PM Modi Launches Tuticorin Projects Rajendra Chola Celebration
Prime Minister at Tuticorin – A ₹4,800 Crore Showcase
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th July: Just hours after landing back in India, the Prime Minister will head to Tuticorin, where he will dedicate several key infrastructure projects worth over ₹4,800 crore. These span aviation, highways, port infrastructure, railways, and power transmission—all aimed at strengthening Tamil Nadu’s connectivity, energy resilience, and economic growth.
At approximately 8 PM on 26 July, Modi will inaugurate the new terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, a ₹450 crore modern terminal built to GRIHA‑4 sustainability standards. With capacity for 1,350 passengers in peak hours and annual handling of 20 lakh passengers (expandable to 25 lakh), this new terminal is expected to enhance air travel, tourism, trade, and investment flows in the southern region. Its eco‑friendly design includes full LED lighting, energy‑efficient E&M infrastructure, and sewage‑treatment water reuse.
Transformative Road and Port Projects
Modi will also dedicate two major national highway upgrades. The first is the 4‑laning of the 50 km Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch of NH‑36, part of the extensive Vikravandi–Thanjavur corridor. With bridges, flyovers, and bypasses, the project slashes travel time by 45 minutes and links key agricultural and cultural hubs.
The second is the ₹200 crore, 6‑laning of the NH‑138 Tuticorin Port Road, improving accessibility to V.O. Chidambaranar Port. This upgrade is expected to ease cargo traffic and support further port‑centric industrial growth.
Beyond roads, Modi will inaugurate the North Cargo Berth‑III at Tuticorin Port, a ₹285 crore facility with nearly 7 MMTPA dry bulk capacity. This berth will significantly streamline port logistics and boost cargo handling efficiency
Railway Expansion & Clean Energy Infrastructure
Three key rail projects dedicated to enhancing southern connectivity include electrification of the 90 km Madurai–Bodinayakkanur line, plus the doubling of the 21 km Nagercoil–Kanniyakumari section (₹650 crore), and shorter doubling projects on the Aralvaymozhi–Nagercoil and Tirunelveli–Melappalayam sections. These improvements are poised to reduce travel time on southern corridors and fortify economic linkages with Kerala and other regions.
Adding to the clean‑energy push, Modi will lay the foundation for a ₹550 crore Inter‑State Transmission System (ISTS) to evacuate electricity from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4. The project includes 400 kV (quad) double‑circuit transmission lines to Tuticorin‑II GIS substation and will bolster national grid capacity to meet growing power demands.
Honouring Rajendra Chola I – A Festival with Legacy
On 27 July, Modi will attend the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, commemorating the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I, one of India’s greatest emperor‑visionaries. Modi will also release a commemorative coin to mark 1,000 years since Rajendra Chola’s maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the foundation of the magnificent temple.
Rajendra Chola I ruled from 1014 to 1044 CE, expanding the Chola Empire across South and Southeast Asia, and heralding Gangaikonda Cholapuram as the imperial capital. The temple, now a UNESCO heritage site, is celebrated for its Chola bronzes, inscriptions, and artistic grandeur. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also honors Tamil Shaiva devotional traditions, dating back to the era of the 63 Nayanmars whose spiritual legacy continues to inspire.
