Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a jam-packed schedule on Saturday as he will inaugurate a host of developmental projects and flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains in Chennai and Hyderabad.
PM Modi In Telangana: What Is Lined Up?
PM Modi's first stop will be Hyderabad in Telangana at 11.45 am, where he will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore besides flagging off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express.
Modi will also participate in a public meeting at Parade Ground in Hyderabad, PTI reported.
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar and five National Highway projects, worth more than Rs. 7,850 crore. AIIMS Bibinagar is being developed at the cost of more than Rs. 1,350 crore.
He will also lay the foundation stone of redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station, which will be done at a cost of Rs 720 crore.
The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express is the second Vande Bharat train to be started from Telangana within three months. The train will reduce the travel time between the two cities by almost three and half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrims visiting the Lord Venkateswara temple.
Modi will also flag-off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the Hyderabad-Secunderabad region. It will provide commuters with a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option, a press release from Railways said.
He will also dedicate to the nation the doubling and electrification of Secunderabad-Mahabubnagar project, which has been completed at a cost of nearly Rs. 1,410 crore. The project will provide seamless connectivity and assist in enhancing the average speed of trains.
BRS Calls For Protest During PM Modi's Visit
Meanwhile, Telangana's ruling BRS party has given a call for protest during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on Saturday over the Centre’s alleged attempt to privatise Singareni mines.
BRS working president and Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao called for a 'maha dharna' and accused the Central government of making 'veiled attempts' to privatise the state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
SCCL is a coal mining company jointly owned by the Governments of Telangana and India on a 51:49 equity basis.
PM Modi In Tamil Nadu: What Is Lined Up?
The Prime Minister will arrive in Chennai around 3 pm and will first inaugurate the state-of-the-art integrated terminal building at Chennai airport set up at a total outlay of Rs 2,437. The new terminal is expected to enhance the passenger traffic to 35 million per year, PTI reported.
"This will be an important addition to Chennai's infrastructure. It will boost connectivity and also benefit the local economy," Modi had said in a tweet while sharing images of the building.
The new terminal, equipped with 108 immigration counters, is spread across 2.20 lakh sq metres and would cater to the growing air traffic in Tamil Nadu.
"With the annual passenger handling capacity of 35 million passengers, the modern facility at the Chennai Airport will improve air travel experiences for all," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
Modi will then flag off the Vande Bharat train between Chennai and Coimbatore at the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Central Railway Station.
The Vande Bharat Express train will operate between the two cities on all days except Wednesdays.
The train will operate at a speed of 130 kmph and cover the distance in about 5.50 hours, saving journey time above an hour, Southern Railway said.
Later, Modi would take part in the 125th annual day celebrations of Ramakrishna Mutt at Vivekanandhar Illam on the arterial Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road) and also inaugurate infrastructure projects at Pallavaram.