Historic free trade deal with UK shows world's trust in India: PM in Tamil Nadu
In his address after inaugurating the projects, PM Modi said he was blessed to directly land in Tamil Nadu after completing his foreign tour during which the India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed before his visit to the Maldives.The trade pact with Britain was 'historic'."India and Britain signed a FTA. This shows the growing trust of the world and our self-confidence. We will make Viksit (developed) Bharat and Viksit Tamil Nadu with this self-confidence," PM Modi said."FTA with Britain adds pace to our vision of Viksit Bharat, Viksit Tamil Nadu," the PM, clad in a traditional veshti (dhoti), shirt and an angavastram worn around the neck, said. He landed in Tuticorin directly after wrapping up his official tour of the Maldives.Promising a developed India and Tamil Nadu, he said, "Infrastructure and energy are the backbone of any state's development; our focus on infrastructure and energy in the last 11 years shows our commitment to TN's growth."The NDA government has constructed Atal Setu, Sonmarg Tunnel, Bogibeel Bridge in different parts of the country and these created thousands of job opportunities.As regards the railways, he said it is the lifeline of industrial growth.The projects he inaugurated on Saturday are related to airport, highways, railways, port and power in Tamil Nadu and he said that infrastructure.The inaugurated projects include a new state-of-the-art Tuticorin airport terminal building, developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 450 crore.As regards railway projects, it includes the electrification of the 90 km Madurai–Bodinayakkanur line, commissioned at a cost of Rs 99 crore and the Rs 650 crore doubling of the 21 km Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari section.The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, two strategically significant highway projects - 4-laning of 50 km Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch of NH-36, developed at a cost Rs 2,350 crore and 6-laning of the 5.16 km NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road, built at around Rs 200 crore.He inaugurated the North Cargo Berth–III with a cargo handling capacity of 6.96 MMTPA at VO Chidambaranar Port, established at a cost of Rs 285 crore.advertisementOn the occasion, he invoked legendary freedom fighters from the region - VO Chidambaram Pillai, king Veerapandia Kattabomman and chieftain Veeran Azhagu Muthukon.Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi participated in the event. State Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu presented a memento, a replica of the iconic Valluvar Kottam in Chennai, to the Prime Minister on the occasion.Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister of State L Murugan, TN Social Welfare Minister P Geetha Jeevan, Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi and top officials took part.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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