NE INFRASTRUCTURE BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one new passenger service from Thiruvananthapuram, marking a major leap in rail connectivity for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and neighbouring southern states. The launches form part of a broader multi-ministry development programme aimed at strengthening transport infrastructure, economic integration and citizen-centric services.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said enhanced rail connectivity would “strengthen people-to-people ties, boost tourism, support trade and create new economic opportunities across southern India.” He added that modern train services are central to building a “developed and well-connected India.”
- Prime Minister Flags Off Three Amrit Bharat Express Services, Passenger Train to Boost Mobility, Tourism and Trade
- Rail Links Connect Kerala’s Capital with Industrial, Educational and Pilgrimage Hubs Across TN, AP, Telangana and Karnataka
- Affordable, Time-Bound Rail Services to Benefit Students, Professionals, Pilgrims, Traders and Coastal Economies
- Southern Rail Expansion Anchors Multi-Ministry Development Push from Thiruvananthapuram
- Railways Emerge as Backbone of Regional Integration and Economic Growth in South India
Kerala–Tamil Nadu Corridor Gets a High-Speed Boost
From Thiruvananthapuram Central, Modi flagged off the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, directly linking Kerala’s capital with major industrial, educational, medical and commercial centres of Tamil Nadu.
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The service is expected to significantly benefit students, working professionals, patients seeking advanced healthcare, traders and tourists, while deepening economic and cultural exchanges between the two states.
Also flagged off was the Nagercoil Junction–Mangaluru Junction Amrit Bharat Express, strengthening west coast rail connectivity by linking southern Tamil Nadu with coastal Karnataka through Kerala. The service offers faster and affordable long-distance travel, supporting tourism, fisheries-linked livelihoods and small trade across the coastal belt.
Multi-State Connectivity Strengthened
From Thiruvananthapuram North, the Thiruvananthapuram–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express commenced its maiden journey, providing a strong rail link connecting Kerala with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The train connects key economic, educational, cultural and pilgrimage centres, offering safe, economical and dependable long-distance travel, particularly benefiting students, professionals and small traders.
Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V Somanna said the new services reflect the Centre’s focus on “modern, inclusive and affordable rail travel that reaches every region.”
Pilgrimage and Daily Travel Get a Lift
From Thrissur, Modi flagged off the Thrissur–Guruvayur Passenger Train, delivering direct rail connectivity between one of Kerala’s major urban centres and its most prominent pilgrimage town.
Union Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said the service would “greatly benefit daily commuters, devotees and tourists, while giving a boost to local businesses and religious tourism.”
Rail Launches Anchored in Wider Development Push
The railway initiatives were part of a wider development programme under which Modi also laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub, a state-of-the-art radiosurgery centre at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, and inaugurated the new Head Post Office building at Poojappura.
He also launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, marking the next phase of financial inclusion for street vendors, and disbursed loans to one lakh beneficiaries under the scheme.
Modi said infrastructure, innovation and inclusive finance together form the pillars of sustainable urban growth and employment generation.
