AMN / Guntur / Visakhapatnam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the 1.33 million metric ton capacity Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.

He also inaugurated Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited’s Vashishta and S1 development project located in the Krishna-Godavari Offshore Basin.

Mr Modi also laid the foundation stone for setting up of a new terminal of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) at Krishnapatnam.

Addressing the gathering in Guntur, Mr. Modi said, these projects are not only important for Andhra Pradesh but for the entire nation to meet its energy needs. He said, these projects will create huge job opportunities.

Prime Minister Modi said, the government is focussing on the development of all coastal lines of the country as Petroleum hubs.

The Prime Minister said, work of providing free gas connections to the poor, Dalits and tribals is progressing at a faster space. He said, the central government has selected Amrawati has a heritage city under HRIDAY scheme.

Criticising the opposition, Prime Minister Modi said, political parties which left the people to live in smoke, are now spreading smoke of lies.

Mr Modi said, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has also lost his vision of development and has joined the alliance of these parties in the competition of abusing him.

He said, the Chief Minister had promised to develop the infrastructure of the state but taking a U-turn he is now engaged in his own development.

The Prime Minister praised the people of Andhra Pradesh and said they are ahead and progressive in all fields.

After his programmes in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister will reach Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu this afternoon.

From there, he will inaugurate several development projects and lay foundation stone for a few other schemes in the state through video-conferencing.

The Prime Minister will then proceed to Karnataka, where he will lay the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Technology- Dharwad and Indian Institute of Information Technology -Dharwad at Hubli.

City Gas Distribution Project at Dharwad will also be unveiled. Mr Modi will dedicate to the nation SPR facilities in Mangalore and Padur.

Doubling of Chikjajur-Mayakonda railway line is another highlight. Prime Minister will address a public rally later in the evening.