Thiruvananthapuram: Poll-bound Kerala is witnessing investments worth thousands of crores of rupees in infrastructure projects due to the "pro-investment policies" of the Congress-led UDF government, state Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has said.
He said the new initiatives "have built up the confidence" of the government, which is aiming to come back to power.
"Many things are happening now and investments in the state have gone up", Chandy told PTI here adding that during 2015, the southern state saw a huge boost to its infrastructure dreams that included the Rs 7,525 crore Vizhinjam Port project.
Other major projects which moved forward this year in the state were the Kannur International airport project, the Rs 4,500 Kochi Smart city project and the National waterway and Kochi metro projects.
Seeking to reverse the general impression of "not so conducive investment climate (in Kerala)", the state government has taken several initiatives to promote it as a top investment destination. Signing of the work contract with Gujarat-based Adani Ports Ltd in August this year scripted a new beginning in this regard as it is considered one of the biggest investments taken up by a private sector company in Kerala in recent years.
"Kerala has gone a major step forward in infrastructure development in 2015 and realised one of its dream projects. The Government was able to begin the work on the multi-crore Vizhinjam International deep water seaport project which had remained idle for 25 years", Chandy said.
"Work on the port project is progressing well with an aim to complete it within 1000 days', he added. Stating that launching of new projects has given a big boost to the government, the Chief Minister said the first phase of SmartCity IT park has been completed.
Inauguration of the Kochi SmartCity project was scheduled to be held in December end, but has been postponed to January next for the convenience of various Dubai-based dignitaries to participate at the function. "SmartCity IT Park Project has materialised", he said. SmartCity Kochi is an IT Special Economic Zone being developed by a JV company in which TECOM investments, a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, and the state government are main investors.
The project envisions a minimum 8.8 million square feet of built up space out of which at least 6.21 million sq. ft. will be specifically for IT/ITES/allied services. The project is expected to create over 90,000 direct jobs. SmartCity Kochi is one of the two projects of SmartCity's vision to build a large network of knowledge-based industry townships across the world. The other is SmartCity Malta, whose first phase was inaugurated in October 2010.
On the Rs 5,181 crore first phase of Kochi-Metro Rail project, Chandy said arrangements were being put in place to have trial run by February end.
Metro coaches were under construction in Andhra Pradesh. Three coaches for the Kochi Metro would be handed over to the state by Union Urban Development Minister, Venkaiah Naidu, at a function to be held in Andhra Pradesh on January 2, Chandy said. State Power Minister and in-charge of Kochi Metro project, Aryadan Muhammed would receive the coaches, he added.
Work on run-way construction of the Kannur International Airport, the second in the state under PPP route, is progressing well, the Chief Minister said adding Kerala was awaiting clearance of National Airport Authority of India for conducting trial run.
Another major achievement was the completion of first phase of Kollam-Kottaraka National Waterway. "We are waiting for a date of Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari for inauguration," Chandy said.
“First major infrastructure commissioned in the state was in the power sector when Idukki Hydel Power station was inaugurated in 1975. After that it was Nedumbassery International Airport in 2006," the Chief Minister pointed out while elaborating.
The commencement of Vizhinjam port work with an estimated cost of Rs 7,525 crore is also significant considering the fact that the project was first proposed in 1991. The project failed to take off for various reasons till the present Ommen Chandy government took it up after coming to power in 2011 and awarded it to the Adani Group.
Kerala also scripted a new chapter in 2015, when the Cochin International Airport became the first in the world to operate completely on solar power. The 12 MWp solar power plant, comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex of the airport was inaugurated by Chandy in August. With the commissioning of the plant, the airport became 'absolutely power neutral'.
However, due to land acquisition problems and protests by environmental groups, the Gas Authority of India's Rs 6,000 crore Petronet LNG pipe-laying project in association with Kerala Gail Gas Limited failed to make progress.
The project, among other things envisages supplying LNG to households and industrial units in Kochi besides other parts of state, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka through a pipeline across 900 km.
Similar was the fate of the Sea-plane project, planned to give a boost to backwater tourism in the state. Protest against the project was mainly from fishermen community and environmentalists.
