Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the State capital of Thiruvananthapuram on April 25. It was the second and last day of his Kerala visit. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan received him on behalf of the State Government.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers accorded him an enthusiastic reception at Thiruvananthapuram airport. From the airport, he drove to the Central Railway Station in an impressive roadshow. Thousands of people lined up on either side of the road to look at their beloved PM. He stood up in the vehicle. The vehicle’s door remained open and was too slow so the people could have a comfortable glance at their honourable Prime Minister.
His road show reached a Central Railway Station. He flagged off the first Vande Bharat train in Kerala, which runs from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. Before flagging off, PM entered the train and interacted with the school children selected for the inaugural voyage. Children sang for him and gifted him the paintings they had done. Children told the media that they were extremely happy to have such a cordial interaction with the world leader.
The inauguration of Vande Bharat is a befitting reply to the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) since both have been alleging that the Union Government practise step-motherly attitude towards Kerala. In his inaugural address, the PM said that the centre had increased the rail share of Kerala by five times.
Railway stations will not just be railway stations anymore but ‘multi mobile transport hubs.’ More rails will be doubled and electrified. These modernisations will speak out the development of our country. Digitalisation will get the utmost preference. The PM said he would return to Kerala to supervise the development programmes.
Now, the entire world has recognised the development of our country.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that tracks will be modernised. The bends of the tracks will be straightened, increasing the speed to 110 km. He said Vande Bharat would be an ‘adipoli’ (Malayalam slang means ‘wonderful’) travel experience.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan thanked the PM for giving Vande Bharat to the State. The State is grateful to him for coming to Kerala to dedicate various projects which will be instrumental in the development of the State.
PM commissioned about Rs 3200 cr worth of projects for the state. The country’s first water metro is one among them. It will be a shot in the arm for Kochi’s transport system. PM laid the foundation stone for the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram.
The PM declared a Rs 470 cr project for the modification of Kozhikode railway station by video conference.
After the tedious programmes in the state since April 24 evening, PM left the State capital on April 25 afternoon. This evening he will perform the online unveiling of the 55 feet bhagwan Hanuman statue he was consecrated at the Punkunnam Seetha Ramaswamy Temple at 6 pm on April 25. It is in the Thrissur district. It is the tallest Hanuman statue in the entire state. He will also inaugurate three golden doors of the temple’s sanctum of 18 kgs 24-carat gold. It is the donation of a Thrissur-based businessman.
In the meantime, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry told the media on April 25 that the meeting between the PM and the high priests of the Christian community was a real success. They could present before the PM the community’s demands and the issues the coastal people face.
PM’s less than 24 hours long visit to the state has become an unforgettable event for the people cutting across party lines.
