Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and flagged off a series of developmental projects in Thiruvananthapuram, giving a fresh push to infrastructure, urban livelihoods, science, healthcare and rail connectivity in Kerala.
Addressing a public gathering, the Prime Minister said the government’s efforts towards Kerala’s development had gained new momentum, with strengthened rail links and initiatives aimed at turning Thiruvananthapuram into a major startup and innovation hub.
The Prime Minister also launched a nationwide welfare initiative with the introduction of the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, designed to benefit street vendors, hawkers and footpath workers across the country.
Calling cities crucial to India’s development journey, PM Modi said the Centre had made significant investments in urban infrastructure over the past 11 years. He highlighted that more than four crore houses had been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, including over one crore for the urban poor, with nearly 1.25 lakh beneficiaries in Kerala alone.
Prime Minister Modi underlined measures aimed at reducing the financial burden on poor and middle-class families, including the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Ayushman Bharat health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh, and maternity welfare schemes. He also noted that income up to ₹12 lakh had been exempted from tax, providing relief to salaried and middle-class households, including those in Kerala. PM Modi added that banking access had expanded significantly, enabling SC, ST, OBC communities, women and fishermen to secure loans, even without collateral.
Highlighting the impact of the PM SVANidhi scheme, PM Modi said street vendors who earlier struggled to access small loans were now receiving formal credit support from banks. He said that PM SVANidhi Credit Cards had been distributed to over 10,000 beneficiaries in Kerala, including more than 600 in Thiruvananthapuram, marking a shift towards financial inclusion and digital empowerment.
Additionally, the PM flagged off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and a passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur, strengthening connectivity between Kerala and neighbouring states. He also laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub and a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute, while inaugurating the new Poojappura Head Post Office.
PM Modi said these projects would accelerate Kerala’s development, adding that a developed Kerala was vital to achieving the goal of a developed India.
