Path clear to rename Vizhinjam Port after Oommen Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the recent change in government, the path is now clear to rename the Vizhinjam International Port after the late former Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy. This has been a long-standing demand of the Congress party.

Since the port is entirely owned by the State Government, the new administration has the authority to rename it. During the inauguration of the port’s second phase of development, V.D. Satheesan stated that Oommen Chandy is the true architect of the project and was the primary driving force behind making it a reality. The KPCC also emphasised that the project succeeded only because of his firm determination.

Most major ports in India are named after political leaders. While renaming central government-owned ports requires Union Cabinet approval, the state can decide for its own projects.

International code to remain unchanged
Even if the port is renamed, its international location code, IN TRV 01, will remain the same. The code is a combination of abbreviations for India (IN) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Initially, the code was IN NYY 1 (representing India and Neyyattinkara). The code was updated following guidelines from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which requires standardised location codes. Thiruvananthapuram’s general location code, including for the international airport, is TRV. This specific port code was officially assigned by the Central Government’s Directorate General of Systems and Data Management.