Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra from 27th to 28th February 2024.
- PM Modi inaugurated space infrastructure projects during his visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- He laid the foundation stone of development projects worth about Rs 17,300 crore at Thoothukudi, TN.
- He also inaugurated and dedicated to nation development projects worth more than Rs 4900 crore at Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
Highlights of PM’s Visit to Kerala
PM Modi inaugurated 3 major space infrastructure projects of ISRO
On 27th February 2024, PM Modi visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and inaugurated 3 major space infrastructure projects worth about Rs 1,800 crore.
- The 3 projects are; PSLV(Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) Integration Facility(PIF); Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility; and Trisonic Wind Tunnel.
- These three projects will provide world-class technical facilities for the space sector.
Details of the 3 projects:
i.PSLV Integration Facility(PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP) is a state-of-the-art facility that will facilitate the launch of SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) and other small launch vehicles designed by private space companies.
- This will increase the frequency of PSLV launches from 6 to 15 per year.
ii.Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and stage Test facility(SIET) at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli district, TN.
- SIET is capable of testing the 2,000 kN semi-cryogenic engine (SCE-2000), various subsystems and the SC-120 rocket stage.
- The facility has twin test bays. both engine and stage development can be carried out simultaneously.
- The 51 metres tall test structure is equipped to perform hot tests on SCE and stages for 375 seconds. It is also designed to withstand heavy thrust and vibrations during tests.
iii.The first-of-its-kind, large Trisonic Wind Tunnel (TWT) at VSSC, Kerala will be used to test the aerodynamic design of rockets.
- This is India’s 3rd hypersonic wind tunnel (HWT) after the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s HWT at the APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad(Telangana), and the 1.2 m TWT at National Aerospace Laboratories in Bengaluru(Karnataka).
- It is equipped with a test section size of 1.2 meters and can generate speeds which ranges from subsonic to supersonic i.e. up to 4 times the speed of sound (Mach4).
- It produces controlled uniform airflow over scaled models of rockets and aircraft to evaluate their aerodynamics features and designs.
Key Dignitaries: PM Modi was accompanied by Arif Mohammed, Governor of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala and V.Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and S.Somnath, Chairman of ISRO.
PM Modi Reveals Names of 4 Astronauts for Gaganyaan Mission
PM Modi announced the names of the 4 astronauts selected for ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan Mission, the 1st crewed Indian space mission, during his visit to VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He bestowed the selected astronauts with “astronaut wings”.
The Crew of the Gaganyaan mission:
- Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair(Kerala),
- Group Captain Angad Pratap,
- Group Captain Ajit Krishnan (Tamil Nadu)
- Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.
Points to note:
i.The 4 astronauts were trained at Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia from February 2020 to March 2021.
ii.They are now being trained at ISRO’s astronaut training facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
About Gaganyaan Mission:
i.It is India’s 1st human space flight programme and is set to launch between 2024 and 2025.
ii.Gaganyaan Mission will launch a crew of 4 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bring them safely to earth.
iii.ISRO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS to provide training to 4 Indian astronauts for Gaganyaan in June 2019.
Highlights of PM’s visit to Tamil Nadu
PM Modi Inaugurated Projects Worth More Than Rs 17,300 crore in Thoothukudi
On 28th February 2024, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of new development projects worth over Rs 17,300 crore in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu(TN). He also laid the foundation stone of Outer Harbor Container Terminal at V.O.Chidambaranar Port at Thoothukudi, TN.
Note:
During the public function held in Thootukudi on 28th February 2024, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal presented the sacred Sengol, the pride of Tamil Society, to PM Narendra Modi.
Key People: The event was attended by R.N. Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu, and Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Details of the Development Projects:
i.PM dedicated to the nation rail projects for doubling of Vanchi Maniyacchi-Nagercoil rail link which includes: Vanchi-Maniyacchi-Tirunelveli section and Melappalayam-Aralveymali section. It was developed at a cost of about Rs 1,477 crore. This will reduce the travel time from Kanyakumari, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli to Chennai.
ii.PM Modi inaugurated 4 road projects built at a cost of Rs4,586 crore in TN. The 4 projects are,
- 4-laning of the Jittandahalli-Dharmapuri section of NH(National Highway)-844;
- 2-laning with paved shoulders of the Meensurutti-Chidambaram section of NH-81
- 4-laning of the Oddanchatram-Madathukulam section of NH-83
- 2-laning with paved shoulders of the Nagapattinam-Thanjavur section of NH-83.
Outer Harbor Container Terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port
The Outer Harbor Container Terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port will be developed with an estimated investment of Rs 7,000 crore. Additionally, Rs 2500 crore will be allotted for the development of 13 ports.
i.PM Modi also inaugurated various projects aimed at making the V.O. Chidambaranar Port as the first Green Hydrogen Hub Port of India.
- These projects include a desalination plant, hydrogen production and bunker facility, among others.
Significance:
i.Outer Harbor Container Terminal will transform V.O. Chidambaranar Port into a Trans-shipment hub for the East Coast.
ii.It aims to cover India’s long coastline and geographical locations which will consolidate India’s position in the global trade market.
iii.This project is estimated to generate employment opportunities and economic growth in the region.
Additional info: PM Modi also dedicated tourist facilities in 75 lighthouses across 10 States/ Union Territories (UTs) during the event.
PM Modi launched India’s 1st indigenous Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Inland Waterway Vessel
On 28th February 2024, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s 1st indigenous Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Inland Waterway Vessel under the Harit Nauka initiative at Thoothukudi, TN.
i.It is indigenously built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The vessel has zero emission, zero noise and is energy efficient.
ii.It can be used for transportation, material handling, and portable and emergency backup power applications.
Key People: Madu S Nair, Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of CSL was also present at the event.
About Harit Nauka-Inland Vessels Green Transition Guidelines:
i.These guidelines were published on 8th January 2024 under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways(MoPSW).
ii.It aims to transform the maritime landscape by introducing green vessels and to establish the operationalisation of a green ecosystem.
iii.It has set the target of achieving low or zero-emission sources of fuel and to attain 100% green vessels in the Indian waters by 2047.
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for new ISRO launch complex in Thoothukudi
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the new launch complex of the ISRO at Kulasekrapattinam in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
i.It will be built on 2,292 acre of land with an estimated cost of Rs 986 crore.
ii.It can accommodate 24 launches per year. The new complex includes 35 facilities which include a mobile Launch Structure(MLS) with checkout computers, a launch pad and rocket integration facilities.
PM launched 2 major initiatives to uplift MSMEs in Indian automotive industry
PM Narendra Modi participated in the programme “Creating the Future- Digital Mobility for Automotive Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Entrepreneurs” in Madurai, TN and addressed the MSMEs entrepreneurs working in the automotive sector.
- During the event, he launched 2 initiatives: TVS Open Mobility Platform and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-TVS Mobility Centre for Excellence, designed specifically for supporting the MSMEs in the automotive industry.
Points to note:
i.TVS Open Mobility Platform: This initiative will provide future-ready digital solutions to MSMEs sectors.
ii.TVS Mobility CII Centre for Excellence on Employment and Livelihood is a collaboration of the CII and TVS Mobility.
- It will generate productive livelihood and support the scaling up of MSMEs in various sectors like textiles, and food processing.
Highlights of PM’s visit to Maharashtra
PM Modi inaugurated & Dedicated infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 4900 crore in Maharashtra
On 28th February 2024, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated to the nation various infrastructure projects related to road, rail and irrigation worth more than Rs 4900 crore during the public programme held in Yavatmal in Maharashtra.
- He released the benefits under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and other schemes.
- He also unveiled the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay in Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
Details of the infrastructure projects:
i.PM dedicated various irrigation projects which are developed at cost of more than Rs 2750 crore under Pradhan Mantri (PM) Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) and Baliraja Jal Sanjeevani Yojana (BJSY).
- These projects will benefit the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra.
ii.PM inaugurated various rail projects worth more than Rs 1300 crore in Maharashtra which includes:
- Wardha-Kalamb broad gauge line which is part of Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded new broad gauge line project.
- New Ashti-Amalner broad gauge line which is part of Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli new broad gauge line project.
These projects will enhance connectivity of the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and promote socio-economic development.
iii.PM virtually flagged off two train services: train connecting Kalamb and Wardha and train connecting Amalner and New Ashti, during the event.
iv.PM Modi dedicated to the nation projects strengthening the road sector, which includes, 4-laning of the Warora-Wani section of NH-930 and road upgradation projects for roads connecting Sakoli-Bhandara and SalaiKhurd-Tirora.
- These projects will improve connectivity, reduce travel time and promote socio-economic development in the region.
PM launched Awaas Gharkul Yojana for OBC:
PM launched the Modi Awaas Gharkul Yojana for Other Backward Class (OBC) category beneficiaries in Maharashtra.
- Under the scheme, a total of 10 lakh houses will constructed from FY2023-2024 to FY2025-2026.
- PM transferred the first instalment of Rs 375 crore to 2.5 lakh beneficiaries of the scheme.
PM Modi released 16th instalment of PM-KISAN scheme
PM Modi released the 16th instalment of Pradhan Mantri (PM) Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) worth Rs 21,000 crores through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to beneficiaries.
Note: PM mentioned that under PM-KISAN scheme, 11 crore farmers of India have received Rs 3 lakh crore. Out of which farmers of Maharashtra have received Rs 30,000 crore and Yavatmal farmers received Rs 900 crore.
About PM-KISAN:
i.It is central sector scheme launched in 2019 and is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
ii.Under this scheme, financial support of Rs6,000 per annum will be provided to eligible farmer families in three equal instalments.
iii.So far, the GoI provided financial assistance to 11.8 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN yojana.
iv.GoI allocated Rs 60,000 crore for FY 2024-25 in Interim Budget 2024-2025.
Other Highlights:
i.PM Modi initiated the distribution of 1 crore Ayushman cards across Maharashtra.
ii.He also disbursed Rs 825 crore of Revolving Fund to 5.5. lakh women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across Maharashtra.
- This amount is additional to the Revolving fund provided by the Government of India(GoI) under National rural livelihood Mission (NRLM).
- This will help the women to increase the annual income of poor households by promoting women-led micro-enterprises at the village level.
iii.PM also disbursed 2nd and 3rd instalments of “Namo Shetkari Mahasanman” worth Rs3800 crore. It will benefit about 88 lakh beneficiary farmers across Maharashtra.
- Under this scheme, additional financial aid of Rs 6000 per year is provided to the beneficiaries of PM-KISAN in Maharashtra.
About Tamil Nadu:
Chief Minister– M.K. Stalin
Governor– R.N. Ravi
National Park– Guindy National Park; Mukurthi National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary– Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary
About Kerala:
Chief Minister– Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor– Arif Mohammed
National Park– Mathikettan Shola National Park; Anamudi Shola National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary– Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary; Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
