Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala on Thursday, during which he will lay foundation stones, inaugurate and flag off a series of major developmental projects in Thiruvananthapuram. The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering on the occasion.
The projects span key sectors such as rail connectivity, urban livelihoods, science and innovation, citizen-centric services and advanced healthcare, underscoring the Centre’s focus on inclusive development, technological progress and improved quality of life.
As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi will flag off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger train. These include the Nagercoil–Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express, Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, Thiruvananthapuram–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, and a passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur. The new services are expected to significantly enhance long-distance and regional connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while boosting tourism, trade, education, employment and cultural exchange.
To strengthen urban livelihoods, the Prime Minister will launch the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, marking the next phase of financial inclusion for street vendors. The UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility will provide instant liquidity, encourage digital transactions and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories. He will also disburse PM SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries, including street vendors from Kerala.
In the field of science and innovation, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone for the CSIR–NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The hub will focus on life sciences and the bio-economy, integrate traditional knowledge systems such as Ayurveda with modern biotechnology, and work on areas including sustainable packaging and green hydrogen. It is aimed at promoting startups, technology transfer and global collaboration by converting research into market-ready solutions.
Healthcare infrastructure will be another key focus of the visit. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. The facility will offer highly precise and minimally invasive treatment for complex brain disorders, strengthening tertiary healthcare services in the region.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the new Poojappura Head Post Office in Thiruvananthapuram. The modern, technology-enabled facility will offer a wide range of postal, banking, insurance and digital services, further strengthening citizen-centric service delivery.