The Narendra Modi government has firmly rebutted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s recent accusation that the state has been neglected in the allocation of central projects.
Government Sources Counter Allegations
According to sources within the government, Stalin’s statement alleging neglect by the Centre is “far from the truth.” They emphasized that over the past decade, the NDA government has significantly ramped up funding across various sectors in Tamil Nadu, including railways, highways, airports, and social and rural schemes.
Key Points Highlighted by the Government
1. Railway Development: The budget allocated to Tamil Nadu for railway projects has seen a substantial increase. Between 2009 and 2014, the average budget was ₹879 crore. However, in the year 2024-25 alone, the Centre has earmarked a record ₹6,331 crore for railway development in the state.
2. Vande Bharat Trains: The first Vande Bharat train in Tamil Nadu commenced operations on November 11, 2022, and currently, there are 8 Vande Bharat trains operational in the state.
3. National Highways: The total length of national highways in Tamil Nadu has increased by 40% from 4,985 kilometers in 2014 to 6,806 kilometers presently. Projects totaling 2,094 kilometers, amounting to ₹64,704 crore, have been awarded since 2014.
4. Civil Aviation: Five projects worth ₹4,000 crore have been approved in Tamil Nadu, with two already completed. The modernization of Chennai airport with an investment of ₹2,467 crore is underway in two phases.
5. Ports and Shipping: The Centre has invested ₹10,168 crore across 62 completed projects in Tamil Nadu’s port and shipping sector.
6. Social Schemes: More than ₹20,000 crore has been released for the construction of over 15 lakh homes in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, under the PM SVANidhi Scheme, more than 5 lakh loans worth ₹670 crore have been disbursed to street vendors, while more than 46 lakh farmers have benefited with ₹11 lakh crore under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
7. Jal Jeevan Mission: Over 1 crore households in Tamil Nadu have been provided tap water connections, and 6,500 villages have achieved 100% household tap connections under this mission.
Conclusion
The Modi government’s comprehensive response aims to dispel any perception of neglect, underscoring its substantial financial commitments and project implementations in Tamil Nadu over the past decade.