Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling LDF government in Kerala rolled out infrastructure projects worth hundreds of crores this week, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating initiatives valued at Rs 800 crore Wednesday as assembly elections approach.
The inaugurations come as the Left Democratic Front, in power for two consecutive terms, intensifies its ‘Vikasana Munneta Yatra (Development Progress March)’ across the state.
The campaign, centred on infrastructure development and welfare measures, is being led by CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan in northern Kerala, Kerala Congress (M) chief Jose K. Mani in central Kerala, and CPI secretary Binoy Viswam in southern Kerala. The KC(M) and the CPI are the CPI(M)’s largest allies in the state.
Wednesday’s launches included the 253-metre Amburi–Kumbichalkadavu bridge in Thiruvananthapuram’s Parassala constituency, which connects 11 tribal hamlets to the mainland. The bridge across the Karippayar, a tributary of the Neyyar River, is expected to boost tourism in the Neyyar reservoir region.
Vijayan also virtually inaugurated three bridges — the Komalam Bridge in Thiruvalla constituency of Pathanamthitta district, the Chirakkal Bridge in Nattika constituency of Thrissur district, and the Kozhichal Meenthulli Bridge in Payyannur constituency of Kannur district — along with 30 roads across 11 of the state’s 14 districts.
According to the Public Works Department, the bridges cost Rs 44.99 crore, while the 30 road projects involved a total expenditure of Rs 753.10 crore.
Inaugurating the projects in Amboori, Vijayan said the LDF government had completed infrastructural projects once thought impossible in the state. “These are not natural. It shows commitment. The Centre’s initiatives are mostly part of neoliberalism and globalisation, which shows commitment to corporates and not the people. That is not what we implement here. We adopt the alternative, which made all these initiatives possible. That is why we are talking about Kerala to a Nava Kerala (new Kerala), which aims at increasing the state’s living standards to that of developed nations. It’s not impossible,” Vijayan said.
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Cabinet approves port development, policy initiatives
The state cabinet Wednesday also approved the development of Beypore port in Kozhikode district and Kollam port under the public-private partnership model.
Tourism and PWD Minister P.A. Muhammad Riyas, who represents the Beypore constituency, said “the town could transform into a port city in the future, bringing economic and social development to the entire region and generating employment opportunities for many people”.
The cabinet also approved the 2026 Women’s Policy, a revision of a similar policy from 2009 that aims to shape ‘New Kerala’ as women-centric. According to a statement from the chief minister’s office, “The policy has been designed by giving priority to various sectors such as women’s safety, labour rights, legal protections, tribal communities, and coastal regions, in line with the needs of the contemporary era.”
A draft policy aimed at ensuring the dignity, welfare, and protection of senior citizens was also approved.
Other major inaugurations
On Tuesday, Vijayan inaugurated the Rs 384.34-crore Cochin Cancer Research Centre at the Ernakulam Government Medical College campus. The facility aims to provide holistic care for cancer patients in central Kerala and promote cancer research.
The Chief Minister also launched the Rs 101-crore CIAL Aero Park (Phase 1) at Cochin International Airport, a hub aimed at supporting and maintaining the aviation ecosystem.
Kerala is expected to go to polls this April.
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