Soon after returning from his visits to the UK and Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel directly to Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, where he will lay foundation stones, inaugurate, and dedicate development projects worth over ₹4,800 crore at a public event around 8 PM on July 26.
On the next day, July 27, PM Modi will attend a grand celebration of the birth anniversary of the iconic Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli. This event will coincide with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival and take place around 12 noon.
Key Projects to Be Inaugurated in Tuticorin:
According to an official statement, the Prime Minister will launch a series of high-impact infrastructure projects aimed at improving regional connectivity, logistics, clean energy, and overall quality of life in Tamil Nadu.
Tuticorin Airport Upgrade
PM Modi will inaugurate a new terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, constructed at a cost of ₹450 crore. Spanning 17,340 sq. metres, the terminal can handle 1,350 passengers during peak hours and up to 20 lakh annually. With a provision for future expansion, the eco-friendly terminal includes LED lighting, energy-efficient systems, and a sewage treatment plant, aiming for a GRIHA-4 sustainability rating.
Highway Infrastructure, Two major highway projects will be dedicated to the nation:
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Sethiyathope-Cholapuram (NH-36) Four-Laning: A 50-km stretch developed under the Vikravandi-Thanjavur corridor at a cost of over ₹2,350 crore. It features bypasses, a 1-km bridge over the Kollidam River, flyovers, and underpasses, reducing travel time by 45 minutes and improving access to the Delta region.
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Tuticorin Port Road (NH-138) Six-Laning: A 5.16-km stretch built at a cost of around ₹200 crore, designed to ease cargo movement and support port-led industrial growth.
Port Development and Clean Energy
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate North Cargo Berth-III at V.O. Chidambaranar Port. With a cargo handling capacity of 6.96 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), this ₹285 crore project is expected to enhance dry bulk cargo management and logistics in the region.
Railway Projects for Southern Tamil Nadu. Three major rail projects will be launched:
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Electrification of the Madurai–Bodinayakkanur Line (90 km) to promote green transport and boost tourism.
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Doubling of Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari Line (21 km) as part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari project, costing ₹650 crore, to improve inter-state rail links.
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Doubling of Aralvaymozhi–Nagercoil Jn (12.87 km) and Tirunelveli–Melappalayam (3.6 km) sections to ease congestion and increase speed along key southern routes, including the Chennai–Kanyakumari corridor.
Power Sector Boost
The PM will lay the foundation stone for a major power transmission system to carry electricity from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 & 4 (2×1000 MW). The ₹550 crore Inter-State Transmission System includes a 400 kV double-circuit line and will help distribute reliable, clean energy across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
Honouring Rajendra Chola I
On July 27, PM Modi will release a commemorative coin celebrating the legacy of Rajendra Chola I, one of India’s most powerful emperors (1014–1044 CE). The coin release will take place at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, marking both the emperor’s birth anniversary and the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival.
The event also marks 1,000 years since Rajendra Chola’s famous maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the construction of the temple, which later became the imperial capital and a hub of Shaiva devotion and Chola architecture. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its sculptures, bronze artworks, and ancient inscriptions.
The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival, closely tied to Tamil Shaiva Bhakti traditions supported by the Cholas, gains added significance this year as it aligns with Rajendra Chola’s birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), which began on July 23.
