Shashi Tharoor

MP’S HALF-TERM REPORT
OF PROGRESS
Thiruvananthapuram Constituency
May 2009 – December 2011

INITIATIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT

Roads

•    Successful in reviving the long dormant Kovalam – Kaliyikkavila National Highway (NH-47) Bypass work. Land acquisition formalities to be completed soon, bringing succour to thousands of families. Entire Kazhakuttam-Kaliyikavila stretch to be made a 4-lane road.

•    Successful in obtaining record allocations of Rs. 15.05 crores during 2009-10 and Rs. 55.47 crores during 2010-11 from the Central Road Fund for bringing about substantial improvements in roads in Thiruvananthapuram.

•    Substantially contributed to efforts for starting work for widening the Karamana – Kaliyikkavila NH-47 stretch. Land acquisition package to follow and first stretch expected to be completed within next 2 years.
Railways

•    Key advances in Railway development.  Kochuveli and Dhanavachapuram stations declared ‘Adarsh ‘stations. Railway overbridge sanctioned at Nemom. Thiruvanathapuram railway station to be raised to international standards. Eight new trains for Thiruvananthapuram. Additional stoppages for trains at Parassala and Kazhakuttam. Improvements in services at all stations located in the constituency, including new footbridges, elevated platforms, computerized reservation facilities, etc.

•    Railway water bottling plant to be set up in Thiruvananthapuram. Approval for setting up a Railway Medical College.

Airport

•    Strong and repeated personal intervention to have the work on the International Terminal at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport completed.

•    Took action to ensure completion of work amounting to Rs. 50 crores on the Hangar Unit of Air India at Thiruvananthapuram Airport. The Hangar Unit was made operational on 16th December, 2011.

•    Intervened strongly to reduce User Development Fee in respect of new terminal at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Port

•    Provided leadership, both as MP and as member of VISL Director Board, for bringing about tangible progress on the proposal for the construction of the prestigious Vizhinjam International Seaport. Played key role in pursuing MoEF approval for the ToR for Environment Impact Study.

•    Notable efforts made to obtain the help of Barcelona, which is one of Europe’s major ports, for the Vizhinjam Port development project. Barcelona Port authorities visited Thiruvananthapuram and held discussions. Subsequently, the Ambassador of Spain in India also arrived and held talks. Invitation extended to Minister-level delegation from Kerala for further talks.

•    Strongly took up with the Minister for Shipping Poovar’s case for being selected as the location for setting up the proposed new shipyard on the West Coast of the country. Provided detailed suggestions for developing Poovar as a major shipyard-cum-port and maritime hub.

Water

•    Intervened with Minister of Environment and Forests to obtain sanctioning to raise water level at Peppara Dam to increase water availability to Thiruvanthapuram city.

•    Allotted additional Rs. 10 crores from the Ministry of Urban Development under JNNURM for providing water supply to new panchayats added to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

•    Provided leadership and financial support for work to develop the Valiakulam water body in Chenkal panchayat.

Postal Services

•    Intervened successfully with the Ministry of Communications to give a major fillip to postal services in Thiruvananthapuram by getting approval for construction of three major infrastructure projects involving construction of post office complexes at Poojapura, Sasthamangalam and Karamana and for significantly enhancing postal services in the city and its environs.

Information Technology

•    Convinced Oracle Corporation, the second largest IT company in the world, to start its operations from Technopark. Oracle is the first international IT giant to enter Kerala and its entry will have significant impact on employment and other benefits by encouraging other global majors to come to Thiruvananthapuram.

Health services

•    Effective intervention to speedily complete the work in respect of construction of six super-specialty departments at a cost of Rs. 120 crores in the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital under the Prime Minister’s Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. Project completed and the departments have already started functioning.

•    Action taken for the next stage of expansion and development of the Sree Chitra Medical Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. Action also taken to include the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram in the Central Government Scheme to create a National Institute for Cancer Research.

•    Successfully intervened to complete the Central Ayurveda Institute at Poojappura. New building under construction and expected to be completed within a year.

•    Efforts made to raise Peroorkada Mental Health Centre to the level of a ‘Centre of Excellence’ under Central Scheme. Though initially successful, the decision was reversed under pressure from the then LDF State Government. Central Government has nonetheless granted Rs 3 crores. MP brought Central Health Minister to visit the centre and he has promised further support under the next Five-Year Plan.

•    Made a strong intervention with the military authorities to make major improvements in the functioning of the ECHS, Thirumala to resolve many long-pending functional and infrastructural problems. Significant changes were effected which has led to a quantum jump in satisfaction levels thousands of Ex-servicemen and their families.

EDUCATION

•    Arrangements made for admission with scholarships for 25 students from the BPL category for undertaking MBA/BBA courses in prominent educational institutions throughout India.

•    Negotiated with prominent national universities to consider setting up campuses in Thiruvananthapuram. Inspection visits being conducted.

•    Coordinated with Bharti Foundation and Chandran Tharoor Foundation (CTF) to bring educational assistance to schools catering to underprivileged children in the district.

OTHER

•    Moved the GOI to take action for developing basic infrastructural rail and road facilities for the Vizhinjam Project area. A two-km stretch from the National Highway-bypass was got included in the National Highway Authority scheme. The Railways have already completed survey work for a 8-km rail track from Vedivachankovil in Balaramapuram to Vizhinjam.

•    Strong action taken to retain and continue the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute unit in Vizhinjam itself and to obtain funds for constructing new building. First installment of Rs. 1 crore released.

•    Obtained assistance from Central Government to the tune of Rs. 1.5 crores for modernization of Poojappura Central Jail.

•    Arranged for a secure fibre-glass boat at Amboori crossing from the Chandran Tharoor Foundation following the tragic death of a young student in an accident there.

•    Sustained intervention with Central, State and judicial authorities for the re-establishment of a High Court Bench in Thiruvananthapuram. Sympathetic response from concerned authorities in respect of an issue which has been lying pending for more than five decades. Efforts continue.

QUALITY OF LIFE / CULTURE

•    Action taken to make Barcelona city of Spain the ‘Twin City’ of Thiruvananthapuram. Through the MP’s negotiations, avenues were opened for cooperation for development in the fields of tourism, urban development, sports, etc. The possibility of world-class training in football was also raised in liaison with FC Barcelona, including arranging training by experts from Barcelona for children of coastal areas. Representatives from Barcelona arrived in Thiruvanathapuram three times and held discussions. The agreement only required approval by the Thiruvanathapuram Corporation, but as a result of petty politics by the Left-dominated Municipal Corporation, the agreement was sadly allowed to lapse.

•    As a precursor to the agreement, world-class artists from Barcelona in various disciplines performed in events held over three days on 23rd, 24th and 25th May 2010 in Thiruvananthapuram.

•    Played a crucial role in gaining an IPL team for Kerala. This placed Kerala cricket on the national and world map, enhanced possibilities for local cricketers, and attracted many more visitors and tourists to our state. Despite the ultimate failure of the team, the boost to Kerala cricket remains, and the possibility of Thiruvananthapuram getting a cricket stadium of international standard had also been strengthened.

•    Personally intervened to bring the world-renowned Hay Literary Festival, which had never before been held in India, to Thiruvananthapuram in November, 2010. The annual event showcased international celebrities, writers, artists and policy makers who converged on Kerala’s capital to brighten the intellectual horizon of the city. The Festival was held successfully for the second year running in November, 2011.

•    Postage stamp in honor of C.V Raman Pillai, proposed and pursued by the MP, was accepted and the stamp released.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(As Minister of State for External Affairs)

•    Your MP’s work as Minister of State for External Affairs 2009-10 was nationally appreciated.: In a short 11 months, he opened new vistas for India in Africa, travelled extensively to the countries under his charge, became the first Indian Minister to visit Haiti after the earthquake, and made path-breaking progress in relations with countries of Africa, Latin America and the Gulf. He initiated new policy-planning activities on the Indian Ocean and represented India effectively at many global events, creating new relationships especially with the Francophone countries in Africa.

•    Guided and implemented Haj pilgrimage arrangements in an exemplary manner, thereby enabling the pilgrims to complete their pilgrimage safely and smoothly without complaints.

•    Made improvements in the functioning of passport offices. Action taken to start Passport Seva Kendras at Neyyatinkara and Kesavadasapuram.

•    Intervened immediately and helped in many cases relating to constituents and others from Kerala who were facing problems relating to visas, repatriation, compensation claims, transportation home of mortal remains of deceased persons, etc.

GENERAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC

•    MP’s office set up in Pulimoodu – Govt Press Road, Thiruvananthapuram, near the Secretariat, to make the services of the MP and his staff available daily. Solutions being found for the problems of thousands of people in the constituency through efficient services provided by the office.

•    In two and a half years, over 4000 petitions were dealt with, forwarded and responded to. Daily “meet the public” sessions during MP’s days in Thiruvananthapuram continue to attract hundreds of citizens each time.

•    Camp office set up in Delhi to facilitate constituency support and follow-up.

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LOCAL AREA DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (MPLADS)

Full and equitable allocation of MPLADS funds, [Rs.2 crores in 2009-10 & 2010-11 and Rs. 5 crores in 2011-12] for creating enduring public assets in all segments of the constituency. Funds allocated in consultation with local residents, officials and stakeholders.
Brief details of schemes approved under Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP’s MPLADS during 2009-11:

(Allocations made in Rs. Lakhs)