PM's VVIP aircraft makes trial landing at Trichy airport
Modi is expected to attend the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple near Jayankondam in Ariyalur district.
Sources said the VVIP aircraft landed at Trichy around 12.10 pm and took off at 1.30 pm. As Trichy airport's runway is relatively short at 8,136 feet, it typically handles only narrow-body aircraft even for international flights. Since VVIP-3 is a wide-body aircraft with a larger size and higher carrying capacity, the trial was held to ensure safe operations.
"VVIP-3 is the longest wide-body aircraft ever to land at Trichy airport. This is also the first time the airport has handled the Prime Minister's custom-made aircraft," said S Gnaneswara Rao, director of Trichy airport. He noted that during the trial, the aircraft managed to take off using just 50% of the runway length.
Rao added that the space behind the old integrated terminal building could be used to receive the Prime Minister if authorities opt to land him in Trichy. Two years ago, the airport's taxiway was upgraded to accommodate wide-body aircraft.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Kumbakonam residents urge Centre to sanction new rail line between Needamangalam and Vriddhachalam
Train travellers and residents of Kumbakonam have urged the Union government to sanction a new railway line between Needamangalam and Vriddhachalam via Kumbakonam and Jayamkondam. The new rail line, if built, would give a fillip to economic growth in the hitherto unserved areas and spiritual tourism in the State, they said. Representations in this regard have been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw by the Kumbakonam All Traders Association and Thanjavur District Railway Users Association. 'The benefits of a new railway line of less than 100 km between Needamangalam and Vriddhachalam would bring huge economic benefits,' says V. Sathyanarayanan, Secretary, Kumbakonam All Traders Association. The line could provide connectivity to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, where the famous Brihadisvara Temple built by King Rajendra Chola I is situated. With the Prime Minister scheduled to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram later this month, it would be apt for the Railway Ministry to announce new rail line now, Mr. Sathyanarayanan said. Kumbakonam is an important spiritual, commercial, and historic city in Tamil Nadu. It is located in the single line section between Thanjavur and Villupuram on the 147-year-old Main Line section of Southern Railway. The Mahamaham festival, popularly known as the Kumbh of the South, is celebrated here once every 12 years. The city attracts continuous flow of pilgrims from different parts of the country through the year as it is also the hub for visiting the Navagraha temples. Yet Kumbakonam is neglected in terms of traffic and development as it has not been upgraded as a junction, he regretted. The demand for this new line had been in existence for over 50 years ago and a question in this regard had been raised even in Parliament in 1955, said A. Giri, secretary, Thanjavur District Railway Users Association. Considering the repeated demand, a preliminary survey was conducted for a new line between Kumbakonam and Vriddachalam in June 2016. The project is awaiting approval ever since, he said. The new line between Needamangalam and Vriddhachallam via Kumbakonam will provide an alternative shorter route to Salem, Bengaluru, Tirupati and other destinations from Rameswaram and southern Tamil Nadu via Pattukottai and Mannargudi. It would ensure speedy movement of freight traffic from Karaikal Port and boost spiritual tourism as it would connect places such as Kumbakonam and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. By providing train connectivity to under developed places such as Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Jayamkondam, and Andimadam, it would boost economic growth in the region, Mr. Giri added.
NDTV
36 minutes ago
- NDTV
Veteran Indian Diplomat Taranjit Sandhu Joins US-India Forum With Top Role
Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed Advisor to the Board of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and Chairman of its newly established Geopolitical Institute. The veteran Indian diplomat and former envoy to the United States has a diplomatic career spanning nearly 40 years. "I am delighted to join the US India Strategic Partnership Forum as Chairman of its Geopolitical Institute," Mr Sandhu said. "I have had the opportunity to work on as well as follow the India-US story for over three decades. The relationship has evolved into a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, underpinned by shared values and interests, matured in character and nurtured by the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries." He will now guide USISPF's strategic initiatives, particularly focusing on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the Quad (India, Japan, Australia, US), and the I2U2 grouping comprising India, Israel, the US, and the UAE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump brought "renewed vigour" to the partnership through the India-US COMPACT, with a focus on defence, energy, trade, and technology, he said. Mr Sandhu's association with USISPF is not new. During his tenure as India's Ambassador to the US from 2020 to 2024, he worked closely with the Forum to deepen bilateral ties. His diplomatic career also includes three stints in Washington, DC, including serving as Deputy Chief of Mission under then-Ambassador S Jaishankar. He played a key role in organising events such as PM Modi's 2014 Madison Square Garden address, Trump's 2020 India visit, and the 2024 state visit of PM Modi to Washington. "New Delhi has always sent its brightest minds to Washington, but few have come more experienced in understanding the contours of US-India relations than Ambassador Sandhu," said Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of USISPF. "Having worked closely with Ambassador Sandhu during his diplomatic days, I am eager to engage with him in this new avatar, this time with his new USISPF hat." As Chair of the Geopolitical Institute, Mr Sandhu will help shape USISPF's approach to evolving geopolitical dynamics, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. His focus areas will include defence cooperation, vaccine diplomacy, critical and emerging technologies, and energy partnerships. He will also offer strategic insights on regional initiatives like IMEC and I2U2, both of which gained significant momentum during his tenure in Washington.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Projects worth Rs 5000 crore and a political message: Bengal gears up ahead of PM Modi's rally
Political analysts await Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public meeting in West Bengal's Durgapur tomorrow, July 18, a significant event just days before the state's ruling party Trinamool Congress's annual 'Shahid Divas' mega rally on July 21, where it is expected to set the tone for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal. This marks the Prime Minister's second visit to the state in recent times, following his address in Alipurduar after Operation Sindoor on May 29. Following the launches of some projects, PM Modi is expected to lead a rally from Gandhi More to Nehru Stadium, culminating in a public meeting at the stadium. Analysts will keenly watch his speech, especially in light of the Trinamool Congress's ongoing campaign against the alleged targeting of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states. The event is set to draw significant BJP leadership, including the newly appointed state party president Samik Bhattacharya, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, and actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty. Notably, former BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh, who has recently been less visible at party events, is also confirmed to be in attendance. BJP leaders and workers are hopeful that they will show a unified front tomorrow. The Prime Minister is slated to inaugurate, dedicate, and lay foundation stones for multiple projects across various sectors, collectively valued at over Rs 5,000 crore. These initiatives encompass oil and gas, power, road, and rail infrastructure. Key among these projects is the foundation stone laying for Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL)'s City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Bankura and Purulia districts, an investment of approximately Rs 1,950 crore. This project aims to bring PNG connections to homes, businesses, and industries, establish CNG retail outlets, and generate employment. The Prime Minister will also flag off the 132 km Durgapur-Kolkata section of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline, part of the ambitious Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) Project. This section, costing over Rs 1,190 crore, traverses through Purba Bardhman, Hooghly, and Nadia districts, promising natural gas supply to households and having created employment during its construction. In a move towards cleaner energy, PM Modi will also dedicate the Retrofitting Pollution Control System – Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems at Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station of Damodar Valley Corporation. These projects, worth over Rs 1,457 crore, are expected to facilitate cleaner energy production and create job opportunities. Rail infrastructure will also receive a boost with the dedication of the doubled Purulia – Kotshila Rail Line (36 KM) in Purulia, a project valued at over Rs 390 crore. This upgrade is set to enhance rail connectivity for industries in Jamshedpur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad with Ranchi and Kolkata, streamlining goods movement and reducing travel times. Additionally, two road over bridges (ROBs) constructed under the Setu Bharatam Programme, costing over Rs 380 crore, will be inaugurated at Topsi and Pandabeswar in Paschim Bardhaman, aiming to improve connectivity and reduce railway crossing accidents. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
