Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stressed the need for stronger states to build a stronger nation, highlighting cooperative federalism as he inaugurated development projects worth Rs 13,000 crore and laid the foundation stones for national highway projects in Tamil Nadu.
Addressing a gathering attended by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Modi said the Centre and the state government were working with a shared commitment to Tamil Nadu’s development.
Describing the occasion as historic, he said the projects would create more employment opportunities for the youth.
The programme began with the national anthem, followed by Tamil Thai Vazhthu, the state anthem. The projects covered several sectors, including highways, railways and ports. Modi also laid the foundation stones for national highway projects worth around Rs 3,700 crore.
Extending Navratri greetings to the nation, the Prime Minister referred to his visit to the Jalakandeswarar temple, saying he had received the deity’s blessings in Tamil Nadu, which he described as a sacred land associated with Lord Shiva.
Reflecting on his 25 years in public leadership, Modi recalled working with former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister.
He said that after becoming Prime Minister, he had worked with Jayalalithaa, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and M.K. Stalin. The same determination, he added, guided his engagement with Chief Minister Vijay, reiterating his commitment to serving the people of Tamil Nadu.
Modi described urbanisation as an opportunity and highlighted the expansion of India’s Metro network. He said Metro services, which were available in five cities in 2014, now operated in 25 cities, while the network had expanded from 250 km to 1,100 km.
The expansion was making travel easier and improving access to public transport, he said.
Calling for greater support for locally manufactured products, Modi said the Union government was taking measures to encourage Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing sector.
Drawing on his experience as a former Chief Minister, he said he understood the expectations of states and was working to address them. Citizens, he added, had developed greater confidence in cooperative federalism.
The Prime Minister emphasised that development required wider infrastructure investment alongside improved roads. Better transport systems would ease everyday life, he said, expressing confidence that the newly launched projects would accelerate Tamil Nadu’s progress.
A developed Tamil Nadu, Modi added, would contribute to the larger goal of building a developed India.