Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a number of development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Tiruchirappalli on Tuesday as part of his push for “Sabka Vikas” south of the Vindhyas. PM Modi was honoured at a public function in the city following a convocation event at Bharathidasan University by MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of civil aviation. Speaking at the function, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of civil aviation, praised PM Modi’s leadership and stated that under his direction, the federal government has made sure that airports serve as growth hubs in addition to being means of transportation.
“Airports are also emerging as centres of employment for the whole country. The one big change that has taken place over the last 9.5 years of this government is that PM Modi, through his leadership, has democratised civil aviation for every single citizen of this country. Everyone who wears a ‘Hawai Chappal’ (slippers) must also travel in a ‘Hawai jahaaj’ (aircraft). This has been the PM’s dream for the people of our country,” Scindia said.
PM Modi later proceeded to inaugurate the new terminal building at the Trichy airport.
The new terminal building has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1100 crore. The two-level new international terminal has the capacity to serve more than 44 lakh passengers annually and about 3,500 during peak hours, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) informed earlier through an official release.