Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has a hectic and often chaotic life, barely managed to make it in time to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached the Kerala capital late on Thursday night.
Tweeting from social media platform X, Tharoor posted, "Despite airport delay at hapless Delhi airport, made it to Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I've been honored to have been part of since its inception."
The moment saw a warm exchange between the two leaders, with PM Modi and Tharoor seen clasping hands and sharing a few words — a gesture that caught public attention.
This marks Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Kerala in 2025, and he is in the state to inaugurate a transformative infrastructure venture: the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport. The commissioning of the port is scheduled for Friday.
Tharoor, an MP for Thiruvananthapuram since 2009, has long been a strong advocate of the Vizhinjam port, which he regards as a personal crusade and great achievement.
When he arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport under tight security, the Prime Minister began his two-day visit. On Friday morning, he will fly by helicopter from the Pangode Military Camp to Vizhinjam to formally open the port project, which has been built at an estimated cost of ₹8,900 crore.
Vizhinjam Port is also maritime strategic importance and India's first independent container transhipment terminal. The port is a step towards the improvement of India's international trade capacity, improving logistics infrastructure, and minimizing dependence on overseas ports for the purpose of transhipment. It is a priority project of the government's overall vision of Viksit Bharat.
After formally inaugurating the port, PM Modi will take a flight to the airport and depart for Andhra Pradesh. There in Amaravati, he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate a series of development projects worth more than ₹58,000 crore altogether.
During his Andhra visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate seven National Highway projects and unveil key railway projects to boost capacity and connectivity, furthering his overall aim of enhancing infrastructure nationwide.
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