Rameswaram, Apr 6 (Reporter) Virtually refuting the ruling DMK's oft-repeated charge that the Centre had done nothing and ignored Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the BJP-led NDA government had allocated higher funds to the State in the last ten years. The allocation has increased three times when compared to the previous government, while the allocation for Railway project had been increased seven times in ten years, he said after inaugurating new iconic Pamban Rail Bridge and launch new road and rail projects worth Rs 8,300 crore. He also appealed to the state government to offer medical courses in regional language Tamil. Beginning his speech in Tamil with 'Vanakkam' (welcome), Mr Modi urged the crowd to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’ on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. Mr Modi said he felt blessed in offering prayers at the Ramanathaswamy Temple on this special day and on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami and got the opportunity to hand over development projects worth Rs 8,300 crore rail and road projects to boost connectivity in Tamil Nadu. In this land of Bharat Ratna former President APJ Abdul Kalam science and spiritualism compliment each other. Similarly the new Pamban bridge, the first vertical bridge to Rameswaram brings technology and tradition together. "Pamban bridge is country’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge. Big ships will be able to sail, trains will be able to travel faster on new Pamban bridge,” he said. “The Pamban Sea Bridge will provide a rail link between the mainland and the Rameswaram island and improve connectivity to this spiritual destination flocked by devotees throughout the year from across the country and beyond.” Stating that this new bridge service will improve connectivity from Rameswaram to Chennai and other parts of the country benefitting both trade and tourism, Mr Modi said it would also create new job opportunities will also be created for the youth. Observing that Centre was concerned about infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu, he pointed out that more funds have been allotted to Tamil Nadu during the last ten years by the BJP-led government than the one allotted during the previous regimes. The Prime Minister said the NDA government has given three times fund allocation to Tamil Nadu when compared to that of allocation made by the previous governments. The Prime Minister said the allocation for railway projects had been increased seven-fold for TN in ten years. In a veiled reference to the ruling DMK' oft-repeated charge that the Centre has neglected Tamil Nadu and was not allocating due funds and new projects, Mr Modi said "Despite all this, some people are crying (that Centre has done nothing for TN)"...////...