New Delhi, May 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday on the occasion of the inauguration of the country’s first dedicated container transshipment port in Thiruvananthapuram that this will take India’s maritime power to a new height and Kerala will play a leading role in it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the country’s first dedicated container transshipment port ‘Vizhinjam International Deep-Water Multipurpose Seaport’ in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This ambitious port built at a cost of Rs 8,900 crore has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) under public-private partnership.
Prime Minister Modi described it as a “symbol of development of new India” in the program organized at the inauguration and said that earlier 75 percent of India’s transshipment used to happen at foreign ports, causing economic loss to the country. Now this situation is going to change and India’s money will be invested in India itself.
Many dignitaries including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani were present at the inauguration ceremony. Prime Minister Modi took a dig at this time and said that he wants to tell Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he is a strong pillar of the opposition Indi alliance, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here, today’s program will give sleepless nights to many people.
After this, the translator translated his words in Malayalam. He did not say this in it. On this, he said that the translator could not translate these lines but the message has reached where it had to reach.
The program was organized on the day of Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti. Recalling the contribution of Adi Shankaracharya, the Prime Minister said that he was a saint from Kerala, who gave spiritual unity to India. Modi said that today the doors of Kedarnath temple have also opened, which has made this day even more special.
Discussing the historical maritime heritage of Kerala, the Prime Minister said that centuries ago ships used to trade from here to other countries through the Arabian Sea. Now Kerala will again be made the global hub of maritime trade. Modi also said that a shipbuilding and repair cluster is being built in Kochi, which will create new employment opportunities for the youth.
During this time, Modi expressed grief over the demise of Pope Francis and said that President Draupadi Murmu visited the Vatican and paid tribute to him. Recalling his meetings with the Pope, he described him as a symbol of service and peace.
