On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to begin a two-day visit to the South Indian states of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and election-bound Karnataka to officially open and lay the cornerstone for a number of development projects in each of these regions.
The first section of a new integrated terminal building at Chennai Airport will be officially opened by the prime minister on Saturday. The 2,20,972 sq m terminal was required due to the increase in air travel in Tamil Nadu, according to a tweet from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He will also be launching the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express on Saturday while he is in Telangana.
Here is what PM Modi has planned for the upcoming two days.
Telangana
- In addition to launching the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the cornerstone for projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana. According to news agency PTI, Modi would arrive in Secunderabad Railway Station at 11:45 am, flag off the train, and address a public event at Parade Ground at 12:15 pm.
- The Vande Bharat train from the state would begin operations in less than three months and connect Hyderabad with Tirupati via the Secunderabad Express. The railway will probably cut the distance between the two cities’ travel times in half, or around three and a half hours. The reconstruction of Secunderabad Railway Station, completed at a cost of Rs 720 crore, has been built with top-notch amenities and an iconic station building.
- Additionally, Modi will lay the groundwork for the AIIMS Bibinagar project, which will cost Rs 1,350 crore, as well as five other National Highway projects, which will cost Rs 7,580 crore. In the Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin city region, he will also launch 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services that will offer a quick, easy, and comfortable mode of transportation.
Tamil Nadu
- The prime minister will visit Chennai after Telangana to officially open the new integrated terminal building of the Chennai airport, which cost a total of Rs 2,437 crore to construct. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the 2,20,972 sqm terminal was required due to the increase in aviation traffic in Tamil Nadu.
- Officials at Chennai International Airport claim that the new terminal, which is 2.20 lakh square metres in size, will accommodate 35 million passengers annually. The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that the contemporary facility at the Chennai Airport will enhance everyone’s experiences flying, with a capacity to handle 35 million passengers annually. Additionally, it will have 108 immigration counters distributed evenly between the arrival and departure zones.
In a tweet, Modi said, “This will be an important addition to Chennai’s infrastructure. It will boost connectivity and benefit the local economy”.
- At the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. R. Central Railway Station in the city, Modi will also officially launch the Vande Bharat Express, which will be the first service to connect the cities of Chennai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The Southern Railway states that the train will run every day except Wednesday. It stated that the train would travel at a speed of 130 kmph and would arrive at the destination on both sides in roughly 5.50 hours, cutting the travel time by 1.20 hours compared to express trains.
- The prime minister will also inaugurate infrastructure projects in Pallavaram and participate in the 125th annual Ramakrishna Mutt celebrations at Vivekanandhar Illam on the Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road).
- The Chennai police have increased security throughout the city in preparation for Modi’s visit. Due to complex traffic diversions, drivers are urged to prepare ahead in order to reach their destination.
Karnataka
- PM Modi will travel to the election-bound state of Karnataka on Sunday to kick off an event celebrating Project Tiger’s golden anniversary at Bandipur National Park. Since he became prime minister in 2014, it will be his seventh trip to the state in four months, which is the most ever in a calendar year.
The publications “Amrit Kaal Ka Vision for Tiger Conservation,” “A Summary Report of the Fifth Cycle of the Management Effective Evaluation of Tiger Reserves,” “Declaring Tiger Numbers,” and “Releasing A Summary Report of All-India Tiger Estimation” will all be released as part of the “Commemoration of 50 Years of Project Tiger” programme that he will launch. Prime Minister Modi will also unveil a commemorative coin to mark Project Tiger’s 50-year anniversary.
- The Prime Minister’s Office reports that tomorrow morning, Modi would visit the Bandipur National Park and speak with front-line field personnel and self-help groups engaged in conservation efforts. In Tamil Nadu, he will also go to the Theppakadu Elephant Camp and mingle with the mahouts and kavadis (assistants to the mahouts) there.
The Prime Minister will also introduce the International Big Cats Alliance in Bandipur. (IBCA). PM Modi had requested a coalition of world leaders in July 2019 in order to completely eliminate demand and effectively stop poaching and the illegal wildlife trade in Asia. The PMO statement stated that the coalition is being established to spread this message.
