Kerala Budget 2018: Kochi fails to get due share

Kochi: The State budget for 2018-19 fiscal presented by finance minister T.M Thomas Isaac on Friday failed to give a due share to the commercial capital of the state. The budget is silent on some of the long-pending demands of city residents like Kundanoor flyover, construction of Vaduthala and Vathuruthy railway over-bridges and the development of major junctions in the city. Though Mayor Soumini Jain had sought special ‘commercial capital development project’ and funds for Kochi, it was not addressed in the budget.

Land acquisition for Petta – Tripunithura Metro line would begin this year, said the finance minister. Land for the Integrated Water Transport project being implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Limited will also be acquired during this fiscal. Minister Thomas Isaac promised that KIIFB would bear the cost of acquiring land for widening Thammanam – Pullepady Road into four lane too, which is a more than two-decade-old proposal. He also stated that the development of Seaport – Airport Road would be hastened. The finance minister also allotted Rs 4 crore for constructing a she-lodge in Kochi. Another major allocation, Rs 1264 crore, is for acquiring 600 acres of land for Kochi Petrochemical Park.

The cash-strapped City Corporation will be relieved to get its share from the Rs 133 crore which has been allotted as compensation to local bodies for scrapping entertainment tax.  Kochi will also get its share from the Rs.120 crore allotted for sewage projects in six corporations and Alappuazha municipality. It has been announced that electric autorickshaws will be introduced as feeder services of the Kochi Metro and bulk charging stations will be set up for these vehicles under KSEB.

Chitrapuzha has been included in the river and canal restoration scheme to be initiated this year for which Rs 14 crore has been earmarked. The proposal for implementing the urban green space management project for the conservation of greenery in city areas will also benefit Kochi, where greenery is fast disappearing. The finance minister has proposed pharma park in Kochi to be set up with the assistance of the Union government using KIIFB funds.  He also announced that Kochi – Edamon power line, in the 400 KV Tirunelveli-Madakkathara inter-state power transmission corridor which was stalled for years, would be commissioned this year.

Rs 40 crore has been allotted for Muziris heritage project while Kochi Biennale will also get its share from the Rs 16 crore earmarked for various cultural festivals. The Ernakulam KSRTC bus terminal will be modernized using funds from KIIFB, it was announced. While appreciating the City Gas project which was implemented for the first time in Kalamassery, the finance minister said that the project would be carried out in all cities through which the GAIL pipeline was passing through.