Chennai,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of 11 infrastructure projects worth Rs 31,500 crore at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium. He said that the focus on road construction in the state was clearly visible and that it was being done keeping in mind the economic development in the region. He also handed over the keys of houses constructed under the Light House scheme to five of the 150 beneficiaries.

Narendra Modi while addressing the mammoth gathering said that Tamil language is eternal and that Tamil culture was global. He said that it was always wonderful to be back in Tamil Nadu and said that the people, language and culture of the land was outstanding.

Praising Tamil culture and society, Narendra Modi said that people from Tamil Nadu are excelling in every field and said that from Chennai to Canada, from Madurai to Malaysia, from Namakkal to New York and from Salem to South Africa, the occasions of Puthandu and Pongal are marked with great fervor.

He said that this was what is known as eternal and global Tamil culture.

He said that Bangalore-Chennai express highway will connect two key centres of growth and added that the four lane elevated road connecting Chennai port to Maduravoyal will make Chennai port more efficient and will decongest city traffic.

The Prime Minister said, "We want our Children to live a better life," adding that the most important precondition for that was top quality infrastructure and said that those countries that have given priority to infrastructure development have become developed countries from developing countries.

He said that the expansion of Neraluru to Dharmapuri and Meensuruti to Chidambaram railway sections will have many benefits and added that he was happy that five railway stations were being redeveloped. The Prime Minister said that this development and modernization were being done keeping in mind the needs of future.