TRAC flays state government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Trivandrum Residents’ Apex Council (TRAC), a forum of residents’ associations in the district, has alleged that the State Government was slow-pedalling on development projects, including the Vizhinjam international seaport, the proposed shipyard at Poovar and widening of the Karamana-Kalayikkavila Road.Addressing a press conference here, TRAC general secretary K T Roy said the government has not succeeded in identifying a private partner for the Vizhinjam seaport project. Although Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had promised to finalise a deal with the consortium led by Welspun Infratech, the sole bidder for the project, this has not happened.The consortium had demanded Rs 479.54 crore as grant over a period of 16 years, but talks with the company to reduce the amount have not reached anywhere, TRAC leaders said. The development of the Karamana-Kalayikkavila Road has hit a roadblock thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the government, TRAC leaders alleged.The previous LDF government had announced a plan outlay of Rs 679 crore for the project and the then Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had earmarked Rs 100 crore in the 2011-12 budget. But that sum has lapsed now.The State Government is showing little interest in establishing a shipyard of global standards at Poovar, TRAC leaders alleged. An ideal location for a shipyard, Poovar had also been given the go-ahead by various agencies which conducted studies here, they said.Little progress has also been made in the railways sector, with the government doing little to develop Kochuveli and Nemom stations, TRAC alleged.