In a series of events in Tiruchirappalli, Prime Minister on 2 January 2024, launched and dedicated projects worth Rs 20,000 crore in Tamil Nadu.
At Tiruchirappalli he inaugurated the New Terminal Building at Tiruchirappalli International Airport. This state-of-the-art facility, constructed with an investment exceeding Rs 1,100 crore, is designed to accommodate over 44 lakh passengers annually and handle around 3,500 passengers at peak hours.
Additionally, the Prime Minister unveiled a series of pivotal railway developments aimed at enhancing Tamil Nadu’s rail infrastructure. These projects include the doubling of the 41.4 km Salem–Magnesite Junction–Omalur–Mettur Dam section; the 160 km rail line from Madurai to Tuticorin; and the electrification of multiple rail lines including Tiruchchirappalli- Manamadurai- Virudhunagar, Virudhunagar – Tenkasi Junction, Sengottai – Tenkasi Junction – Tirunelveli- Tiruchendur. These rail expansions are expected to boost the region’s freight and passenger capacity, spurring economic growth and job creation.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister dedicated five critical road sector projects to the nation. These include the 39 km four-lane Trichy – Kallagam section of NH-81, the 60 km long Kallagam – Meensurutti section of NH-81, the 29 km Chettikulam – Natham section of NH-785, the 80 km Karaikudi – Ramanathapuram section of NH-536, and the 44 km Salem – Tirupathur – Vaniyambadi Road section of NH-179A. These roads are projected to facilitate more efficient and safer travel, connecting key industrial and commercial hubs such as Trichy, Srirangam, Chidambaram, and Madurai.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a 31 km four-lane road from Mugaiyur to Marakkanam of NH 332A, a project aimed at enhancing connectivity to East Coast ports, the world heritage site of Mamallapuram, and the Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant.
In the maritime sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated the General Cargo Berth-II at Kamarajar Port. This initiative is poised to fortify India’s trade capabilities, driving economic growth and job opportunities.
The energy sector too witnessed a significant boost with the Prime Minister laying the foundation stones for key Petroleum and Natural Gas projects valued over Rs 9,000 crore. The projects include IOCL’s 488 km long natural gas pipeline and HPCL’s 697 km Vijayawada-Dharmapuri Petroleum Pipeline. Furthermore, the foundation stones for GAIL’s 323 km gas pipeline and the development of POL pipelines in Chennai were laid, underlining the commitment to meet the region’s energy demands and fostering employment.
Lastly, the Prime Minister dedicated the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant (DFRP) at IGCAR, Kalpakkam. This Rs. 400 crore project, unique in its design, represents a significant leap in India’s atomic research capabilities.
Complementing these developments, the Prime Minister inaugurated a 500-bed Boys’ Hostel ‘AMETHYST’ at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) – Tiruchirappalli, further bolstering the educational infrastructure of the region.
