KOCHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that infrastructure development projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore are in progress in Kerala. The Prime Minister was inaugurating the Kochi Metro Petta-SN Junction route and three projects of the railway and laying the foundation stone of the second phase of the Metro at CIAL Convention Centre, Nedumbassery.

The Prime Minister announced that the projects are an Onam gift for Kerala. "There is a new culture for development in Kerala now. The second phase of the Metro to Kakanad Info Park will benefit the youth and professionals. Railway stations are being made like airports," Modi said.

The laying of the foundation stone for the redevelopment of three Railway stations in Kerala - Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Kollam were also done by PM Modi on Thursday.

PM Modi inaugurated the doubling of the Kuruppanthara-Kottayam-Chingavanam rail section, completed at a cost of nearly Rs 750 crore. With this, the entire stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru is fully doubled now, promising faster and seamless connectivity. Significantly, lakhs of devotees bound for Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Shrine can conveniently alight at Kottayam or Chengannur railway station in the doubled section and proceed by road to Pamba. He also dedicated to the nation the newly electrified rail section between Kollam - Punalur.

"The Centre is spending 55,000 crores to make National Highway 66 six-lane. The Centre focuses on connectivity for tourism and commercial development. 17,000 crore has been sanctioned in Kerala under the Mudrayojana, which provides unsecured loans up to Rs.10 lakh. A good part of this is in the field of tourism. The metro system will be extended throughout the country. A few days back I got the opportunity to inaugurate Mata Amritanandamayi ji's Amrita Hospital in Haryana. I was also blessed to have the blessings of Amritanandamayi Amma who is full of compassion. Today I express my gratitude once again from the soil of Kerala.” Modi said.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Ministers P. Rajeeve, Antony Raju, Kochi Mayor Adv M Anilkumar and Hibi Eden MP were present.