THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kochi metro to Vizhinjam port; all the major steps that led to these projects came from former CM Oommen Chandy. His vision was etched in development and he worked all ways to ensure reform came into place, even if it had to pay its price.
Rumors and controversies were always in replete during Chandy’s term as CM. He was never ready to succumb to financial strains and wanted development in any way possible. It was during such a time that he invited World Bank representatives and ABD bank officials to Kerala. The officials expecting a rousing welcome were treated by CPM workers in a rather deplorable way. They were locked inside a room and charcoal oil was smeared across them. CPM came back to power in 2016, and they carried no ounce of shame in inviting the same World Bank officials to Kerala to help the state from a sinking economy. Oommen Chandy never questioned the hypocrisy nor did he make any complaints.
Kochi Metro was a revolution in the field of public transport during the early 2000s. In 1999, the Nayanar government kickstarted the project but the detailed report only came in 2004 when Oommen Chandy was the Chief Minister.
On January 19, 1996, the then aviation minister C M Ibrahim announced the Kannur airport project. However, the work metamorphosed during Oommen Chandy’s tenure, and the first flight flew from Kannur airport on April 30, 2016.
Major reforms while as CM: