On March 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹16,450 crore, according to an official statement on Monday.
Specifically, on Wednesday, March 11, at approximately 1:30 pm, Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several development projects worth around ₹10,800 crore in Ernakulum, Kerala.
He will also address a gathering during the event.
Subsequently, around 5:45 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth approximately ₹5,650 crore in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
He will also address the audience at the event.
In Ernakulum, Modi will lay the foundation stone for a polypropylene unit at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) with a capacity of 400 kilo tonnes per annum.
The investment for this project is over ₹5,500 crore, according to the statement.
Polypropylene is a crucial material used in packaging, automotive components, medical devices, textiles, and household products.
The facility will strengthen India's domestic polymer manufacturing capabilities, reduce import dependency, promote industrial growth, and create employment opportunities in the region, the statement said.
In the road infrastructure sector, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate two major highway projects.
The first is the six-laning of the Thalapady-Chengala section of National Highway 66, which has a cost of over ₹2,650 crore, according to the statement.
This section is part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor and will improve connectivity between Kasaragod and Kannur districts, as well as neighboring regions such as Mangaluru and Muzhapilangad.
The project will improve access to key towns such as Kasaragod, Bekal, Payyannur, and Kannur, enhance connectivity to the Azhikkal Port, and support tourism and trade.
The second project is the six-laning of the Kozhikode Bypass from Vengalam to Ramanattukara, which has a cost of approximately ₹2,140 crore, according to the statement.
The statement indicated that the project upgrades the existing two-lane undivided road into a six-lane highway with service roads on both sides, which will significantly reduce congestion, improve traffic capacity, and enhance road safety.
The travel time along this stretch is expected to decrease from over one hour to approximately 15-20 minutes.
The project will also improve connectivity to important destinations such as Kozhikode Beach, Beypore Port, and Kappad Beach, boosting tourism and trade in the region.
Modi will also inaugurate 23 rural roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Kerala.
These roads will improve connectivity in rural and remote areas and help ensure better access to markets, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, thereby strengthening rural livelihoods.
According to the statement, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate three redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme – Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram, and Changanassery.
These stations have been modernized with improved passenger amenities and enhanced accessibility.
The redevelopment integrates local architectural elements while creating modern, safe, and convenient travel spaces for passengers.
Modi will dedicate the Shoranur-Nilambur Road Railway Line Electrification Project to the nation, according to the PMO.
The electrification of this important rail section will enable faster, more efficient, and sustainable train operations by eliminating the need for locomotive changes at Shoranur, the statement said.
He will also flag off a new train service between Palakkad and Pollachi, strengthening rail connectivity between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
This service will benefit daily commuters, pilgrims, traders, and tourists traveling between the two states.
Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the 50-MW Floating Solar Project in West Kallada, Kollam district, Kerala.
This project will contribute to India's clean energy goals and reinforce the country's commitment towards a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.
In Tiruchirappalli, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects worth approximately ₹5,650 crore.
These projects cover key sectors, including petroleum and natural gas infrastructure, lubricants manufacturing, rural connectivity, highway development, and railway services.
In the petroleum sector, Modi will lay the foundation stone of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's city gas distribution network in the Nilgiris and Erode districts, which has a cost of more than ₹3,680 crore, according to the statement.
The project will provide PNG connections to over 8.8 lakh households, supply gas to more than 200 commercial establishments, and establish over 201 CNG stations.
He will also dedicate to the nation a lube blending plant of the Indian Oil Corporation at Manali in Chennai with a capacity of 6,72,000 metric tonnes per annum.
Developed at an investment of about ₹1,490 crore, the plant will strengthen India's lubricants manufacturing capacity.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Modi will also inaugurate 89 rural roads spanning 370 km in Tamil Nadu, which will significantly improve connectivity to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities in rural areas.
He will also lay the foundation stone for a greenfield bypass near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on National Highway 81.
Modi will also flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two express trains, and a passenger train service, strengthening rail connectivity between Tamil Nadu and other places, including Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and eastern India, thereby benefiting passengers and supporting regional economic growth, the statement said.