New Delhi, February 27 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on March 1, during which he will inaugurate or lay the foundation stones for a series of road, rail, and other infrastructure projects, as well as launch three new Akashvani FM relay transmitters.
Following his visit to Rajasthan and Gujarat, Modi will arrive in Chennai on Saturday evening and begin his activities the following morning.
On Sunday, around 11:45 am, Modi will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth over ₹2,700 crore in Puducherry, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
He will also address the gathering on this occasion.
Subsequently, he will travel to Madurai in Tamil Nadu, where, around 3 pm, he will inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stone for infrastructure projects worth over ₹4,400 crore and address the gathering.
Around 4 pm, he will visit the Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple in Madurai and perform darshan and puja.
During his visit to Puducherry, Modi will inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stone for multiple projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure, urban services, industrial development, education, healthcare, and sustainable growth in the Union Territory.
These projects include the launch of e-buses under the PM e-Bus Seva Initiative, the Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission, tenements for Economically Weaker Sections under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) initiative, and important sewerage and water supply sector projects of the Puducherry government.
He will also inaugurate the composite engineering block – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Block – and the Ganga hostel of the National Institute of Technology, Karaikal.
The modernization of the Regional Cancer Centre at JIPMER, as well as new annex buildings, lecture halls, and hostels of Pondicherry University, will also be inaugurated, further strengthening higher education and healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Modi will dedicate the 750-acre Karasur-Sedarapet Industrial Estate to the nation, which will house a Pharma Park, Textile Park, IT Park, state-of-the-art research and development center of the IIT Madras, and advanced healthcare facilities of JIPMER, thereby providing a major boost to industrial growth and employment generation in the region.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for water supply projects to improve drinking water systems and ensure clean and safe water for residents in the Puducherry region.
He will also lay the foundation stone for the construction of 41 rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the development of a heritage town in Puducherry, mangrove restoration under the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme, projects in the water supply and sanitation sectors, and power sector projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), among others.
PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of various projects covering major sectors such as urban roads, drainage networks, public buildings, student hostels, and sports facilities under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
The central government has approved the inclusion of Puducherry under the SASCI scheme, which was originally limited to States alone, allowing for capital asset creation works to be undertaken to improve infrastructure and common utilities for public use.
Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Marakkanam-Puducherry section of NH-332A and the Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram section of NH-87.
The four-laning of the Marakkanam-Puducherry section will help reduce traffic congestion in urban areas of Puducherry, reduce travel time by nearly 50 per cent, from one hour to about 30 minutes.
The project will provide seamless connectivity among key National Highways and State Highways, enhance access to prominent destinations such as Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station, and Auroville, strengthen connectivity between coastal villages and Viluppuram district headquarters, and boost tourism and economic activity in the region.
The four-laning of the Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87 will provide faster access to major religious destinations including Madurai, Rameswaram, and Dhanushkodi.
The project will reduce travel time by around 40 per cent -- from one hour to approximately 35 minutes.
It will strengthen multi-modal connectivity by linking major railway stations at Madurai and Rameswaram, airports at Madurai and INS Parundu, and non-major ports at Pamban and Rameswaram.
Aligned with the principles of PM Gati Shakti, the corridor will integrate key economic nodes including fishing clusters, a Special Economic Zone, a Mega Food Park, and a textile cluster, thereby catalyzing trade, industry, and socio-economic development across the region.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation rail infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing passenger convenience, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening rail-based connectivity in Tamil Nadu.
He will inaugurate eight redeveloped railway stations in Tamil Nadu under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These stations are Morappur, Bommidi, Srivilliputtur, Sholavandan, Manaparai, Pollachi Junction, Karaikkudi Junction, and Thiruvarur Junction.
These stations have been upgraded with modern passenger-centric amenities while incorporating local architectural elements and cultural aesthetics, including improved accessibility, enhanced station buildings, modern waiting halls, lifts, and escalators, upgraded platforms, and Divyangjan-friendly facilities.
Modi will also dedicate to the nation the Chennai Beach-Chennai Egmore 4th Line, a rail line that will significantly enhance operational efficiency in the Chennai suburban rail network by facilitating additional passenger and freight train services and benefiting lakhs of daily commuters, including office-goers, IT professionals, students, and traders.
To further strengthen broadcasting services in Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister will inaugurate three new Akashvani FM relay transmitters at Kumbakonam, Yercaud, and Vellore.
These transmitters will expand regional coverage, ensure uninterrupted FM broadcasting, and enhance access to public broadcasting services across multiple districts of the state.