Thrissur: Central Minister Suresh Gopi clarified that he had never stated that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) would be established in Thrissur. He made these remarks during the inaugural session of ‘S.G. Coffee Times,’ a new discussion program initiated for the development of Thrissur.
Addressing the audience, Gopi emphasized his strong belief that AIIMS should be located in Alappuzha. “AIIMS should come to Alappuzha to revitalize the area, which has been severely affected by communism,” he stated. He further added that his advocacy for Alappuzha was not driven by political motives or regional biases. The minister urged the people of Thrissur to support this cause, saying, “The people of Thrissur should pray for AIIMS to come to Alappuzha.” He reiterated that he had expressed this desire for AIIMS in Alappuzha even before becoming a Member of Parliament from Thrissur, asserting his commitment by declaring, “I am a man of my word and will never change my stance.”
Gopi also used the platform to clarify his previous statements regarding the Metro Rail service. He explained that he had never promised a direct Metro connection to Thrissur. Instead, his proposal was for a sub-route to extend from Angamaly, passing through Paliyekkara and continuing towards Coimbatore. Additionally, he suggested another sub-route that would connect to Tanur via Nattika, Triprayar, and Guruvayur.
The ‘Coffee with S.G.’ discussion program was inaugurated shortly after Minister Suresh Gopi visited the residence of senior Congress leader and former Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan, marking a significant outreach initiative for local development dialogues.