PM’s two-day visit to Kerala begins on Thursday

On September 2 he would commission the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

Kochi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi would begin his two-day visit to Kerala on Thursday by attending various programmes, including the inauguration of development projects of Kochi Metro and Indian Railways.

On September 2 he would commission the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

The Prime Minister would arrive here on Thursday evening, address a public meeting and visit the Adi Shankara janmabhoomi kshetram (temple) at Kalady — the birthplace of the Hindu saint, official sources said.

Also, he would lay the foundation stone of the Kochi Metro Phase- II project at 6 pm on Thursday and inaugurate phase-1A, the first stretch from SN Junction to Vadakkekotta.

Besides that, he would also dedicate, inaugurate and lay the foundation for various Railway infrastructure projects in the southern state.

On September 2, he would commission the Vikrant at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi and also “unveil the new naval ensign (Nishaan) thereby doing away with the colonial past,” the PMO had said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Kochi Metro said its foundation-laying ceremony would be held at the CIAL trade fair and exhibition centre. Governor Arif Muhammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would also be attending the event.

The proposed phase-II corridor of Kochi Metro Rail Project from JLN stadium metro station to Infopark, Kakkanad, would cover 11.2 km and have 11 stations.

Phase-I extension is the first stretch of work directly taken up by Kochi Metro Rail Limited.

With the inauguration of Phase IA, Kochi Metro would cover at least 27 km with 24 stations.