Edited by Deepali Verma
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the projects with an estimated cost of over Rs 4000 crore in Kerala’s Kochi. The three major infrastructure projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister cover the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL); the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL; and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi.
Post the inauguration and in an address of a gathering in Kochi, PM Modi voiced his gratitude to the people of Kerala for giving him a grand welcome on his arrival.
“It is of immense joy to me to see the happy faces once I landed in Kochi. I am grateful for the grand welcome. I consider myself fortunate enough to have gotten a chance to offer prayers at the Guruvayur Temple in Thrissur,” voiced PM Modi’s inaugural address.
“A couple of days ago when I was inaugurating the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya on December 30, I was discussing the four temples related to Ramayana in Kerala. I am fortunate to offer my prayers at Thriprayar Shree Ramaswamy Temple prior to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya,” he said.
Highlighting the new infrastructure initiatives that were inaugurated on January 17, the Prime Minister said that the Central Government is currently underway to increase the capacity of coastal cities like Kochi. He further asserted that Kochi is expected to be the next ship building hub of the nation.
“Efforts are underway to increase the capacity of ports, to build and strengthen port infrastructure and to facilitate better connectivity of ports through initiatives like the Sagarmala Pariyojana,” said the Prime Minister.
“In the present day as Bharat is becoming the centre of global trade, we are increasing our sea power. Soon we will witness Kochi’s rise to be the epitome of this,” PM Modi outlined.
The new infrastructure that was inaugurated today will further boost the Cochin shipyard’s capacity. “Today the country saw the inauguration of its biggest Dry Dock (NDD). Besides this, infrastructures of ship-building, ship repairing and LPG Import Terminal have been inaugurated as well,” PM Modi said.
“These new features will play a role in increasing the capacity of the shipyard by manifold. My heartiest congratulations to the people of Kerala for these facilities,” he added.
The Prime Minister, keeping in mind Bharat’s emergence as a major centre of global trade, said that the efforts to strengthen the country’s maritime power is currently underway. PM Modi, on his two-day visit to the state, offered the prayers at Guruvayur Sree Krishnaswamy temple in Thrissur earlier in the day. Guruvayur temple is dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna) and is an important place of worship for Hindus in Kerala.
He received his welcome from the Devaswom office bearers by giving a ‘Poorna kumbham’ which is a pitcher with sacred water adorned with flowers. This is a traditional way of welcoming the guests in temples and similar places.
PM Modi, during the temple visit, managed to attend the wedding of actor and BJP leader Suresh Gopi’s daughter. He further made a visit to Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy Temple in Thrissur and also offered prayers there. The Thriprayar temple is among one of the prominent temples in the state having Lord Ram as the main deity.
The Prime Minister arrived in Kerala on the night of January 16 where his welcome was carried out by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, MoS V Muraleedharan and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery.
A grand roadshow was held by PM Modi held in Kochi on January 16 which was attended by thousands of supporters. BJP state president K Surendran accompanied the Prime Minister on board his motorcade for the roadshow.
This marks the second visit of the PM to Kerala in two weeks.
