Narendra Modi in Kerala: PM lays foundation stone of Kochi Metro Phase 2; other Railway projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Kerala, has laid the foundation stone of Kochi Metro Phase 2 and multiple other projects today (September 1) worth over Rs 4,500 crore. The event in Kerala was also attended by Governor Arif Muhammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Furthermore, a 27-km double line of the Indian Railways connecting the Kuruppanthara-Kottayam-Chingavanam sections was inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The project cost Rs 750 crore to complete. The PM also inaugurated special train services between Kottayam-Ernakulam and Kollam-Punalur and dedicated to the nation the newly electrified section between Kollam and Punalur that was completed at a cost of Rs 76 crore and will boost eco-tourism in addition to serving as a faster and more cost-effective mode of transportation through the picturesque route.

Among the railway development projects for Kerala, Modi laid the foundation stone for three station redevelopment projects worth an estimated Rs 1,950 crore. Also, PM along with the Kochi Metro Phase- II project, he inaugurated phase 1A, the first stretch from SN Junction to Vadakkekotta. In a statement, Prime Minster, "In the last eight years, the Central Government has continuously worked to make the metro rail the most prominent mode of urban transport."

हम भारतीय रेल को पूरी तरह से ट्रांसफॉर्म कर रहे हैं। आज देश में रेलवे स्टेशनों को भी एयरपोर्ट्स की तरह डेवलप किया जा रहा हैः पीएम @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/xGWbHteDt0 — MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) September 1, 2022

Kochi Metro Rail Project

The proposed Phase II corridor of the Kochi Metro Rail Project is aimed at catering to the growing transportation needs of Kochi City and is planned in such a way that it connects the District Headquarters, Special Economic Zone, and IT Hub of the city with the existing metro rail network said PMO statement. On completion, the combined Phase I and Phase II metro network will link the major residential and commercial hubs in the city with major transit hubs such as railway stations and bus stands, thus reinforcing the concept of multi-modal integration and last-mile connectivity.

बीते आठ वर्षों में केंद्र सरकार ने मेट्रो को अर्बन ट्रांसपोर्ट का सबसे प्रमुख साधन बनाने के लिए लगातार काम किया है। केंद्र सरकार ने मेट्रो को राजधानी से निकालकर, राज्य के दूसरे बड़े शहरों में भी विस्तार दिया हैः पीएम @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/CRVqPdca2A — MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) September 1, 2022

Railway Projects

PM Modi inaugurated the doubling of the Kuruppanthara-Kottayam-Chingavanam rail section, completed at a cost of nearly Rs 750 crore. With this, the entire stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru is fully doubled now, promising faster and seamless connectivity. Significantly, lakhs of devotees bound for Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Shrine can conveniently alight at Kottayam or Chengannur railway station in the doubled section and proceed by road to Pamba.