Thoothukudi: The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) showed the world’s trust in our country, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The FTA signed between India and the UK will make India the third largest economy in the world, said Modi on Saturday in Thoothukudi.

The FTA signed with the British government, 99% of Indian products sold in Britain will be tax-free, which will help increase production in India. Modi participated at an event held in Thoothukudi, said that the FTA shows the growing trust of the world and our self-confidence. We will make Viksit Bharat and Viksit Tamil Nadu with this self-confidence. He inaugurated and dedicated and laid foundation stones for various projects worth Rs 4,900 crore to the nation.

Modi in his address said that the Central Government has given Rs 3 lakh crore for Tamil Nadu’s development which is three times more than the funds given to the state under the UPA Government. The new projects underscored the NDA Government’s commitment towards Tamil Nadu’s growth, he added.

PM Modi dedicated to the nation multiple rail and road projects worth over Rs 3,600 crore including two strategically significant highway projects — four-laning of 50 km Sethiyathope-Cholapuram stretch of NH-36 developed at a cost Rs 2,350 crore, and six-laning of 5.16 km NH-138 Thoothukudi Port Road built at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

The projects inaugurated also included a new terminal building at Thoothukudi airport built at a cost of Rs 450 crore and a cargo handling facility at V O Chidambaranar Port.

Railway projects launched by the PM included electrification of the 90 km Madurai-Bodinayakkanur line, commissioned at a cost of Rs 99 crore, and the Rs 650 croreworth doubling of the 21km Nagercoil-Kanniyakumari section. He also laid the foundation stone for the Inter-State Transmission System for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant for electricity transmission. The Rs 550-crore project will play a pivotal role in supplying clean energy.

Modi recalling poet Subramanian Bharathi’s strong connect with Thoothukudi, the great Tamil poet had strong links with his parliamentary constituency of Kasi too. I’m trying to develop these cultural and traditional links with Tamil Nadu through Kashi Tamil Sangamam.

The new terminal building of the Thoothukudi airport will serve 20 lakh passengers annually, and help the growth of industries, transportation, health care, tourism and employment, he said. Modi also said that his Government is concerned about communities involved in the fisheries sector and the coastal economy is being expanded through the Blue Revolution. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai on Saturday announced that party cadre will stage black flag protests in Thoothukudi, Tiruchy and Ariyalur during the Modi’s visit.

Ministers KN Nehru, Thangam Thennarasu, BJP leader Nainar Nagendran, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, former AIADMK Minister P Velumani, and other alliance leaders welcomed PM Modi at Tiruchy airport.