Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Calling it a “cherished moment of satisfaction”, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Thiruvananthapuram, as the Prime Minister launched and inaugurated a series of major infrastructure and welfare projects aimed at accelerating the state’s development.

Prime Minister Modi flagged off four trains, including three Amrit Bharat Express services and one passenger train, while also inaugurating several initiatives aimed at the state’s growth.

Addressing the gathering, CM Vijayan said, "It is with immense pride and pleasure that I welcome PM Narendra Modi to Keralam, the 'God's own Country'. The PM has been kind enough to come down to Kerala to launch a number of projects that would go a long way in the development of the State."

He highlighted the initiatives, stating, "It includes the laying of the foundation stone of CSIR-NIIST Innovation Hub, the inauguration of Poojappura Head Post Office Building, launch of the PM SVANIDHI scheme that caters to one lakh beneficiaries. Handing over of credit cards and loan disbursement cheques to the beneficiaries is also being done here in this function. Three new Amrit Bharat trains and one passenger train are also being flagged off here by the Honourable Prime Minister. These are of great significance so far as Keralam is concerned."

CM Vijayan expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for approving these projects, calling it a "cherished moment of satisfaction" for the state government. He added, "This is a cherished moment of satisfaction for the State Government, as we have been consistently seeking the Union Government's green signal for many of these projects. I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister for having cleared these projects. I hope this concern and goodwill gesture will continue to be shown to Keralam in the times to come too. I do hope that the genuine demands of Keralam relating to various other fields also will be met in due course, and the Prime Minister will see to it that all those will be implemented in a time-bound manner."

ANI