"PM Modi's presence gives us a lot of energy": Kerala BJP Vice President

Kochi (Kerala) [India], January 17 (ANI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kerala on Tuesday to inaugurate several development projects, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice President Shoba Surendran heaped praise on the former, stating that his presence gives a lot of energy to the party workers.
"We began working for the BJP when the party struggled to secure a seat in local panchayat elections in Kerala. Since then, we have admired our national leaders, with PM Modi standing out as an exemplary figure," Surendran told ANI.
"PM Modi's journey started at the grassroots level, gradually rising to become the Chief Minister of Gujarat. In 2014, the people of India chose him to lead the nation. Every BJP worker, including myself, plays a role in conveying what he has achieved for India over the past 9.5 years to every household in Kerala. PM Narendra Modi's presence gives us a lot of energy," she added.
On Tuesday, PM Modi arrived in Kerala, where he received a warm welcome from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, MoS V Muraleedharan and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar at Kochi airport.
Prime Minister Modi will perform pooja and darshan at Guruvayur Temple in Kerala on Wednesday morning.
During his visit to Kerala, PM Modi will inaugurate three major infrastructure projects worth more than Rs. 4,000 crore, viz., the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL); the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL; and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi, the Prime Minister office stated.
These major infrastructure projects are in line with the Prime Minister's vision to transform India's ports, shipping, and waterways sectors and build capacity and self-sufficiency in it.
According to the release, the New Dry Dock, built at a cost of about Rs 1,800 crore at the existing premises of CSL, Kochi, is a flagship project reflecting New India's engineering prowess.
"This one-of-a-kind 310-meter-long stepped dry dock, with a width of 75/60 metres, a depth of 13 meters and a draft of up to 9.5 metres, is one of the largest marine infrastructures in the region. The New Dry Dock project features heavy ground loading, which will position India with advanced capabilities to handle strategic assets like future aircraft carriers up to 70,000T displacement as well as large commercial vessels, thus eliminating India's dependency on foreign nations for emergency national requirements," it added.
With the commissioning of these 3 projects, the nation's shipbuilding and repair capacities, as well as the growth of energy infrastructure, including ancillary industries, will get a boost. The projects will also boost EXIM trade, reduce logistics costs, drive economic growth, build self-reliance and create numerous domestic and international business opportunities.
This is the second visit of the PM to Kerala in span of two weeks. (ANI)