Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several key projects and handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Army, at Chennai today.
Speaking in the occasion, the Prime Minister said “these projects are symbols of Innovation and Indigenous development. These projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu.”
The Prime Minister noted that Tamil Nadu is already the leading automobile manufacturing hub of India.
Prime Minister asserted that the Government has always taken care of the welfare and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu. He is the only Indian Prime Minister to visit Jaffna. The resources provided by the Government for the people of Tamil Nadu have been much more than in the past. The projects include Fifty thousand houses for displaced Tamils in North-Eastern Sri Lanka, four thousand houses in the plantation areas.
On the health side, they financed a free ambulance service which is widely used by the Tamil community. A hospital has been built in Dickoya. To boost connectivity, the railway network to Jaffna and to Mannar is being re-built. Flights have been established from Chennai to Jaffna. India has built the Jaffna Cultural Centre which will open soon.
“The issue of Tamil rights has also been taken up by us consistently with Sri Lankan leaders. We are always committed to ensuring that they live with equality, justice peace and dignity” said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu, Railway Electrification of single line section in Villupuram – Cuddalore – Mayiladuthurai – Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur. Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System and Discovery Campus of IIT Madras.
Governor of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly Industries Minister of Tamil Nadu were present on the occasion.