Returning from a four-day international tour, Modi said it was an honour to visit the sacred soil of Rameswaram and Thiruchendur, highlighting the region’s deep spiritual and cultural significance
Published Jul 27, 2025 | 12:43 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 27, 2025 | 12:43 AM
PM Modi unveils ₹4,900-Crore infrastructure projects in Thoothukudi (@narendramodi on X)
Synopsis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Thoothukudi on Friday to inaugurate and lay the foundation for infrastructure projects worth ₹4,900 crore across sectors like ports, aviation, power, and transport. Key highlights included the new terminal at Tuticorin Airport, expansion at VOC Port, and power evacuation from Kudankulam Units 3 and 4, alongside major highway upgrades and railway electrification works
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Thoothukudi on Friday, 25 July, to inaugurate and lay the foundation for a slew of key infrastructure projects spanning power transmission, ports, railways, highways, and civil aviation. Projects worth a total of ₹4,900 crore were either launched or dedicated during the visit.
Among the highlights were the inauguration of the new terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, the North Cargo Berth-III at VOC Port, and the laying of the foundation stone for the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) to evacuate power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4.
The Prime Minister also dedicated several rail and road development projects to the nation, including the six-laning of the Tuticorin Port Road (NH-138), four-laning of the Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch of NH-36, and key railway line doubling and electrification projects across the region.
Upon his arrival at the Tuticorin Airport, Prime Minister Modi was received by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister L. Murugan, and Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu. As a gesture of goodwill, Thangam Thennarasu presented Modi with a miniature replica of the Valluvar Kottam monument.
TamilNadu ministers Thangam Thennarasu, TRB. Raja, Geetha Jeevan, Anitha Radhakrishan and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi attended the event. BJP MLA and state leader Nainar Nagendran also present at the event.
Union Minister L. Murugan delivered the welcome address, invoking chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Shri Ram.” He noted that this was the Prime Minister’s first visit to Tamil Nadu since the launch of Operation Sindoor and called for a warm reception to mark the occasion.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu began his speech with a greeting in Tamil: “With the blessings of Tamil Thaai, I will try to speak a little Tamil,” he said, expressing his deep fondness for the language. Reading from a prepared Tamil script, he acknowledged the challenges but proceeded to deliver his congratulatory remarks. Naidu highlighted that under Modi’s leadership, India has modernized numerous airports over the last decade—averaging one new airport every 50 days—creating employment, improving air connectivity, and ensuring environmental safeguards.
Addressing the public, Prime Minister Modi began his speech in Tamil and paid homage to the country’s soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas, stating: “We bow our heads in honour of the brave warriors who laid down their lives for the country.”
Fresh from a four-day international tour, Modi said it was a privilege to set foot on the sacred soil of Rameswaram and Thiruchendur, underlining the spiritual and cultural significance of the region. He referred to the recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the UK, calling it a milestone in India’s global economic resurgence. “This agreement will strengthen our economy and help India become the third-largest economy in the world,” he said.
The Prime Minister also reflected on his previous visits to Thoothukudi’s VOC Port, recalling the launch of key infrastructure projects and the dedication of the International Container Transshipment Terminal in September 2024. He emphasized that today’s ₹4,900 crore projects are a continuation of that developmental vision.
“Tamil Nadu’s development has always been a top priority for us,” Modi said, stressing that infrastructure and energy are the backbone of any state’s progress. He noted that over the past 11 years, his government has focused extensively on these sectors and envisioned Thoothukudi as a future hub for connectivity, green energy, and economic opportunity.
Modi invoked the legacy of Tamil Nadu’s towering historical figures: V.O. Chidambaranar, who sailed against colonial rule; freedom fighters Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Alagumuthu Kone; and revolutionary poet Subramania Bharati, born not far from Thoothukudi. “This land has shaped India’s freedom struggle and national consciousness,” he said.
He also highlighted the cultural link between Tamil Nadu and his parliamentary constituency, Kashi, emphasizing efforts like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam to bridge cultural roots. Modi fondly recalled gifting Thoothukudi’s pearls to Bill Gates, calling them a symbol of India’s ancient maritime trade and economic strength.
The Tuticorin Airport at Vaagaikulam in Tuticorin district was originally opened in 1992. At present, two private airlines operate nine daily flight services to Chennai and Bengaluru, which are being widely used by the public.
The runway, which was previously 1,350 meters long, has now been extended to 3,115 meters.
The upgraded airport is equipped with facilities to park five aircraft simultaneously and includes various modern amenities. This expansion allows large Airbus A321 aircraft to operate to and from Tuticorin. As a result, Tuticorin is expected to gain international prominence.
The proposal to upgrade this airport was first recommended to the Union Government in 2008 by the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s Cabinet. Subsequently, in 2010, the Union Government granted approval and requested the State Government to provide the required land free of cost.
After more than a decade of patient efforts, the present Chief Minister M. K. Stalin facilitated the acquisition of 712 acres of land and handed it over to the Airports Authority of India. This milestone was achieved following persistent efforts by many, including the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. The Union Government has now allocated ₹452 crore for implementing this project.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the airport, which previously handled around 300,000 passengers annually, has now been upgraded to accommodate up to 2 million passengers per year. This development will greatly benefit the people of southern districts, including Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Virudhunagar, and Tuticorin.
On the aviation front, Modi inaugurated the newly expanded Tuticorin Airport terminal, constructed at a cost of ₹450 crore. The terminal now has the capacity to handle over 2 million passengers annually, a sharp rise from the earlier capacity of just 300,000. He said the improved facility would enhance air connectivity, promote tourism, and boost education and healthcare services in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking about the railway sector, Modi underscored the Centre’s investments in modernization under the Amrit Bharat Railway mission, including the redevelopment of 77 railway stations in Tamil Nadu, the Pamban vertical bridge, and other critical connectivity projects. “We are integrating ports, airports, highways, and railways through coordinated planning,” he said, affirming the Centre’s vision of self-reliant industrial development.
Modi said the Centre has allocated ₹3 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu over the last decade—three times more than what was provided during previous Congress governments. He also pointed to the establishment of 11 new medical colleges and highlighted support for the fishing community, calling it unprecedented.
He reaffirmed the Centre’s push for Make in India and Mission Manufacturing, especially in the context of Operation Sindoor, where indigenously produced weapons played a vital role. “Our locally made weapons are keeping enemies awake at night,” he said.
Modi concluded his speech by urging the enthusiastic crowd to turn on their mobile flashlights and chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
