PM Modi launches Rail, Healthcare and Urban livelihood projects in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid foundation stones, inaugurated and flagged off a series of major developmental projects in Thiruvananthapuram, marking a significant push to infrastructure, urban livelihoods, science, innovation and healthcare in Kerala.

Addressing a public gathering, the Prime Minister said the Union Government’s development initiatives in Kerala had gained “new momentum,” with a strong focus on connectivity, employment generation and welfare of the poor. He underlined that cities would play a decisive role in achieving the goal of a developed India and highlighted the Centre’s substantial investment in urban infrastructure over the past 11 years.

A key highlight of the visit was the strengthening of rail connectivity with the flagging off of four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and a passenger train. The newly introduced services Nagercoil-Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram and Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express trains, along with the Thrissur-Guruvayur passenger train are expected to enhance regional and long-distance connectivity across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The improved rail network is aimed at boosting tourism, trade, education and employment while making travel more affordable and time-efficient.

The Prime Minister also launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card , describing it as a transformative step for street vendors and urban informal workers. The UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility is designed to provide instant liquidity, promote digital transactions and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories. PM Modi distributed SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries nationwide, including 10,000 in Kerala and over 600 in Thiruvananthapuram , noting that street vendors who once struggled to access small loans can now avail institutional credit with ease.

Highlighting welfare initiatives, PM Modi said more than four crore houses have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana across the country, including over one crore homes for the urban poor. In Kerala alone, nearly 1.25 lakh urban poor families have received permanent housing. He also referred to schemes such as PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to reduce electricity expenses for poor households, Ayushman Bharat providing free health treatment up to ₹5 lakh, and Matru Vandana Yojana for women’s health security. The Prime Minister added that the exemption of income up to ₹12 lakh from tax has benefited the middle class and salaried population, including in Kerala.

Emphasising financial inclusion, the Prime Minister said crores of citizens, including SC, ST, OBC communities, women and fishermen, have been brought into the banking system over the last decade, enabling easier access to loans with the Union Government acting as guarantor in the absence of collateral.

In the field of science and innovation, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The proposed hub will focus on life sciences, bio-economy, sustainable technologies, green hydrogen and the integration of traditional knowledge systems like Ayurveda with modern biotechnology, with the aim of promoting startups, technology transfer and global collaboration.

Strengthening healthcare infrastructure was another major focus of the visit. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. The facility is expected to enhance advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for complex brain disorders and strengthen tertiary healthcare services in the region.

Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated the new Poojappura Head Post Office in Thiruvananthapuram, a modern, technology-enabled facility offering postal, banking, insurance and digital services to improve citizen-centric service delivery.

Stating that Kerala’s progress is vital to the nation’s growth, the Prime Minister said a developed Kerala is essential for achieving the vision of a developed India, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to supporting the state’s development.

Governor of Kerala Rajendra Arlekar , Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan , Union Ministers V. Somanna and George Kurian , and Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh was among the dignitaries present at the event.