Modi in Vizag: PM launches slew of projects worth Rs 10,742 cr

Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the hearts of the people of Visakhapatnam with his first greetings in Telugu. "Priyamaina…Sodari Sodarularaaa. Namaskaram (Namaste to all my dear brothers and sisters)," he greeted the people here on Saturday.

Mr. Modi addressed a public meeting at Andhra University grounds in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on Saturday before he launched projects worth Rs. 10,742 crores. The event was graced by Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, and Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav.

Lakhs of people attended the public meeting addressed by Mr. Modi where he spoke about the new projects and development activities taken up in the state. This is his second visit to Andhra Pradesh. He was in the state a few months ago in Bhimvaram for the 125th birthday celebrations of Alluri Sitarama Raju.

"This is a special day for the people of Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh. Vizag is one of the important cities in the state, with many business developments happening. It is one of the greatest cities in the country with maritime history and trade. Andhra Pradesh people are awaiting the development of the state for a long time, and now the time has come. From developing Vizag railway station to the fishing harbour, we are doing every major development in the state," said Mr. Modi.

The Prime Minister praised the people of Andhra Pradesh and said they are very friendly and active people. "Whether it is about education or enterprise, technology or medical profession, Andhra people have created their identity in every sector," he said.

Addressing the public, Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy said their relationship with the Centre, especially with the Prime Minister, is beyond politics. He appealed to the Prime Minister to implement long-pending bifurcation promises, including the Polavaram project.

Projects launched

The Prime Minister launched projects worth Rs. 10,742 crores.

· He laid the foundation stone of the Srikakulam Angul Natural Gas Pipeline Project of GAIL with a capacity of around 6.65 MMSCMD. This 745 km long pipeline will be built at a total cost of more than Rs. 2,658 crores. Part of the Natural Gas Grid (NGG), the pipeline will create the vital infrastructure to supply natural gas to domestic households, industries, commercial units, and automobile sectors in various districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The pipeline will supply natural gas to the City Gas Distribution Network in the Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.

· Mr. Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Andhra Pradesh section of the six-lane Greenfield Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor. It will be built at a cost of more than Rs. 3,778 crores. The economic corridor is expected to provide faster connectivity between industrial nodes of Chhattisgarh and Odisha to Visakhapatnam Port and the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway. It will also improve connectivity to tribal and backward areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

· The PM laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Visakhapatnam railway station, to be done at a cost of around Rs. 460 crores. The redeveloped station would cater to 75,000 passengers per day and will improve the passenger experience by providing modern amenities.

· Foundation stone was also laid for the modernisation and upgradation of Visakhapatnam fishing harbour. The total cost of the project is around Rs. 152 crores. The fishing harbour, after its upgradation and modernisation, will double the handling capacity from 150 tonnes per day to about 300 tonnes per day, provide safe landing and berthing and other modern infrastructure facilities, reduce turnaround time in the jetty, reduce wastage and help improve price realisation.

· Foundation stone was also laid for a dedicated port road from Convent junction to Sheela Nagar junction in Visakhapatnam. It will ease traffic congestion in Visakhapatnam city by segregating local and port-bound goods traffic.

· The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the Narasannapeta to Pathapatnam section of NH-326 built at a cost of more than Rs. 200 crores as part of the Srikakulam-Gajapati corridor. The project will provide better connectivity in the region.