Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Kerala on Friday to inaugurate, lay foundation stones and flag off a series of major development projects across sectors including rail connectivity, urban livelihoods, science and innovation, citizen services and advanced healthcare, with the main events scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will flag off four new train services aimed at improving long-distance and regional rail connectivity across southern India. These include three Amrit Bharat Express services, Nagercoil-Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram and Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli, and a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur.
The new services are expected to strengthen connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while offering more affordable, safe and time-bound travel options. Officials view the expanded rail network as a boost to tourism, trade, education, employment and cultural exchange in the region.
As part of initiatives 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 is designed to provide instant liquidity, promote 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. Since its launch in 2020, the PM SVANidhi scheme has enabled first-time access to institutional credit for a large number of urban informal workers and contributed to livelihood security and poverty alleviation.
Also read: PM Modi to sound the TN poll bugle with mega rally
In the field of science and innovation, Modi will lay the foundation stone for the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The proposed hub will focus on life sciences and the bio-economy, integrate traditional knowledge systems such as Ayurveda with modern biotechnology, and promote research in areas including sustainable packaging and green hydrogen.
The hub is expected to support start-up creation, technology transfer and global collaboration, serving as a platform to convert research outcomes into market-ready solutions and enterprises.
Healthcare infrastructure will also feature prominently during 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 in Thiruvananthapuram. The facility will provide highly precise, minimally invasive treatment for complex brain disorders, strengthening tertiary healthcare services in the region.
In addition, 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, aimed at improving citizen-centric service delivery.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a public gathering in Thiruvananthapuram during the visit.
Follow us
