Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch projects worth 17, 300 crore rupees in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu today (Wednesday). These include the country’s first hydrogen hub port, four laning and two laning of several national highways and doubling of railway line.
PM Modi will also launch India’s first indigenous green hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel under Harit Nauka Initiative. The vessel is manufactured by Cochin Shipyard and is a step towards clean energy solutions. The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering at Tirunelveli today before leaving for Maharashtra.
Tuticorin, the pearl-city with the pride of a satellite port will also now boast of becoming a hub of green hydrogen fuel. With the vast majority of the World’s Governments committed to decarbonising their economies in the next two generations, production of green hydrogen is gaining importance all over the world.
The government has set a production target of five million metric tonnes per annum by 2030 with an associated renewable energy capacity of about 125 Gigawatt by 2030. This will also create more than six lakh jobs by 2030, and will reduce cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports by over 11.4 billion Euro in another six years.
The government also expects investments amounting to over 90 billion Euro in green hydrogen by 2030. There are 15 top companies including IOC, NTPC, ONGC, Reliance and Adani Green Energy projects which are producing hydrogen fuel in the Country.
Replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen will reduce emissions from industries such as steel making, refining and chemical production. Green hydrogen can also serve as a substitute for traditional natural gas derived hydrogen in industries like fertiliser production.
The Prime Minister will dedicate tourist facilities in 75 lighthouses across ten states during the program. Modi will dedicate rail projects for doubling of Vanchi Maniyachchi-Nagercoil rail line at a cost of about Rs. 1477 Crore.
PM Modi will also dedicate four road projects at a total cost of about Rs. 4586 crore. This includes the four laning of NH-84, NH 81 , four two laning paved shoulders of NH-83. The project aims to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and facilitate pilgrimage visits in the region.