Kochi witnessed the inauguration of projects worth Rs 4,000 crore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. These projects, which include significant strategic initiatives at Cochin Shipyard Limited, consist of a 310-metre-long dry dock built to international standards and the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF), which is India’s first fully developed pure ship repair ecosystem. Furthermore, the dedication also encompasses the IOCL’s LPG import terminal.The Central government foresees that with the dedication of these projects, Cochin Shipyard Limited is set to double its turnover to Rs 7,000 crore within the next four years.
Following the inauguration of the projects, the Prime Minister delivered a speech at the event, which was graced by the presence of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.
In his address, Modi emphasized the growing significance of India as a global trade hub and highlighted the government’s focus on bolstering the nation’s maritime capabilities. He underscored the numerous reforms implemented over the past decade to facilitate business operations in the domains of ports, shipping, and inland waterways. Modi reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming India into a prominent maritime power.
To realize this objective, the Central government is actively engaged in enhancing infrastructure, capacity, efficiency, and connectivity in port cities such as Kochi. Initiatives like Sagarmala Pariyojana are instrumental in this endeavor, as stated by the Prime Minister.
Furthermore, Modi expressed his conviction that the projects inaugurated on this occasion would accelerate progress and development in the southern region of the country. He also highlighted the significant investments and employment opportunities generated in the ports sector as a result of the government’s interventions and reforms.
In order to accomplish this objective, the Central government is actively working towards enhancing the infrastructure, capacity, efficiency, and connectivity of port cities such as Kochi through initiatives like Sagarmala Pariyojana, as stated by the Prime Minister.He further emphasized that the projects inaugurated today will accelerate progress and development in the southern region of the country.The Prime Minister also highlighted that the interventions and reforms implemented by his government have attracted significant investments in the ports and have also generated employment opportunities.He mentioned that in the past, India thrived with substantial contributions to the global GDP, thanks to its robust ports and port cities.Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that as India reclaims its position in global trade, it is actively strengthening its maritime capabilities.He also pointed out that previously, ships used to wait in queues at ports for several days to unload cargo, but now India has surpassed many developed nations in terms of ship turnaround time.
Modi emphasized the crucial contribution of each state in India’s developmental journey during the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal’. He highlighted the significance of collective efforts, stating that when everyone collaborates, the outcomes are significantly improved. Additionally, the Prime Minister extended his congratulations to the people of Kerala for being the beneficiaries of projects worth Rs 4,000 crore.
CM thanks PM:
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude towards the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for personally visiting the state to inaugurate the event. Additionally, he emphasized that the contribution of Made in Kerala to the Make in India project should not be underestimated.
Later, at Marine Drive, Modi will deliver a speech to approximately 6,000 party in-charges of ‘shakti kendras’, with each kendras consisting of two to three booth-level areas. Following the meeting, he will depart for Delhi and is expected to arrive by evening.
Traffic restrictions in Kochi:
The traffic authorities have announced that due to Prime Minister Modi’s visit, vehicular traffic will be restricted in the city from noon until 3 pm. Specifically, between 1 pm and 3 pm, no vehicles will be allowed at High Court Junction, MG Road, Jos Junction, Pallimukku, Medical Trust, and Thevara. This restriction is in place to ensure smooth movement for the PM’s program at Cochin Shipyard and the conference at Marine Drive.For those traveling from Vypin to West Kochi, the recommended route is to go through Madhava Pharmacy-MG Road-Rajaji Road, then proceed to Kadavantra and Vythila before reaching West Kochi via Panambilly Nagar.Similarly, vehicles coming from Kaloor should take the Kaloor-Kathrikkadavu-Kadavanthra road to reach Kadavanthra, and then proceed to Vyttila and West Kochi. It is important to note that vehicles will not be allowed from KPCC Junction to Hospital Road.If you are traveling from Vyttila, you should take a U-turn from Kadavanthra to Kaloor Road, as advised by the police.Lastly, for those traveling from West Kochi to Kaloor, it is recommended to take a turn from BOT East via the National Highway, then reach Kadavanthra through Thevara Ferry-Kundanur-Vyttila, and proceed to Kaloor, as instructed by the police.