Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Thiruvananthapuram will be developed into India’s largest startup hub. He said the foundation stone laying of the Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub marks the first step towards achieving this vision.
At the official ceremony held at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the hub and flagged off several train services, including Amrit Bharat Express trains, connecting Kerala with South India. The trains flagged off included Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram, Thiruvananthapuram–Hyderabad, Nagercoil–Mangaluru Amrit Bharat trains, the Guruvayur–Thrissur passenger service, and Amrit Bharat services bound for Tamil Nadu.
Modi said that a developed Kerala can become a reality only through a developed India, and assured that the Centre will extend full support. He said Kerala will receive priority in all central schemes and that railway travel facilities in the state will be further strengthened. Over the past eleven years, he said, the central government has made significant investments in urban development as part of the Viksit Bharat vision.
The Prime Minister also said steps have been taken to ensure that middle-class families in Kerala fully benefit from various central schemes. Earlier in the day, after arriving at Thiruvananthapuram airport, Modi conducted a roadshow through the city.
The proposed Innovation Hub will be developed on 10 acres of land at CSIR, Pappanamcode, focusing on life sciences, deep tech, Ayurveda research, spice incubation and green hydrogen technology.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a radiosurgery centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute, launched credit cards for one lakh beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi scheme, and distributed financial assistance.
The event was attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh, Union Minister of State George Kurian, MP Shashi Tharoor, BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Mayor V.V. Rajesh, and other dignitaries.
