Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and launched a range of major infrastructure, transport, social welfare and scientific initiatives in Thiruvananthapuram, signalling a renewed development thrust for Kerala and the wider southern region.
The programme took place at Puthirikandom Maidan and was attended by Kerala Governor Rajendra V Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, and other dignitaries.
In a major push to rail infrastructure, PM Modi flagged off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger service.
The new trains include the Nagercoil–Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram and Thiruvananthapuram–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express services, along with a passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur.
Officials said the new services would enhance regional and long-distance connectivity across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while supporting tourism, trade, education and employment.
As part of efforts to strengthen urban livelihoods, the Prime Minister launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, an interest-free, UPI-linked revolving credit facility aimed at street vendors.
The scheme seeks to provide instant liquidity, promote digital transactions and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories.
PM Modi also disbursed PM SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries, including vendors from Kerala, and handed over credit cards to selected beneficiaries.
In the field of science and innovation, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the CSIR–NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram, which will focus on life sciences, the bio-economy and startup development.
He also laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and inaugurated the new Poojappura Head Post Office, offering modern postal and digital services.
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