Hyderabad/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Saturday by a special flight from New Delhi on a two-hour visit to flag off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana.

Before departing from Delhi, Modi tweeted 'Leaving for Hyderabad where the Vande Bharat Express between Secunderabad-Tirupati will be flagged off and other development works will be launched or their foundation stones would be laid. After that, will be in Chennai for various programmes'.

Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar received the Prime Minister at the Begumpet Airport.

KCR, who was openly attacking the PM, stayed away from receiving him.

The Prime Minister later left for Secunderabad Railway station by road to flag off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express.

Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, connecting IT City, Hyderabad with the abode of Lord Venkateswara, Tirupati, is the second Vande Bharat train to be started from Telangana within a short span of three months.

The train will reduce the travel time between the two cities by almost three-and-half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrim passengers.

Modi will later attend a public function at Parade Ground, where he will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar and five National Highway projects worth more than Rs 7,850 crore and redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station.

AIIMS Bibinagar is being developed at the cost of more than Rs. 1,350 crore.

The establishment of AIIMS Bibinagar is an important milestone in providing comprehensive, quality and holistic tertiary care health services to the people of Telangana at their doorstep.

The five NH projects will strengthen the road connectivity of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and will aid in the socio-economic development of the region.

He will dedicate to the nation other development projects related to Railways.

The redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station, to be done at a cost of Rs. 720 crore, is being planned such that it will undergo a massive makeover with world-class amenities and aesthetically designed iconic station building.

The redeveloped station would be having double-level spacious roof plaza with all passenger amenities at one place along with multimodal connectivity for providing seamless transfer of passengers from rail to other modes among others.

During the Programme, the Prime Minister will flag-off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the suburban section of Hyderabad – Secunderabad twin city region, providing commuters with a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option.

He will also dedicate to the nation the doubling and electrification of Secunderabad–Mahabubnagar project. The project stretching for a distance of over 85.24 kms has been completed at a cost of nearly Rs. 1,410 crore and will provide seamless connectivity and assist in enhancing the average speed of trains.

The project involved 9 major bridges, 152 minor bridges along with elimination of 17 level crossing gates to enhance safety of both road users and train operation.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the city due to the visit of Modi.

Modi will later leave for Chennai at 1:30 pm.