Roji M. John, the State Higher Education Minister responsible for Ernakulam district, announced that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government is prioritizing the district's development. He highlighted the ongoing construction of Kochi Metro Phase II, which connects JLN Stadium to Infopark, and the preparation of a detailed project report for Phase III, aiming to extend the metro to Angamaly. The Minister expressed optimism about completing the metro project within the current government's term. He criticized the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for not advancing the GIFT City project, which has been stalled for over six years due to land acquisition issues. The UDF plans to initiate new steps to secure approvals from the central government to move the project forward, viewing it as a potential economic driver. Additionally, the Minister mentioned the importance of the long-pending Angamaly-Kundannoor Bypass project, which is expected to provide a significant solution to traffic congestion in the district, with plans to explore its development into an eight-lane road.