The Hindu : Kerala News : Antony opens Goshree bridges

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Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Antony opens Goshree bridges

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JUNE 5. The Goshree bridges have been officially opened. In a rain-drenched function held at Kalamukku on Vypeen Island this evening, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, inaugurated the triple Goshree bridges linking the islands of Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Bolgatty with the mainland. Unmindful of the rain, hundreds of enthusiastic islanders gathered at the western end of the Vypeen bridge to witness the historic event that is expected to bring about a sea-change in their lives.

Mr. Antony said that it was the `Independence Day of Vypeen Island'. With the opening of the bridges, Kochi is poised to become the nerve centre of South India, he said.

The Chief Minister said he would now concentrate on making four things a reality for Vypeen. Apart from ensuring piped drinking water for all islanders soon, Mr. Antony said that he would do everything possible to get the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, lay the foundation stone for the proposed international transhipment terminal at Vallarpadam.

He said he had written to the Prime Minister about the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Puthuvypeen. Mr. Antony said Vypeen islands would be converted into an export processing zone.

Mr. Antony said that he had decided to change his style. "The old style is gone. Now things will be done faster," he said. To loud cheers, the Chief Minister said that in the next two years, he would do things for the benefit of the people much faster than he used to.

He began his inaugural speech by recounting how he enjoyed his visits to the Vypeen islands in his youthful days. The Chief Minister recollected the fish curry dinners he had with the islanders.

Mr. Antony showered praise on the District Collector, Gyanesh Kumar, the Cochin Port Trust chairman, Jacob Thomas, and the convener of the Vypeen Bridges Action Council, Majnoo Komath, for standing at the forefront of the campaign for the project.

As many as six Cabinet colleagues of Mr. Antony took part in the function. The Minister for Local Self-Governments, Cherkalam Abdulla, presided. The Minister for the Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities, M.A. Kuttappan, welcomed the gathering.

The Minister for Revenue, K.M. Mani, the Minister for Excise and Fisheries, K.V. Thomas, the Minister for Water Resources, T.M. Jacob, and the Minister for Public Works, M.K. Muneer, spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the Chief Minister was accorded a warm reception at Cherai. From there he proceeded to Vypeen half-way in an open jeep, and chaired over the 14th annual general meeting of the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) held at Edavanakkad grama panchayat hall.

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