At NITI Aayog meet, Vijay pushes for Chennai–Kanniyakumari high-speed rail corridor
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay used his maiden address at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Thursday to make a strong case
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay used his maiden address at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Thursday to make a strong case for a high-speed rail corridor connecting Chennai and Kanniyakumari, while also seeking greater central support for flood protection, infrastructure development, space manufacturing and youth training. "Tamil Nadu's rapid economic growth requires the timely development of key national highway and rail corridors," Vijay said, urging the Centre to sanction five major infrastructure projects. Chief among them was a "High-Speed Rail Corridor from Chennai to Kanniyakumari", a proposal he said would boost connectivity across the length of the state. Read Full Story The Chief Minister also sought approval for a series of highway projects, including si laning of the Chengalpattu-Tiruchirappalli stretch of NH-32, widening of NH-81 between Tiruchirappalli, Karur and Coimbatore, and an elevated corridor between Madhavaram and Shozhavaram.
Drawing attention to Tamil Nadu's 1,076-km coastline, Vijay said the state remains highly vulnerable to cyclones and floods and requires sustained investment in climate-resilient infrastructure. "Tamil Nadu seeks enhanced support for permanent flood mitigation infrastructure in coastal cities and a Comprehensive Disaster Management Mission aimed at zero casualty alongside climate-resilient infrastructure under a Climate Resilient Master Plan 2045," he said. Vijay also urged the Centre to release the committed assistance of Rs 2,283.40 crore for the Hogenakkal Phase-III Combined Water Supply Scheme. Turning to the space sector, the Chief Minister called for national recognition for the upcoming space manufacturing ecosystem at Kulasekarapattinam. "We look forward to the Government of India declaring the space manufacturing hub at Kulasekarapattinam, set up with IN-SPACe, as a Space Manufacturing Hub, enabling end-to-end manufacturing from propellants to launch vehicles and helping the nation tap into the global space economy," he said.
On digital connectivity, Vijay noted that BharatNet Phase-II in Tamil Nadu has achieved nearly 97 per cent completion and sought support to overcome remaining last-mile connectivity challenges so that every gram panchayat can be connected. Focusing on employment and skills, the Chief Minister unveiled an ambitious youth development plan. "With this focus, I envisage a Youth Skill and Employment Mission under which five lakh youth annually will receive stipend-supported internships and industry-linked training," he said. He further requested the Centre's support to establish emerging technology skill centres in every district and train five lakh young people in artificial intelligence, deep technology, cybersecurity, cloud computing, electric vehicle technology and semiconductor-related sectors. Calling for a stronger federal partnership, Vijay said states that have demonstrated fiscal responsibility, social progress and population stabilisation should be recognised and adequately supported.
The BriefWire