Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan marked the inaugural arrival of the first ship at the Rs 7,700 crore international deep-water port in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram. During this significant event, the Congress party credited its senior member, Oommen Chandy for the successful completion of the project.

Chief Minister Vijayan highlighted the transformative potential of the Vizhinjam port for Kerala, emphasizing the state's ability to overcome challenges as seen with the arrival of the first ship. In contrast, the Congress credited former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for the project's success.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, praised Chandy's resolute decision-making in making the Vizhinjam port a reality, particularly given the allegations of piracy and the sale of real estate during the project's development.

"He did not flinch or back down or give up in the face of such accusations," the LoP said while speaking at the event.

During the event, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged that Oommen Chandy's initiatives were crucial in advancing the project that had stalled from 2004 to 2010. Chandy's efforts involved conducting necessary studies and obtaining approvals from the Central government during his tenure.

However, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for not recognizing Chandy's contributions, unlike state Ports Minister Ahamed Devarkovil.

Sudhakaran criticized Chief Minister Vijayan, suggesting that he only inaugurates projects initiated by the former CM, Oommen Chandy. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan attributed credit for the Vizhinjam port project to the Narendra Modi government, emphasizing that it was a result of good governance. Karan Adani, CEO of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, celebrated the project's journey that began in 2015 and expressed gratitude for the trust and support it received.

"Our journey began in 2015 when the people of Kerala and Thiruvananthapuram entrusted us with their dream of this port. Today, as the 1st vessel berths at #VizhinjamPort, the trust & love shown by all have brought us to this momentous day. My heartfelt salutation to each one of you," he said.

In his speech at the event, the CM stated that the first ship's arrival at the deep-water port exemplifies Kerala's ability to overcome challenges, emphasizing the state's resilience in the face of any crisis."The scope of development in Kerala due to Vizhinjam port is beyond our imagination. Therefore, we should all take an approach conducive to it," he said.

The CM expressed optimism about the project coming to fruition and its significance for Kerala and the nation. Satheesan welcomed the first ship's arrival but emphasized the importance of considering the impact on local fishermen, urging proper rehabilitation to prevent their suffering in the name of development.

"Development is imperative, but the common man should not be thrown into slums and cement warehouses for the sake of it," he said.

The CM highlighted the Rs 818 crore sanctioned by the Centre as a viability gap fund, and Tharoor credited Chandy's efforts for securing this approval. Criticism arose from the Congress regarding Vijayan's claims of opposition from international and commercial lobbies, with allegations that he himself attempted to halt the project. Vijayan ceremonially initiated the docking of the Chinese ship, Zhen Hua 15, by waving a green flag, while tugboats escorted it into the docking yard.

The Vizhinjam port is developed through a public-private partnership with the Adani Group as the private partner. The project, initially slated for commissioning in 2019, encountered delays related to land acquisition issues.

The port's construction faced opposition from local fishermen who feared adverse impacts on their livelihoods, leading to protests.

Image source: ANI