PM Modi to visit Tamil Nadu, Puducherry on March 1
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on March 1 during which he will inaugurate or lay foundation stones of a series of road, rail and other infrastructure projects besides launching three new Akashvani FM relay transmitters
After his visit to Rajasthan and Gujarat, Modi will reach Chennai on Saturday night and start his programme the next morning.
On Sunday, at around 11.45 am, Modi will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of various development projects worth over Rs 2,700 crore in Puducherry, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said.
He will also address the gathering on the occasion.
Thereafter, he will travel to Madurai in Tamil Nadu where, at around 3 pm, he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects worth over Rs 4,400 crore and address the gathering.
At around 4 pm, he will perform darshan and pooja at Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple, Tirupparankundram in Madurai.
During his tour to Puducherry, Modi will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure, urban services, industrial development, education, healthcare and sustainable growth in the Union Territory.
He will inaugurate several key initiatives including the launch of e-Buses under the PM e-Bus Seva Initiative, the Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission, tenements for Economically Weaker Sections under City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) initiative, and important sewerage and water supply sector projects of the Puducherry government.
He will also inaugurate the composite engineering block -- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Block and Ganga hostel of the National Institute of Technology, Karaikal.
The modernisation of the Regional Cancer Centre at JIPMER; and new annexe buildings, lecture halls and hostels of Pondicherry University will also be inaugurated, further strengthening higher education and healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Modi will dedicate to the nation the 750-acre Karasur-Sedarapet Industrial Estate, which will house a Pharma Park, Textile Park, IT Park, state-of-the-art research and development centre of the IIT Madras and advanced healthcare facilities of JIPMER, thereby providing a major boost to industrial growth and employment generation in the region.
The prime minister will lay the foundation stone of water supply projects to improve drinking water systems and ensure clean and safe water for residents of Puducherry region, the statement said.
He will also lay the foundation stone for construction of 41 rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), development of heritage town in Puducherry, mangrove restoration under the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme, projects in water supply and sanitation sectors, and power sector projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), among others.
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of various projects covering major sectors like urban roads, drainage networks, public buildings, student hostels and sport facilities under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
The central government has approved inclusion of the Puducherry under SASCI scheme which was originally limited to States alone, allowing for capital asset creation works to be taken up for improving infrastructure and common utilities meant for people's use.
Modi will lay the foundation stone for four-laning of Marakkanam-Puducherry Section of NH-332A and the Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87.
The four-laning of the Marakkanam-Puducherry section will help reduce traffic congestion in urban areas of Puducherry, reduce travel time by nearly 50 per cent, from one hour to about 30 minutes.
The project will provide seamless connectivity among key National Highways and State Highways, enhance access to prominent destinations such as Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station and Auroville, strengthen connectivity between coastal villages and Viluppuram district headquarters, and boost tourism and economic activity in the region, the statement said.
The four-laning of the Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87 will provide faster access to major religious destinations including Madurai, Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.
The project will reduce travel time by around 40 per cent -- from one hour to approximately 35 minutes.
It will strengthen multi-modal connectivity by linking major railway stations at Madurai and Rameswaram, airports at Madurai and INS Parundu, and non-major ports at Pamban and Rameswaram.
Aligned with the principles of PM Gati Shakti, the corridor will integrate key economic nodes including fishing clusters, a Special Economic Zone, a Mega Food Park and a textile cluster, thereby catalysing trade, industry and socio-economic development across the region.
The prime minister will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation rail infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing passenger convenience, improving operational efficiency and strengthening rail-based connectivity in Tamil Nadu.
He will inaugurate eight redeveloped railway stations in Tamil Nadu under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme These redeveloped railway stations are Morappur, Bommidi, Srivilliputtur, Sholavandan, Manaparai, Pollachi Junction, Karaikkudi Junction and Thiruvarur Junction.
These stations have been upgraded with modern passenger-centric amenities while incorporating local architectural elements and cultural aesthetics, including improved accessibility, enhanced station buildings, modern waiting halls, lifts and escalators, upgraded platforms and Divyangjan-friendly facilities.
Modi will also dedicate to the nation the Chennai Beach-Chennai Egmore 4th Line, a rail line that will significantly enhance operational efficiency in the Chennai suburban rail network by facilitating additional passenger and freight train services and benefiting lakhs of daily commuters including office-goers, IT professionals, students and traders.
To further strengthen broadcasting services in Tamil Nadu, the prime minister will inaugurate three new Akashvani FM relay transmitters at Kumbakonam, Yercaud and Vellore.
These transmitters will expand regional coverage, ensure uninterrupted FM broadcasting and enhance access to public broadcasting services across multiple districts of the state.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
