New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on March 1, 2026. After concluding his engagements in Rajasthan and Gujarat, he is scheduled to arrive in Chennai on the night of February 28 at around 9 PM.
Development push in Puducherry
On March 1 at around 11:45 AM, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of development projects worth over ₹2,700 crore in Puducherry. He will also address a public gathering.
The projects span infrastructure, urban services, industrial growth, education, healthcare and sustainable development.
Key initiatives to be inaugurated include e-buses under the PM e-Bus Seva initiative, the Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission, housing tenements for Economically Weaker Sections under the CITIIS initiative, and major sewerage and water supply projects of the Puducherry government.
He will also inaugurate the Composite Engineering Block – Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Block and Ganga Hostel of the National Institute of Technology, Karaikal, the modernisation of the Regional Cancer Centre at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), and new academic and hostel buildings of Pondicherry University.
A major highlight will be the dedication of the 750-acre Karasur-Sedarapet Industrial Estate, which will include a Pharma Park, Textile Park, IT Park, an R&D centre of Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and advanced healthcare facilities of JIPMER, aimed at boosting industrialisation and employment.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for drinking water supply projects, 41 rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), heritage town development works, mangrove restoration under the MISHTI scheme, sanitation and power projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), and projects under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. Puducherry has been included under SASCI to facilitate capital asset creation and infrastructure strengthening.
Infrastructure projects in Madurai
Later in the day, the Prime Minister will travel to Madurai, where at around 3 PM he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over ₹4,400 crore aimed at enhancing connectivity and accelerating regional economic development. He will also address a public meeting.
He will lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Marakkanam–Puducherry section of NH-332A and the Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram section of NH-87. These projects are expected to significantly reduce travel time and improve connectivity to major tourist and religious destinations, including Mamallapuram, Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi, while strengthening links to railway stations, airports and ports.
Aligned with the PM Gati Shakti vision, the corridor will integrate key economic nodes such as fishing clusters, a Special Economic Zone, a Mega Food Park and a textile cluster to promote trade and industry.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate eight redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme — Morappur, Bommidi, Srivilliputtur, Sholavandan, Manaparai, Pollachi Junction, Karaikkudi Junction and Thiruvarur Junction — upgraded with modern passenger amenities and Divyangjan-friendly facilities.
Additionally, he will dedicate to the nation the Chennai Beach–Chennai Egmore fourth railway line to enhance suburban rail capacity in Chennai, benefiting lakhs of daily commuters.
To strengthen public broadcasting services, three new Akashvani FM relay transmitters will be inaugurated at Kumbakonam, Yercaud and Vellore to expand regional coverage and improve FM connectivity across districts.
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At around 4 PM, the Prime Minister will perform darshan and pooja at the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tirupparankundram in Madurai before concluding his visit.