After slew of inaugurations in Hyderabad, PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat train in Tamil Nadu, opens new Chennai terminal

The prime minister kicked off his two-day visit to Telangana, Tamil Nadu and poll-bound Karnataka on Saturday to inaugurate, and lay foundation stones for a slew of development projects in these South Indian states.

In Telangana, taking a dig at the Opposition parties which recently went to the Supreme Court against the “arbitrary use” of agencies such as the CBI and ED, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that corruption and dynasty politics are co-related.

While laying the foundation stone of several development projects in Telangana, Modi said, “Some corrupt parties even went to court so that the accounts of their corruption are not opened. And there they got jhatka,” news agency ANI reported.

#WATCH | A few days back some political parties had gone to the court to seek protection so that no one opens their corruption books but the court turned them back: PM Narendra Modi, in Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/aROJGxFqaf

— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2023

The prime minister also attacked the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Telangana government and said that projects were getting delayed due to “non-cooperation” from the state.

“I feel very sad that many Centre’s projects in Telangana are getting delayed because of the non-co-operation from the state government. I urge the state government to not create obstacles in the development works,” PM Modi said, news agency PTI reported.

Here’s what’s on PM Modi’s agenda for the next two days

Telangana

📌 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana, apart from also flagging off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express. At 11:45 am, Modi reached Secunderabad Railway Station and flagged off the train.

The Secunderabad Express, which will connect Hyderabad with Tirupati will be the Vande Bharat train to be started from the state in less than three months. The train is likely to reduce travel time between the two cities by close to three and a half hours. Done at a cost of Rs 720 crore, the redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station has been planned with world-class amenities and an aesthetically designed iconic station building.

📌 Modi will also lay the foundation for AIIMS Bibinagar at a cost of Rs 1,350 crore and five other National Highway projects at Rs 7,580 crore. He will also flag off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin city region, which will provide fast, convenient and comfortable travel option.

Tamil Nadu

📌 After completing his Telangana visit, the prime minister flew to Chennai where he inaugurated the new integrated terminal building of the Chennai airport set up at a total cost of Rs 2,437 crore. The terminal spans across an area of 2,20,972 sqm and was necessitated by the growing air traffic in Tamil Nadu, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

According to Chennai airport officials, the new terminal, spread across 2.20 lakh sq metres and would cater to passenger traffic of 35 million per year. “The addition of this new integrated terminal building will increase the passenger serving capacity of the airport from 23 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) to 30 MPPA. The new terminal is a striking reflection of the local Tamil culture, incorporating traditional features such as the Kolam, saree, temples, and other elements that highlight the natural surroundings,” the Tamil Nadu government said.

In a tweet, Modi said, “This will be an important addition to Chennai’s infrastructure. It will boost connectivity and benefit the local economy”.

Prime Minister @narendramodi inaugurates New Integrated Terminal Building, Chennai Airport@PMOIndia @MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/ug4bZ70FQw

— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 8, 2023

📌 Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Chennai and Coimbatore at the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M G R Central Railway Station in the city, making it the first service connecting two Tamil Nadu cities. According to the Southern Railway, the train will function on all days except Wednesdays. “The train would ply at a speed of 130 kmph reaching the destination on both sides in about 5.50 hours thereby saving 1.20 hours journey time compared to express trains,” it said.

PM @narendramodi flags off Chennai-Coimbatore #VandeBharatExpress at MGR Chennai Central Railway Station.@PMOIndia @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/rDyBeRA3CS

— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 8, 2023

📌 Next, Modi took part in the 125th annual day celebrations of Ramakrishna Math at Vivekanandhar Illam (Vivekananda House) on the Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road). During his address, the prime minister said he felt inspired and energetic after meditating at Vivekanandhar Illam, where the legendary monk had stayed for nine days in 1897. Flanked by monks of the Ramakrishna Mission, he paid floral tributes to a portrait of Swami Vivekananda.

Honoured to take part in the 125th Anniversary celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. https://t.co/vMH2beKEKL

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2023

📌 In view of Modi’s visit, the Chennai police has beefed up security across the city. Motorists have been asked to plan ahead of their journey to reach their destination due to elaborate traffic diversions.

Karnataka

📌 On Sunday, PM Modi will visit poll-bound Karnataka to launch an event to mark the golden jubilee of Project Tiger at the Bandipur National Park. It will be his eighth visit to the state in four months, the highest ever in a single year since he became prime minister in 2014.

He will also inaugurate a ‘Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger’ programme where he will release the publications ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Vision for Tiger Conservation’, a summary report of the fifth cycle of the Management Effective Evaluation of tiger reserves, declare tiger numbers and release a summary report of all-India tiger estimation. A commemorative coin on the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger will also be released by Prime Minister Modi.

📌 According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi will visit the Bandipur National Park tomorrow morning and interact with frontline field staff and self-help groups involved in conservation activities. He will also visit the Theppakadu Elephant Camp at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu and interact with mahouts and kavadis (assistants to the mahouts) at the camp.

📌 At Bandipur, the Prime Minister will also launch the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA). In July 2019, PM Modi had called for an alliance of global leaders to obliterate demand and firmly curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia. The alliance is being launched to take this message forward, the PMO statement said.

With PTI inputs