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New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Work on Rs 50-crore market complex begins in Aluva
KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday inaugurated the work of setting up a new hitech multi-storey market complex at Aluva, which was first mooted over a decade ago. The Rs 50 crore market project is a joint venture between the Central and state governments who will share the expense in the ratio of 60:40. Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) is carrying out the construction works. The demolition of the old market, which was once among the most prominent marketplaces in central Kerala, started back in 2013, but the work dragged on due to various reasons, including legal challenges. Though the then chief minister Oommen Chandy laid the foundation stone in 2015, there was no progress in the works. The market, located in the heart of the town, deteriorated literally into a dumpyard. It was fully demolished only recently.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
On Vizhinjam opening day, Congress recalls Chandy's key role
The Congress seemed to seek refuge in political symbolism and rhetoric to deny the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government 'credit' for the Vizhinjam International Port. Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Vizhinjam on Friday to officially commission the port, Congress leaders congregated at district centres across the State to lionise late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as the driving force behind the mega infrastructure project that advantageously positioned Kerala on the global maritime trade map. Congress legislator M. Vincent paid floral tributes at Chandy's tomb at Puthupally, Kottayam, before returning to Vizhinjam to attend the commissioning. In Kozhikode, United Democratic Front (UDF) convener M M Hassan alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had conspired to eclipse the Oommen Chandy government's seminal contributions to make the Vizhinjam port a reality. Mr. Hassan stated that the Centre and State governments deliberately sidelined Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan from the commissioning venue. At the same time, he said both administrations showed no hesitation in violating protocol to seat BJP State president Rajiv Chandrasekhar, who does not hold any Constitutional or elected office, on the stage. In a Facebook post, Mr. Satheesan flagged a nefarious bid to erase Chandy's contributions from the public mind. However, he said such machinations would come to nought. 'Such forces feared even the memory of Oommen Chandy,' he said. He said the CPI(M) had tried to kill the Vizhinjam project when it was in its embryonic stage. Chandy endured street protests and accusations of corruption. The late Chief Minister cleared a significant hurdle for the project by prevailing on the then Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Jairam Mahesh, to sanction it. In New Delhi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (Organisation), K.C. Venugopal, said the CPI(M)-BJP bonhomie was evident at the port's commissioning. 'On seeing his closest friend, Pinarayi Vijayan, the Prime Minister broke protocol to target Rahul Gandhi politically for exposing the Modi-Adani nexus,' he said. CPI(M) State secretary M V Govindan stated that Chandy had merely signed away Kerala's substantial investment, including land, to a private entity to profit at the public exchequer's expense. He said the LDF government revised the original agreement, tipping the scales in the State's favour. It expedited the Vizhinjam port work, operationalised the international transhipment anchorage, and set 2028 as the deadline for completing the expansion. 'Vizhinjam is a testimony to LDF's political will and unshakable commitment to Kerala's development and welfare,' he added.
The Print
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Opposition leader to skip Vizhinjam commissioning function, row over credit for port continues
While the LDF government claims the port is the result of their determination, the Opposition says the same people had criticised Oommen Chandy for inking a pact with the Adani group, alleging that it was a 'Rs 6,000 crore real estate deal' of the UDF government. Satheesan had expressed his ire against the government for not acknowledging the pivotal role played by the previous UDF government led by Oommen Chandy in establishing the port by signing an agreement with the Adani Group and carrying out the initial works. Thiruvananthapuram, May 2 (PTI) Leader of the Opposition in Kerala assembly V D Satheesan will not be attending the commissioning of the Vizhinjam port here on Friday protesting the late invitation extended to him for the function. While both the fronts are explaining their roles in the port's establishment, the BJP is also taking credit for the active role taken by Prime Minister in realising the state's dream project. Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, who has decided to stay away from the ceremony, said in a Facebook post on Friday that history cannot be erased on the role of UDF in the construction of the port at Vizhinjam. 'Oomen Chandy is no more. He lives in the hearts of the people as a history that cannot be erased. Those who deliberately forget history and try to rewrite it are afraid of even the memories of Oommen Chandy,' he said in the post. Satheeshan also wished 'all the best to Vizhinjam port' in his post. The LoP decided against attending the function as the state Ports Minister V N Vasavan had initially said that he was not invited as the commissioning was part of the LDF government's fourth anniversary celebrations which the UDF had decided to boycott. When the statement stirred a controversy, the minister clarified that an invitation had been sent to Satheesan. However, the LoP chose to skip the function as his role at the function was not specified in the letter. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, at a press meet the other day, had also downplayed the role of the UDF in Vizhinjam port construction, saying simply by laying the foundation, ships cannot be anchored at the port. The ruling CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan had also asserted that the port was the result of the determined efforts of Pinarayi Vijayan government in the last nine years. Meanwhile, Congress MLA M Vincent, who represents Kovalam constituency that comprises Vizhinjam, visited Oommen Chandy's grave at Puthuppally in Kottayam Friday morning and offered floral tributes. Congress leaders including Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen, the former chief minister's son, were present. Vincent told reporters that Vizhinjam port is the result of Oommen Chandy's hard work. The port should be declared open only after paying homage to the former CM, he said. As the local MLA, Vincent will be attending the commissioning of the Vizhinjam port. Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor will also be attending the function. The ambitious Vizhinjam port project, which had been, lying in the backyard for several decades, became a topic of discussion during the 1991-96 UDF government led by K Karunakaran, when the then state Ports Minister M V Raghavan authorised the harbour engineering department to prepare a project report on the proposal. The subsequent LDF government led by E K Nayanar also proceeded with the project but it was not carried forward. During the 2001-06 UDF government, the project gained momentum and the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) was formed. It was in 2014, when Oommen Chandy was chief minister, the project received environmental clearance and offer of viability gap funding (VGF) from the Centre. The Chandy government signed the agreement with the Adani Group for the construction of the port and laid the foundation stone for the project in 2015. After the LDF government came to power in 2016, renewed efforts were made to facilitate the project. With the LDF government getting a second term in 2021, the project is coming to fruition with the commissioning of the first phase. The deep-water port has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India's largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, under a public-private partnership model at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore. PTI MVG MVG ADB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Political battle over Vizhinjam port credit flares ahead of PM Modi's inauguration
The political tug-of-over over claiming credit for the realisation of the Vizhinjam International Seaport continued to rage on, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioning the country's first dedicated transshipment port on Friday (May 2, 2025). Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who opted out of the ceremony, shared a video of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's speech made in the Kerala Assembly on the Vizhinjam port on June 8, 2015. His Facebook post read: 'Oommen Chandy is no longer with us. Yet, he lives on in the hearts of the people as a chapter of history that cannot be erased. Those who deliberately try to forget or rewrite history are the ones who fear even the memories of Oommen Chandy. Wishing all the best to the Vizhinjam Port.' He had accused the Left Democratic Front (LDF)-led State government of making attempts to erase the legacy of Oommen Chandy. In his Assembly speech, Chandy declared the long-cherished dream of the Vizhinjam port was finally becoming a reality. He emphasised that the project would advance while safeguarding the interests of the State. 'We welcome any constructive criticism,' he had stated. 'However, the Opposition's efforts to derail the project by making allegations of corruption will not succeed.' Earlier in the day, Congress leader M. Vincent, who represents the Kovalam Assembly constituency where the port is located, paid tribute at the tomb of the former Chief Minister in Kottayam. Accompanied by Chandy's son and fellow MLA Chandy Oommen, Mr. Vincent offered prayers and hailed the late Congress leader as the 'father of the Vizhinjam Port'. Speaking to the media before leaving to take part in the ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Vincent credited Oommen Chandy's unwavering commitment for making the project a reality, despite sustained political opposition from the LDF. He added that the former Chief Minister not only completed all project formalities, but also overcame legal challenges by approaching the Supreme Court on various occasions. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, however, credited the achievement to the resolve of the government. In a Facebook post on Thursday evening, he wrote: 'As this (LDF) government enters its tenth year, the Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to be commissioned tomorrow as a gift to every Malayali. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating the port to the nation tomorrow (May 2), Kerala is marking its place on the global maritime map. 'This moment signals the dawn of a new era of development. It is the willpower of the Kerala government, along with the steadfast support of the people, that has turned this long-cherished dream into a reality,' he said.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PM Modi to inaugurate Vizhinjam Port, putting Kerala on global shipping map
Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on Friday. This marks a significant step for India's maritime presence. Adani Ports built the deep-sea port with government partnership. The project cost Rs 8,867 crore. Security is heightened after recent terror attacks. Opposition leaders are likely to boycott the event. They criticize organizers for overlooking Oommen Chandy's contribution. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Transportation Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally open the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on Friday, marking a major step in putting the southern state on the global maritime map. Located in Thiruvananthapuram , the deep-sea port is expected to significantly boost India's presence in global shipping and trade port has been built by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India's biggest port developer and part of the Adani Group, in partnership with the government under a public-private project cost around Rs 8,867 crore and received its commercial go-ahead in December last year after a successful trial reached Kerala on Thursday evening ahead of the official opening of the to the sources, the inaugural function of the fully operational port is expected to start at 10.30 the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and a series of hoax bomb threats, security has been stepped up in the Kerala state the same time, the opposition leaders are expected to stay away from the Vizhinjam port inauguration Opposition Congress-led UDF has criticised the event organisers for ignoring the contribution of the late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who signed the original agreement and laid the foundation stone for the Opposition leaders have also raised concerns over the decision not to invite V D Satheesan, the current Leader of the Opposition.
