Thoothukudi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated new projects here and laid the foundation stone for new initiatives, totally worth over Rs 17,000 crore.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for a new launch complex of ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam near here, which is worth about Rs 986 crore and the facility is set to accommodate 24 launches per year.

The new ISRO complex includes 35 facilities, and features a mobile launch structure (MLS) with checkout computers, marking a significant stride in enhancing space exploration capabilities. 

On the launch, ISRO Chairman S Somnath said, “Today, the honourable PM has laid the foundation stone for a launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam. The land acquisition has been completed and the Tamil Nadu government has transferred the land to ISRO. So we have to start the construction now. The construction will last for two years.”