Kochi: Rail coach factory, AIIMS excluded

KOCHI: Kerala has nothing much to cheer from the union budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in terms of getting the nod from the union government for some the long standing demands of the state.

The much talked rail coach factory at Palakkad has failed to find any mention in the budget documents while the promise of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the state also remained a pipe-dream. The finance minister remained silent on both the projects while he mentioned about setting up a new AIIMS at Haryana.

The share of central taxes to the state moving up by Rs 2,076.97 cr taking the total central tax share to the state to Rs 21,115.14 cr is a gain for the state. The state is also expected to benefit from the allocation made to Indian Space Research Organisation, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Cochin Port Trust and commodity boards. The ISRO has been given an allocation of Rs 376 cr and Cochin Shipyard Ltd Rs 660 cr. The Cochin Port Trust is given  Rs 46.71 cr.  The Coffee Board is given Rs 200 cr, Rubber Board Rs 170 cr, Tea Board '150 cr and Spices Board Rs 100 cr. The Indian Institute of Space Sciences has been given an allocation of Rs 80 cr.

The budget presented by Mr. Goyal has also not given much to cheer for those looking for a rapid development of state’s rail infra. The minister rema-ined silent on the demand for a third line in Ernaku-lam-Shornur stretch. The demand for terminal project at Nemam near Thiruvananthapuram also failed to get any mention in the budget.