PM unveils slew of road, rly projects

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled several road and railway projects worth crores of rupees in the State that would reduce carbon footprint and cut down on travel time.

Modi unveiled road projects in Vellore, Thiruvanna malai, Villupuram and Tirupur districts through video conferencing from Kilamba kkam near here, in the presence of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. The PM also laid foundation stones for five national highways projects which will pass through Villu puram, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Vellore and Kancheepuram districts. The highway projects, which include four-laning and six-laning, is worth '5,010 crore.

He dedicated to the nation the 122-km two-lane section of NH-38 falling in Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Viluppuram districts, and a 32-km four-lane section of NH-381 in Tirupur. The projects will benefit by way of reduced carbon footprints, fast and safe journey, reduced travel time, and fuel, an official statement said. Mr. Modi dedicated to the nation the electrified sections of railways’ Erode-Karur-Tiruchirappalli and Salem-Karur-Dindigul corridors.

Railway electrification will help seamless train operation by reducing running time. The 300-kilometre railway electrification between Erode-Karur-Tiruchchirappalli and Salem-Karur-Dindigul section have been completed at a cost of '321 crore. It would provide people a fast, environment friendly and comfortable mode of travel, besides saving fuel. The project was completed in a record time of 26 months, ahead of scheduled period of 30 months.

The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the Ennore LNG terminal.