Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and unveiled a range of infrastructure, transport, social welfare, and scientific initiatives at the Puthirikandom Maidan. The event was attended by dignitaries including Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian.
In a move to enhance rail connectivity, PM Modi flagged off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger train. These services, such as the Nagercoil-Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express and Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, aim to improve connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card to support street vendors, providing an interest-free revolving credit facility linked to UPI. This initiative is designed to boost digital transactions, financial inclusion, and formal credit access for vendors, with PM Modi distributing loans to beneficiaries during the event.
In the realm of science and innovation, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. This hub will focus on life sciences, bio-economy, and the integration of traditional knowledge systems like Ayurveda with modern biotechnology to foster startup creation and global collaboration.
Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, the Prime Minister inaugurated a Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and the new Poojappura Head Post Office, offering postal, banking, insurance, and digital services.
