In Kochi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several other projects, including the Phase-II corridor of the Kochi Metro Rail. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan felicitated Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event organized on the occasion. During this, PM Modi said that we the people of India have taken a colossal resolution to build a developed India in the coming 25 years of the elixir of independence. Modern infrastructure has a huge role to play in this roadmap for a developed India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the work of giving a new direction to the urban development and transport development of the entire country has also started in Kochi. Integrated Metropolitan Transport Authority has been implemented in Kochi, which will work to integrate all modes of transport. Kochi city will get 3 direct benefits from this model. First, time will be saved for the people of the city in commuting somewhere. Second, there will be fewer traffic jams on the roads and third, there will be less pollution.

He said that in the last eight years, the Central Government has worked continuously to make the Metro the most prominent mode of urban transport. The central government has expanded the metro to other major cities of the state by taking it out of the capital. The first metro in our country ran about 40 years ago. In the next 30 years, the country has covered 250 km. Even less than the metro network was ready. In the last 8 years, 500 km of Metro has been built in the country. A new route of more than 1000 km has been prepared. Work is going on on more than one metro route.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that we consider this a milestone in the journey of Kochi Metro. This is the result of the collective effort of all of us. We are grateful to the Government of India for helping with these projects. Vehicle density in Kerala is 445 per 1000 people. The Kerala government is conscious of the need to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions and is encouraging people to shift to alternative modes of transport.

Minister Narendra Modi visits Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Stupa in Kochi. Prime Minister Modi also visited Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Kshetram. It is the birthplace of philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in Kalady village located in Ernakulam district of Kerala. Adi Shankara was the originator of the 'Advaita' philosophy.