatives valued at about Rs 10,000 crore in Kerala, spanning sectors such as petroleum infrastructure, highways and railways. The projects were launched during a programme in Kochi, where PM Modi also addressed a public gathering and flagged off a new train service.
Among the key initiatives, PM Modidi laid the foundation stone for a polypropylene manufacturing unit at the Kochi refinery operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. The proposed facility involves an investment of more than Rs 5,500 crore and is expected to strengthen petrochemical capacity in the region. He also dedicated two major highway developments, each costing over Rs 2,000 crore, aimed at improving road connectivity in the state.
In the rail sector, projects worth Rs 142 crore were inaugurated, including the redevelopment of stations such as Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram Railway Station and Changanassery Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These initiatives are intended to modernise passenger facilities and upgrade railway infrastructure.
Later in the day, PM Modi is scheduled to travel to Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, where development projects worth around Rs 5,650 crore will be launched. The upcoming programme will include infrastructure and energy initiatives, as well as the introduction of five new train services designed to strengthen connectivity between southern states and other parts of the country.
Key projects in Tamil Nadu include the foundation of a city gas distribution network by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in the Nilgiris and Erode districts with an estimated investment of over Rs 3,680 crore. In addition, a lubricant blending facility developed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Manali, Chennai, with a capacity of 672 thousand metric tonnes per annum and an investment of about Rs 1,490 crore, will be dedicated to the nation.
PM Modi will also flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains along with other passenger services, and inaugurate rural road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. These initiatives are expected to enhance transportation networks and support regional economic activity across the state.
