Kanyakumari: Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday launched various projects in TN and dedicated it to the people of the State. He also heaped praise on late Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and lauded her for her people-centric work at a public function.
He also laid the foundation stone for the restoration of railway line between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi and recalled that the line was damaged in the 1964 cyclone and for over 50 years no attention was paid to rectify it. “But better late than never,” he added.
This is the first time Modi is taking part in a public function after the BJP formed an alliance with the ruling AIADMK. Speaking at the function, he called the late AIADMK supremo “Amma Jayalalithaa ji”.
A slew of projects such as a new highway projects, flyovers and four-laning in new sections of the national highways falling under Madurai and Dindigul districts at a combined cost of Rs 2,995 crore was launched.
Modi also flagged off the Madurai–Chennai Tejas Express through video conferencing.The Tejas express, with ultra-modern facilities, would be the fastest in the Chennai-Madurai sector and would cover the 496 km stretch in six and a half hours. The train service would provide the comfort and luxury to tourists, pilgrims and business class travellers, who travel frequently between these cities.
During the function, Modi also laid foundation for the restoration of rail connectivity between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi (17.20km) at a cost of Rs 208 crore, building a new bridge at Pamban Viaduct (2.05 Km) at a cost of Rs 250 crore.
The event was graced by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who represents Kanyakumari in Lok Sabha, among others.