On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of high-cost infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu, while also setting the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He emphasized that the development of Tamil Nadu is crucial for India’s growth, stating that “when Tamil Nadu grows, India grows.” Modi arrived in Chennai on Saturday afternoon and revealed that the state had been granted a budget of over 6,000 crore for rail infrastructure this fiscal year. This is a significant increase from the less than 900 crore granted on average each year from 2009 to 2014 under the previous Congress-led UPA government.
Between 2004 and 2014, nearly 800 km of new national highways were added in Tamil Nadu. However, a much larger scale of development is planned between 2014 and 2023 with around 2,000 km of new national highways set to be built. In 2014-15, approximately 1,200 crore was spent on the construction and maintenance of national highways in Tamil Nadu. This has increased sixfold to over 8,200 crore in 2022-23.
Modi believes that these initiatives will significantly improve the lives of the Tamil Nadu population by generating jobs and increasing incomes. He described Tamil Nadu as the center of patriotism and national consciousness, boasting a rich history and tradition, as well as being home to language and literature.
