14 February is the second anniversary of Pulwama terror attack in which 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them. The convoy had 78 buses carrying 2,500 CRPF personnel from Jammu towards Srinagar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid homage to CRPF personnel killed in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and said the country is proud of its security forces.
“No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all martyrs we lost in that attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire generations,” he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking after the inauguration and foundation-stone laying ceremony of several key projects in Chennai.
“We will continue working to make our armed forces one of the most modern forces in the world. At the same time, the focus on making India self-reliant in the defence sector moves at full speed,” he said.
“Our armed forces significantly show India’s ethos of courage. They have shown time and again that they are fully capable of protecting our motherland and India’s belief in peace. But India will protect its sovereignty at all costs,” he added.
PM Modi hands over Arjun Tank to Army
PM Modi handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Army Chief General MM Naravane in Chennai. The tank has been indigenously designed, developed and made by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with 15 academic institutions, 8 labs and several MSMEs.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were also present there.
Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension project
PM Modi also inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension project, which has been completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore. The 9.05 km long extension will link north Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.
Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu
He also inaugurated the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of Rs 293.40 crore, passes through Chennai and Thiruvallur districts and will ease out traffic from Chennai Port. This section connects the Chennai Port and Ennore Port and passes through major yards, providing operational flexibility for the movement of trains.
Discovery Campus of IIT Madras
PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras today. The campus will be built at Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase, over an area of 2 lakh square metres.
PM Modi lauds Tamil Nadu farmers, urges them to follow ‘per drop more crop’ mantra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production and advised them to remember the mantra of “per drop more crop” stating that this will help future generations.
Speaking after inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of several key projects in Chennai, the Prime Minister said, “I want to appreciate farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production and good use of water resources. For thousands of years, this Anicut canal has been a lifeline to the rice bowl. The Grand Anicut is a living testimony of our glorious past. From Chennai today we begin key infrastructure projects which are symbols of innovation and indigenous development. These projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System. The canal is important for irrigation in the delta districts. The modernization of this canal will be taken up at a cost of Rs 2,640 crore and will lead to an improvement in the water carrying capacity of the canals.
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The Prime Minister also thanked the people of Chennai for his warm welcome.” I thank the people of Chennai for the warm welcome they have given me today. The city is full of energy and enthusiasm. This is the city of knowledge and creativity,” he said.
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