Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep on January 2nd and 3rd, 2024, to unveil a series of ambitious developmental initiatives aimed at fostering growth, connectivity, and sustainable progress across these regions.
Tamil Nadu Visit
Prime Minister Modi’s first stop will be Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, where he will grace the 38th Convocation Ceremony of Bharathidasan University as the Chief Guest. Following this, around noon, he will inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects totaling more than Rs 19,850 crore. These projects span various sectors such as aviation, rail, road, oil and gas, shipping, and higher education.
At the public program in Tiruchirappalli, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new terminal building at Tiruchirappalli International Airport. Developed at a cost exceeding 1100 crore, this two-level international terminal will have the capacity to serve over 4.4 million passengers annually, featuring state-of-the-art amenities for passenger convenience.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate several railway and road sector projects aimed at improving rail capacity, enhancing freight and passenger transportation, and facilitating safer and faster travel within the region. He will also inaugurate the General Cargo Berth-II at Kamarajar Port and the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant (DFRP) at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam. The DFRP, costing Rs 400 crore, is a unique facility designed by Indian scientists, capable of reprocessing both carbide and oxide fuels discharged from fast reactors.
Lakshadweep Visit
Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi will arrive at Agatti, Lakshadweep, where he will address a public function. On January 3rd, around noon, he will reach Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, dedicating and laying the foundation stone for multiple development projects in sectors such as telecommunications, drinking water, solar power, and health.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the completed Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) project, significantly boosting internet speed to more than 100 times its current capacity, connecting Lakshadweep through a Submarine Optic Fiber Cable for the first time since independence.
PM Modi will also dedicate the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat, producing 1.5 lakh liters of clean drinking water daily, and Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households of Agatti and Minicoy islands.
Other projects which are dedicated to nation include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, which is the first ever battery backed solar power project of Lakshadweep. PMO said that it will help to reduce dependency on Diesel based Power Generation plant; and the new administrative block and 80 Men barrack in India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) Complex at Kavaratti.
The PM will will lay the foundation stone of the renovation of Primary Health Care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy.