PM flags off new train services in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched various developmental projects and flagged off new train services in Kerala and said that a new realisation has emerged among the people about the Centre’s efforts for the State’s development.

“A developed Kerala is essential for realising the dream of a developed India,” he said and extended all support for the development of the State.

Speaking after launching the projects and flagging off the trains, Modi said the day marks a new momentum in the development of Kerala, driven by the efforts of the Central Government.

He said that rail connectivity has been further strengthened and the launched projects will help to transform Thiruvananthapuram into a major hub in the country.

Modi flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains and a Thrissur-Guruvayur passenger train, which will help to enhance regional rail connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

In addition, he laid the foundation stone for a CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub here and launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card — a UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility.

Modi also disbursed loan amounts and credit cards to several beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi scheme. He stated that the scheme was designed to benefit the poor across Kerala and the nation.

Besides these, he laid the foundation stone for a State-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in the city and inaugurated the new Poojappura Head Post Office. Stating that the entire nation is united today in its efforts to build a developed India, Modi highlighted that cities have a crucial role in this mission and emphasised that over the past 11 years, the Union Government has made substantial investments in urban infrastructure.

“Our cities have played a crucial role in this development. For the past 11 years, our government has made significant investments in urban infrastructure,” he said. The PM underlined that the Union Government has also undertaken extensive work for poor families living in cities.

He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, more than four crore houses have been constructed and provided to the poor across the country, including over 1 crore permanent houses for the urban poor.

The Prime Minister noted that in Kerala alone, nearly 1.25 lakh urban poor families have received their permanent homes. Modi highlighted that to reduce electricity expenses for poor families, the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been launched.

He said that under Ayushman Bharat, poor citizens are receiving free health treatment worth Rs 5 lakh, and schemes like the Matru Vandana Yojana have been introduced to ensure the health security of women.

Modiemphasised that the Union Government has also exempted income up to `12 lakh from tax, which has greatly benefited the middle class and salaried people of Kerala as well. He noted that in the past 11 years, a massive effort has been made to connect crores of citizens to the banking system. “Now the poor, SC, ST, OBC communities, women, and fishermen canaccess bank loans easily, with the Union Government itself acting as their guarantor when they lack collateral,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister further said that the condition of street vendors, who earlier struggled to borrow even a few hundred rupees at high interest rates, has been transformed through the PM SVANidhi Scheme.

He underlined that for the first time, lakhs of street vendors across the country have received loans from banks, bringing them significant support and opportunities to improve their livelihoods. Modi said that the Government of India has taken a step further by providing credit cards to street vendors.

He highlighted that PM SVANidhi Credit Cards have just been distributed here, including to 10,000 beneficiaries in Kerala and more than 600 in Thiruvananthapuram. The Prime Minister noted that earlier, only the wealthy had access to credit cards, but now street vendors can possess the SVANidhi Credit Card. Modi said that the Union Government is making significant investments in connectivity, science and innovation, and healthcare.

He pointed out the inauguration of the CSIR Innovation Hub in Kerala and the launch of a Radio Surgery Centre at the Medical College, which will help establish Kerala as a hub of science, innovation, and healthcare.

The Prime Minister further said that Kerala’s rail connectivity has been strengthened with the flagging off of Amrit Bharat Express trains, which will enhance ease of travel and benefit the tourism sector. “The new passenger train between Guruvayur and Thrissur will make journeys easier for pilgrims,” Modi said, adding that all these projects will accelerate Kerala’s development.