NE BUSINESS BUREAU
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APR 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a two-day visit to Kerala, flagged off the state’s first Vande Bharat Express train from here on Tuesday. Modi flagged off the train from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station here at 11.10 am.
Prior to flagging off the Vande Bharat Express from platform 1 of the railway station, he interacted with a group of school children inside one of the coaches of the train.
- The train has state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience
- PM lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation various development projects worth more than Rs 3,200 crores at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram
- Lays foundation stone of various rail projects and Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor were also present with the PM as he interacted with the students inside the train.
The children showed Modi paintings and sketches of him and the Vande Bharat train made by them.
Hundreds of people also gathered on the opposite side platform to see the PM flag off the train.
The Vande Bharat Express, which will connect the state capital with the northernmost Kasaragod district of Kerala, has been projected by many as an alternative to the LDF government’s ambitious semi-high-speed rail corridor, SilverLine.
The PM flew down from Kochi in the morning and was given a grand reception by BJP leaders and workers on his arrival at the Thiruvananthapuram airport here.
The entire state capital was under a tight security net, with the deployment of hundreds of police personnel and stringent traffic restrictions, as the PM travelled from the airport to the railway station.
His entire nearly six km journey from the airport to the railway station was akin to a road show with the PM standing on the footboard of his vehicle and waving to the people on the roadside as they showered him with flowers.
Transforming Kerala's Railways: Hon'ble PM dedicates/lays the foundation stone for rail projects worth Rs. 19OO Cr. Hon'ble PM , Hon'ble Governor of Kerala, Hon'ble CM of Kerala, Hon'ble Railway Minister and other dignitaries on the dais at Palayam, Trivandrum.#RailInfra4Kerala pic.twitter.com/VIyuiX1SW1
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) April 25, 2023
The electrification of the Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad section in Kerala represents a significant step towards Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission.#Mission100PercentElectrification#RailInfra4Kerala pic.twitter.com/gU9G4vn8vd
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 25, 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various development projects worth more than Rs 3200 crores at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala today. The projects include the dedication of the Kochi Water Metro to the nation, laying the foundation stone of various rail projects and the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram.
Elated to be in Thiruvananthapuram! Various development projects are being launched which will significantly benefit people and further Kerala's progress. https://t.co/r5fbyDam37
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2023
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister greeted the people for Vishu. Referring to the projects of today, the Prime Minister underlined that various projects related to the development and connectivity of Kerala have been unveiled today including the state’s first Vande Bharat Express, Kochi’s first Water Metro and several Railway developments. He congratulated the citizens of Kerala for these development projects.
Commenting on the education and awareness level of Kerala, the Prime Minister said that the hard work and politeness of the people of Kerala give them a unique identity. He said the people of Kerala are capable of understanding the global scenario and they can appreciate how India is being considered a vibrant spot of development amidst difficult times and the promise of India’s development is being acknowledged globally.
The Prime Minister credited the trust shown by the world towards India to a decisive government at the center that takes quick and firm decisions for the welfare of the country, the unprecedented investment made in strengthening and modernizing the infrastructure of India, investments made towards enhancing the skill set of the youth and finally the commitment of the central government towards Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. He further added that the government focuses on cooperative federalism and considers the development of states as the development of the country. “We are working with a service-oriented approach. The nation can progress at a faster rate only if Kerala progresses”, the Prime Minister remarked.
The Prime Minister said one of the reasons for the growing stature of the country is due to the outreach efforts of the central government which has benefited the Keralites who live abroad. India’s growing might is helping the Indian Diaspora greatly, he said.
The Prime Minister said that in the last 9 years, work on connectivity infrastructure has been undertaken at an unprecedented speed and scale. He informed that in this year’s budget also, it is proposed to spend more than 10 lakh crore on infrastructure. “The public transport and logistics sector is being completely transformed in the country. We are moving towards the golden age of Indian railways”, he said and remarked that the average rail budget before 2014 has increased fivefold now.
Throwing light on the developments in railways carried out in Kerala in the last 9 years, the Prime Minister mentioned the work done with respect to gauge conversion, doubling, and electrification of railway tracks. He mentioned that work for the redevelopment of three major railway stations in Kerala has been initiated today with a vision to make it a multimodal transport hub. “Vande Bharat Express is the identity of aspirational India”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the transforming rail network in India which makes it possible to run such semi-high speed trains with ease.
The Prime Minister elaborated that the effort is to provide Made in India solutions as per local needs with regard to infrastructure. He listed solutions like a semi-hybrid train, Regional Rapid Transport System, Ro-Ro ferry, and ropeway to illustrate situation-specific solutions for connectivity. He also underscored the indigenous origins of Made in India Vande Bharat and Metro coaches. He also mentioned projects like Metro-Lite and urban ropeways in smaller cities.
The Prime Minister underlined that the Kochi Water Metro is a Made in India project and congratulated the Kochi Shipyard for the development of ports for the same. He stated that the Kochi Water Metro will make modern and cheap means of transport accessible for the people living in the nearing islets of Kochi while also providing intermodal connectivity between the bus terminal and the metro network. The Prime Minister further added that it will benefit backwater tourism in the state apart from easing the traffic congestion in the city. He expressed confidence that the Kochi Water Metro will become a model for the other states in the country.
Modi reiterated that along with physical connectivity, digital connectivity too is the country’s priority. He said projects like Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram will give a fillip to Digital India. He highlighted global appreciation for India’s digital system. “Indigenously developed 5G will create new opportunities in the sector”, he said.
