VOC Port being transformed into World-Class Mega Container and Green Energy Hub
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for, inaugurated, and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over Rs.13,000 crore in Chennai on 11 Oct.
Welcoming the esteemed dignitaries and the people of Tamil Nadu, he explained that these completed and upcoming infrastructural developments will significantly ease daily commutes while simultaneously boosting industry and trade, generating vast employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
Sharing insights from his earlier engagements, the Prime Minister discussed his visit to the Brain Research Centre at IIT Madras, emphasizing that their pioneering research holds the potential to unlock numerous public health breakthroughs. He also expressed satisfaction over dedicating a new stretch of the Chennai Metro to the public. “Apart from this visit, I also had the opportunity to dedicate another stretch of the Chennai Metro to the public,” PM Modi pointed out.
Framing urbanization as a vital avenue for growth, the Prime Minister declared urban development in Tamil Nadu to be a supreme priority for the government. He expressed his firm belief that urban expansion should be viewed not as a challenge, but as a tremendous opportunity that must be supported by robust public transport.
He expressed great satisfaction that the latest expansion of the Chennai Metro will further enlarge this network. “This work has been done so that the journey of the common people living in Chennai becomes easier for everyone, and their travel can be completed in less time,” affirmed PM Modi.
Pivoting to the critical role of domestic industry, the Prime Minister asserted that empowering states is the primary pathway to empowering the entire nation, which is precisely why the Central Government is aggressively promoting manufacturing in Tamil Nadu. He praised the state’s vibrant small-scale industries and its workforce, noting that national campaigns like Make in India and Vocal for Local are delivering substantial regional benefits. “Every Indian is proud of the manufacturing sector of Tamil Nadu, the small-scale industries here, and every person working in them,” underlined the Prime Minister.
Showcasing the dramatic success of the nation’s industrial policies, he highlighted how strengthening the entire product chain, from components to finished technology, has transformed the country into the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer. He proudly listed the phenomenal growth metrics since 2014, including an eleven-fold increase in electronics exports.
Connecting industrial expansion directly to youth empowerment, the Prime Minister stated that this massive manufacturing growth has successfully generated lakhs of direct and indirect jobs across the country, with Tamil Nadu making a highly commendable contribution. He announced the foundation laying for an advanced lubricant base oil project. “This will also create new employment here and will greatly help in reducing the country’s imports,” asserted PM Modi.
Explaining the symbiotic relationship between infrastructure and industry, the Prime Minister emphasized that a strong manufacturing sector fundamentally requires high-quality roads, railways, and ports to efficiently transport raw materials. “When such infrastructure is built, it also creates a lot of employment at different levels,” affirmed PM Modi.
Detailing the economic chain reaction triggered by these developments, the Prime Minister noted that construction projects immediately employ engineers, technicians, and workers while simultaneously boosting small companies and factories producing cement, steel, and equipment. He explained that once completed, the enhanced connectivity from today’s rail and road projects will prove critical for driving Tamil Nadu’s industrial and service sectors forward. “Therefore, the rail and road projects whose foundation stones are being laid and which are being dedicated today are going to be very important for the progress of Tamil Nadu,” noted PM Modi.
Focusing on the strategic modernization of maritime logistics, the Prime Minister announced that the nation’s port infrastructure is being heavily bolstered to push the shipping sector to unprecedented heights, with Tamil Nadu playing a central role. He highlighted a recent landmark decision to invest approximately Rs.17,000 crore to transform Thoothukudi’s VOC Port into a World-Class Mega Container and Green Energy Hub, capable of accommodating ultra-large container vessels. “This will help Tamil Nadu become a global hub for industry and transport,” he asserted.
Highlighting the operational successes of this maritime focus, the Prime Minister pointed out that both the speed and efficiency of Indian ports have drastically improved in recent years. He noted that significantly reducing ship turnaround times by half has allowed domestic products to reach global markets much faster than ever before. “Because of this, India’s products as well are able to reach global markets faster than before,” observed PM Modi. Fiinews.com
