CM Pinarayi Vijayan bats for AIIMS Kozhikode

KOCHI: The state government has sought the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for getting speedy clearance for the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kozhikode on Saturday.   Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues held nearly 25-minute discussions with Modi and presented him a detailed representation seeking financial assistance and the nod of the Union Government. The detailed representation covering 18 projects also sought the intervention of the PM for getting financial assistance for an international Ayurveda Institute. The representation said that the state government has already identified 200 acres of land for AIIMS at Kozhikode district.

The Chief Minister and his team have also asked the PM to withdraw the recent notification by the Union Government connected with display and sale of ornamental and aquarium fishes. The notification has hit the livelihood prospects several thousands of people. Another major demand is that the Railways should be asked to bear the total cost of the Angamaly-Sabari rail project in view of the pilgrimage at Sabarimala. The CM also sought Rs 500 cr one-time financial help for the implementation of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).  The representation also sought the clearance for the Rs 2,577 crore Phase-II of the Kochi Metro project.   

The major industrial investment projects in the representation included LNG-based urea plant, petrochemical complex and the expansion of Cochin Special Economic Zone by taking over another 200 acres.The proposed Chennai-Bengaluru industrial corridor should extended to Kochi through Coimbatore. Clearance for the light metro projects at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, central assistance for the NavaKerala Missions, approval for suburban rail project and Thalasserry-Mysore rail line, financial assistance for the project to provide internet connectivity to every household, 50 percent funding for Kovalam-Kasargod waterways, international status for Kannur airport are some of the major projects mentioned in the representation. The CM and his team have also sought the help of PM for the Rs 636 cr dues owed by the Union Government to the on account of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme.