PM Modi Launches Projects Worth Over Rs 13,000 Crore In Chennai, Highlights Jobs And Connectivity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid foundation stones, inaugurated and dedicated development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore in Chennai, saying the initiatives would improve daily travel, strengthen industry and trade, and create employment opportunities for young people across Tamil Nadu.
Describing the occasion as a historic day for the state, PM Modi said the completed and upcoming projects would support its development through better connectivity and expanded industrial capacity.
The programme included the dedication of another stretch of the Chennai Metro and the laying of the foundation stone for an advanced lubricant base oil project, alongside rail and road projects.
Highlighting urban development as a major priority, PM Modi said effective public transport was essential to improving people’s ease of living. Modern cities required comprehensive infrastructure, he said, adding that widening roads alone could not meet their transportation needs.
He noted that India’s metro services had expanded from five cities in 2014 to 25 cities, while the network had grown from around 250 kilometres to more than 1,100 kilometres.
The latest Chennai Metro expansion would make journeys easier and reduce travel time for residents, he said.
PM Modi emphasised Tamil Nadu’s contribution to manufacturing and said national initiatives such as Make in India and Vocal for Local were benefiting the state’s small industries and workforce.
“Every Indian is proud of the manufacturing sector of Tamil Nadu, the small-scale industries here, and every person working in them,” he said.
The Prime Minister said efforts to strengthen the production chain, from components to finished products, had helped India become the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer. Since 2014, electronics exports had increased elevenfold and defence exports fiftyfold, while engineering exports had set a new record, he added.
Manufacturing growth had generated lakhs of direct and indirect jobs, with Tamil Nadu making a significant contribution, PM Modi said. The advanced lubricant base oil project would create further employment and help reduce imports.
He linked industrial growth to investment in roads, railways and ports, saying infrastructure construction created work for engineers, technicians and workers, as well as opportunities for factories and smaller businesses supplying cement, steel and equipment.
Once completed, better connectivity supported the expansion of industry and services, he said, describing the rail and road projects launched during the programme as important for Tamil Nadu’s progress.
On maritime infrastructure, PM Modi highlighted the Centre’s recent decision to invest around ₹17,000 crore in developing VOC Port in Thoothukudi into a world-class mega container and green energy hub.
The project would enable the port to accommodate ultra-large container vessels and help Tamil Nadu become a global hub for industry and transport, he said.
Improvements in the speed and efficiency of Indian ports had halved vessel turnaround time in recent years, allowing Indian products to reach global markets faster, PM Modi added.
The Prime Minister also outlined support for fishing communities under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and other schemes. Projects worth thousands of crores of rupees had been approved for Tamil Nadu to improve fishing harbours, develop fish landing centres, strengthen cold-chain facilities and assist with the purchase of vehicles to transport fresh fish, he said.
The Centre was supporting the modernisation of Chennai Fishing Harbour and the development of a seaweed park in the state. Kisan Credit Cards were also making working capital more accessible to fishermen, he added.
PM Modi said national fish production had increased rapidly and seafood exports had reached their highest levels in both quantity and value last year, improving the lives of fishing families and coastal communities.
Reflecting on completing 25 years as head of government since taking oath as Chief Minister in October 2001, PM Modi said his faith in the people and cooperative federalism had strengthened throughout his tenure.
His experience as Chief Minister had helped him understand states’ expectations, he said, and shaped his efforts as Prime Minister to support their development aspirations.
PM Modi recalled his interactions with Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa during his tenure as Chief Minister and his subsequent work as Prime Minister with Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and M. K. Stalin.
Despite changes in government, his commitment to Tamil Nadu’s development had remained firm, he said, adding that the Centre was now working with Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to advance that journey.
Earlier, PM Modi visited the Brain Research Centre at IIT Madras, where he said research could create new opportunities in public health. He also sought blessings at the Jalakandeswarar Temple and extended Navratri greetings from Tamil Nadu, which he described as the sacred land of Shiva and Shakti.
Drawing a connection between his temple visit and the Metro inauguration, PM Modi said India’s cultural heritage, scientific progress and modern infrastructure were advancing together.
“Our heritage and our aspirations for the future are moving forward together,” he said.
Assuring Tamil Nadu of the Centre’s continued support, PM Modi called for collective efforts towards development.
“Together, we will realize the resolve of a Viksit Bharat through a Viksit Tamil Nadu,” he said.
He also paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan and Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh on their birth anniversaries, recalling their dedication to national service.
