Kochi: Kerala has got a raw deal in the Union budget with the state recording low percentage increase in fund allocation compared to the average outlay during the 2009-14 period.
The state got Rs 923 crore for 2018-19 as against the 2009-14 average of Rs 392 crore while Chattisgarh got the highest percentage increase in allocation -- Rs 3,964 crore as against Rs 311 crore, a hike of 1173 percent, according to the railway board figures.
Though Himachal Pradesh and Delhi were allocated only Rs 387 and Rs 268 crore respectively, the percentage increase compared to the average outlay in the six-year period is better than Kerala, which registers only 148 percent as against 257 and 180 percentage of the northern counterparts. The state got lesser allocation when compared to the previous fiscal's Rs 1,206.
The highest allocation this year was to Maharashtra (Rs 6,658 crore) followed by Madhya Pradesh (Rs 6,359 crore). Though West Bengal got Rs 5,437, it recorded the least percentage hike (24%) when compared to the average outlay provided during the 2009-14 period (Rs 4,380 crore). Currently, ten projects costing Rs 7017 crore for 738 km in length are under execution.
