Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Welcoming the dignitaries and the people of Tamil Nadu, he said he was delighted to begin his address in the vibrant state. Calling it a historic day, the Prime Minister said the event involves projects worth thirteen thousand crore rupees. He explained that these completed and upcoming infrastructure projects will make daily commutes much easier, boost industry and trade, and create many employment opportunities for the state's youth. “I congratulate the people of the state on this occasion,” said Shri Modi.
Key developments
Noting the spiritual significance of the day, the Prime Minister said the holy festival of Navratri was beginning and that he had sought blessings at the Jalakandeswarar Temple before arriving. He praised Tamil Nadu as the sacred land of both Shiva and Shakti, and sent festival greetings to the whole country from this pilgrimage site. “From the pilgrimage land of Tamil Nadu, I extend my heartfelt Navratri greetings to all countrymen,” said Shri Modi.
Paying tribute to two builders of the nation on their birth anniversaries, the Prime Minister recalled the immense contributions of Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan and Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh. He said their lifelong dedication is a deep inspiration to serve the country with greater devotion. “From this stage, I bow to both these great personalities,” said Shri Modi.
Speaking about his earlier engagements, the Prime Minister described his visit to the Brain Research Centre at IIT Madras, saying that its pioneering research could lead to many public health breakthroughs. He also expressed satisfaction at dedicating a new stretch of the Chennai Metro to the public. “Apart from this visit, I also had the opportunity to dedicate another stretch of the Chennai Metro to the public,” said Shri Modi.
Drawing a parallel between spirituality and modern development, the Prime Minister observed that seeing both the ancient temples and the modern metro captures the spirit of contemporary India. He said the nation is advancing rapidly, drawing inspiration from its cultural heritage while building cutting-edge infrastructure. “Our heritage and our aspirations for the future are moving forward together,” said Shri Modi.
Reflecting on his political journey, the Prime Minister marked the milestone of completing 25 continuous years as a Head of Government, since first taking oath as Chief Minister in October 2001. He said these twenty-five years of service have deepened his faith in the democratic power of the people and in the essential framework of cooperative federalism. “I have always moved forward with the mantra of developing the country through the development of the state,” said Shri Modi.
Explaining how his time at the state level shaped his national vision, the Prime Minister said that serving as a Chief Minister helped him understand what states expect. “Therefore, after becoming the Prime Minister, I not only tried to fulfill those aspirations but also tried to ensure that every state can achieve its aspirational goals,” said Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister recalled his fruitful dialogues with stalwarts such as Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa during his days as Chief Minister, and his continued cooperative work as Prime Minister with leaders such as O. Panneerselvam, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and M.K. Stalin. He stressed that whichever government was in power, his commitment to Tamil Nadu's development remained firm, and that he carries the same resolve as he works with the current Chief Minister, Joseph Vijay. “Together with Chief Minister Joseph Vijay ji, we are taking this journey of Tamil Nadu's development forward,” said Shri Modi.
Describing urbanization as a vital avenue for growth, the Prime Minister said urban development in Tamil Nadu is a top priority for the government. He said he firmly believes urban expansion should be seen not as a challenge but as a great opportunity, which must be supported by robust public transport. “If transportation is good, it increases the ease of living for the people,” said Shri Modi.
Elaborating on the need for comprehensive urban planning, the Prime Minister pointed out that merely widening roads is not enough; modern cities need a truly holistic approach to infrastructure. He highlighted the large expansion of the metro rail network across the country over the past decade. “In 2014, the metro was limited to just five cities, whereas today, services are operated in twenty-five cities across the country,” said Shri Modi.
Quantifying this expansion, the Prime Minister noted that the national metro network has grown from about 250 kilometers in 2014 to over 1,100 kilometers today. He said he was glad that the latest extension of the Chennai Metro will enlarge this network further. “This work has been done so that the journey of the common people living in Chennai becomes easier for everyone, and their travel can be completed in less time,” said Shri Modi.
Turning to domestic industry, the Prime Minister said that empowering states is the main way to empower the whole nation, which is why the Central Government is actively promoting manufacturing in Tamil Nadu. He praised the state's vibrant small-scale industries and its workforce, noting that national campaigns such as Make in India and Vocal for Local are bringing substantial benefits to the region. “Every Indian is proud of the manufacturing sector of Tamil Nadu, the small-scale industries here, and every person working in them,” said Shri Modi.
Citing the success of the nation's industrial policies, the Prime Minister said that strengthening the entire product chain, from components to finished technology, has made the country the world's second-largest mobile manufacturer. He listed growth figures since 2014, including an eleven-fold increase in electronics exports. “Our defense exports have grown fifty times, and our engineering exports have also set a new record,” said Shri Modi.
Linking industrial expansion directly to youth empowerment, the Prime Minister said this manufacturing growth has created lakhs of direct and indirect jobs across the country, with Tamil Nadu making a highly commendable contribution. He announced the foundation laying of an advanced lubricant base oil project. "This will also create new employment here and will greatly help in reducing the country's imports,” said Shri Modi.
Background and details
Explaining the relationship between infrastructure and industry, the Prime Minister stressed that a strong manufacturing sector needs high-quality roads, railways and ports to transport raw materials efficiently. “When such infrastructure is built, it also creates a lot of employment at different levels,” said Shri Modi.
Describing the chain reaction these projects set off in the economy, the Prime Minister noted that construction immediately employs engineers, technicians and workers, while also boosting small companies and factories that produce cement, steel and equipment. He explained that once completed, the improved connectivity from today's rail and road projects will be critical in driving Tamil Nadu's industrial and service sectors forward. “Therefore, the rail and road projects whose foundation stones are being laid and which are being dedicated today are going to be very important for the progress of Tamil Nadu,” said Shri Modi.
Focusing on the modernization of maritime logistics, the Prime Minister said the nation's port infrastructure is being strengthened to take the shipping sector to new heights, with Tamil Nadu playing a central role. He highlighted a recent landmark decision to invest approximately seventeen thousand crore rupees to transform Thoothukudi's VOC Port into a World-Class Mega Container and Green Energy Hub, capable of handling ultra-large container vessels. “This will help Tamil Nadu become a global hub for industry and transport,” said Shri Modi.
Pointing to the results of this maritime focus, the Prime Minister said both the speed and efficiency of Indian ports have improved greatly in recent years. He noted that halving ship turnaround times has allowed domestic products to reach global markets much faster than before. “Because of this, India's products as well are able to reach global markets faster than before,” said Shri Modi.
Turning to the blue economy, the Prime Minister underscored the vital role of fishermen in the nation's Ocean Economy vision. He said thousands of crores have been approved for Tamil Nadu through the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and other schemes to upgrade fishing harbors, develop landing centers and improve cold chain facilities. “Help has also been provided to purchase transport vehicles to keep fish fresh,” said Shri Modi.
Elaborating on the support given to coastal communities, the Prime Minister listed several interventions, including the modernization of the Chennai Fishing Harbour and the development of a 'Sea-weed Park' in the state. “Through the Kisan Credit Card, working capital is now also easily available to fishermen,” said Shri Modi.
Celebrating the results of these maritime policies, the Prime Minister announced that national fish production has increased rapidly, pushing seafood exports to their highest ever levels in both quantity and value last year. “This is also improving the lives of our fishermen families and people in coastal communities,” said Shri Modi.
Concluding his address with a shared vision for the future, the Prime Minister pledged the Central Government's firm and unwavering commitment to helping Tamil Nadu reach new heights of prosperity. He called for a collective effort to realize the vision of a developed nation by first ensuring a fully developed Tamil Nadu, and offered his best wishes for the success of all the newly launched projects. “Together, we will realize the resolve of a Viksit Bharat through a Viksit Tamil Nadu,” said Shri Modi.
Works over Rs. 13,000 crore being launched in Chennai! https://t.co/76Uo9a3UaS
It is a pleasure to be in Chennai with all of you. This is a historic day for Tamil Nadu. Today’s programme involves projects worth thirteen thousand crore rupees. We are inaugurating many completed projects and laying foundations for new ones: PM @narendramodi
भारत अपनी सांस्कृतिक शक्ति से प्रेरणा लेता है, विज्ञान की प्रगति से आगे बढ़ता है और आधुनिक infrastructure के जरिए नए अवसरों का निर्माण कर रहा है। हमारी विरासत और भविष्य की हमारी आकांक्षाएं साथ-साथ आगे बढ़ रही हैं: PM @narendramodi
आधुनिक शहरों में हमें holistic infrastructure की जरूरत होती है। और इसलिए बीते एक दशक में, हमने पूरे देश में metro network का बहुत बड़ा expansion किया है: PM @narendramodi
आज देश में port infrastructure को भी मजबूत बनाया जा रहा है, ताकि shipping sector नई ऊंचाइयों तक पहुंच सके: PM @narendramodi
Exam revision: key facts
Recall the answer first, then expand it to check the evidence from this article.
What is the main development reported?
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Welcoming the dignitaries and the people of Tamil Nadu, he said he was delighted to begin his address in the vibrant state. Calling it a historic day, the Prime Minister said the event involves projects worth thirteen thousand crore rupees. He explained that these completed and upcoming infrastructure projects will make daily commutes much easier, boost industry and trade, and create many employment opportunities for the state's youth. “I congratulate the people of the state on this occasion,” said Shri Modi.
Which dates or figures are stated in context?
Reflecting on his political journey, the Prime Minister marked the milestone of completing 25 continuous years as a Head of Government, since first taking oath as Chief Minister in October 2001. He said these twenty-five years of service have deepened his faith in the democratic power of the people and in the essential framework of cooperative federalism. “I have always moved forward with the mantra of developing the country through the development of the state,” said Shri Modi.