Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Tamil Nadu on Saturday, where he will launch and dedicate multiple infrastructure and development projects worth over Rs 4,800 crore. This visit follows his return from official trips to the United Kingdom and the Maldives.
The Prime Minister will arrive in Tuticorin and begin his day by inaugurating key projects across the sectors of aviation, highways, ports, railways, and energy—aimed at bolstering the state’s economic and industrial growth.
A major highlight of the visit is the inauguration of the new terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, built at a cost of around Rs 450 crore. Spread across 17,340 square metres, the terminal is designed to handle 1,350 passengers during peak hours and up to 20 lakh annually. With future expansion, it can accommodate 1,800 peak-hour passengers and 25 lakh per year. The terminal is equipped with energy-efficient systems, LED lighting, and a sewage treatment facility, earning it a GRIHA-4 sustainability rating.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate two major national highway projects:
Four-laning of the 50 km Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch on NH-36, part of the Vikravandi–Thanjavur corridor, developed at a cost of over Rs 2,350 crore. It includes bypasses, flyovers, underpasses, and a 1-km bridge over the Kollidam River. This is expected to reduce travel time by 45 minutes.
Six-laning of the 5.16 km NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road, constructed at a cost of Rs 200 crore. This aims to ease cargo movement and reduce logistics costs near the V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
In addition, PM Modi will inaugurate the North Cargo Berth–III at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, built at approximately Rs 285 crore. With a cargo handling capacity of 6.96 MMTPA, the new berth is expected to boost dry bulk cargo movement in the region.
On the railways front, he will dedicate three key infrastructure upgrades:
Electrification of the 90 km Madurai–Bodinayakkanur line
Doubling of the 21 km Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari section
Doubling of Aralvaymozhi–Nagercoil Junction (12.87 km) and Tirunelveli–Melappalayam (3.6 km) lines
Together, these projects are worth over Rs 650 crore and aim to enhance connectivity and promote eco-friendly rail travel in southern Tamil Nadu.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a major Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project to evacuate power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 (2×1000 MW), a crucial step in strengthening the region’s energy grid.
Capping off his visit, PM Modi will participate in the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli, which marks the birth anniversary of the legendary Chola emperor, Rajendra Chola I.
