Centre will help TN have bright future: PM

Sriperumbudur, Nov 4: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said work on the modernisation of Chennai Airport would begin soon, assuring that the Centre would help Tamil Nadu have a bright future.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the National Automotive Testing and Research and Development Infrastructure project at Oragadam near here, he said plans were afoot to develop Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli airports in the state.

Tamil Nadu had been a major driver in industrial growth in the country and the Centre would support all efforts to achieve greater heights by the southern state, he said, adding it would support the development of Colachel into a major container port once feasibility report was completed.

Dr Singh said the Centre would also support the desalination project for Chennai. ''This is our solemn commitment in the National Common Minimum Programme.''

UNI