New airport terminal, Vande Bharat train on Modi's Chennai agenda on April 8

On Saturday (April 8), upon his arrival in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate various infrastructure projects, which will include the state-of-the-art integrated terminal building at the Chennai airport.

Security has been beefed up across the city in view of the visit while motorists have been asked to plan ahead of their journey to reach their destination as elaborate traffic diversions have been made, police said.

Following his arrival, Modi will open the new terminal, the first phase of which has been completed. It is expected to enhance the passenger traffic to 35 million per year.

Also read | IMAGES: Chennai airport’s new terminal building all set to open by PM

“This will be an important addition to Chennai’s infrastructure. It will boost connectivity and also benefit the local economy,” PM Modi had said in a tweet.

According to Chennai airport officials, the new integrated terminal is spread across 2.20 lakh sq metres and would cater to the growing air traffic in Tamil Nadu.

The terminal is also a reflection of the government’s commitment towards providing high-quality infrastructure to travellers, they said.

“With the annual passenger handling capacity of 35 million passengers, the modern facility at the Chennai Airport will improve air travel experiences for all,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

Also Read: Bihar: How BJP is pushing Hindutva, anti-Nitish narratives after Ram Navami clashes

The terminal is equipped with 108 immigration counters which are split equally between arrival and departure areas. It would significantly enhance the travel experience for passengers by expediting the transit process, it said.

Vande Bharat train

Besides the inauguration of the integrated new terminal,  Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat train between Chennai and Coimbatore at the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M G R Central Railway Station here.

Southern Railway has planned to operate the high-speed Vande Bharat express train between the two cities on all days except Wednesdays.

The train would ply at a speed of 130 kmph reaching the destination on both sides in about 5.50 hours thereby saving 1.20 hours journey time compared to express trains, Southern Railway said.

Also Watch: Renaming parts of Arunachal amounts to ‘occupation by other means’

Later, Modi would take part in the 125th annual day celebrations of Ramakrishna Mutt at Vivekanandhar Illam on the arterial Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road) and also inaugurate infrastructure projects at Pallavaram.

(With agency inputs)