Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala on January 23 to lay foundation stones, inaugurate and flag off a series of major development projects in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering during the visit.
The projects cover key sectors such as rail connectivity, urban livelihoods, science and innovation, citizen-centric services, and advanced healthcare, underscoring the Centre’s focus on inclusive growth, technological advancement and improved quality of life.
A major highlight of the visit will be the strengthening of rail connectivity in the region. The Prime Minister will flag off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains – Nagercoil-Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram, and Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli – along with a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur. These services are expected to significantly enhance connectivity between Kerala and neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while boosting tourism, trade, education and employment.
To further support urban livelihoods, PM Modi will launch the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, marking the next phase of financial inclusion for street vendors. The UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility will provide instant liquidity, encourage digital transactions and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories. He will also disburse PM SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries, including vendors from Kerala. Since its launch in 2020, the PM SVANidhi scheme has enabled first-time access to formal credit for millions of urban informal workers.
In the field of science and innovation, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The hub will focus on life sciences and the bio-economy, integrate traditional knowledge systems such as Ayurveda with modern biotechnology, and promote areas including sustainable packaging and green hydrogen. It aims to foster startups, technology transfer and global collaboration by converting research into market-ready solutions.
Healthcare infrastructure will also receive a boost with the foundation stone laying of a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. The facility will offer highly precise, minimally invasive treatment for complex brain disorders, strengthening tertiary healthcare services in the region.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate the new Poojappura Head Post Office in Thiruvananthapuram. The modern, technology-enabled facility will provide a wide range of postal, banking, insurance and digital services, enhancing citizen-centric service delivery.
