Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Army Chief General MM Naravane in Chennai.
The tank has been indigenously designed, developed and made by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, attached to the Defence Research and Development Orgsation (DRDO), along with 15 academic institutions, 8 labs and several MSMEs, according to a release by the Prime Minister's Office.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were also present there.
PM Modi will also inaugurate the Chennai Metro Rail phase-I extension project, which has been completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 crores and commission the passenger services from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar. This 9.05 km long extension will link North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of Rs.293.40 crore, traverses through Chennai and Thiruvallur Districts and will ease out traffic from Chennai Port. This section connects the Chennai Port and Ennore Port and passes through major yards, providing operational flexibility for the movement of trains.
PM Modi will also inaugurate the Railway Electrification of single line section in Villupuram - Cuddalore - Mayiladuthurai - Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur. Completed at a cost of Rs 423 crores, the electrification of this 228 km route will enable free flow of traffic without the need for a change of traction between Chennai Egmore and Kanyakumari and would result in saving of Rs 14.61 lakh per day on fuel cost.
He will also lay the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand cut Canal System. The canal is important for irrigation in the delta districts. The modernisation of this canal will be taken up at a cost of Rs 2,640 crores, and will lead to an improvement in the water carrying capacity of the canals.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras. The Campus will be built at Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crores in the first phase, over an area of 2 lakh sqm.
( With inputs from ANI )
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