TrivandrumLife.com>> With less than four months remaining for the Assembly elections, the state government rehashed some old projects in the capital city for the budget. One of the major proposals for Thiruvananthapuram is the Capital City Regional Development Programme, an outer area growth corridor from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam. The mega project involves development of a 78-km outer ring road and an industrial township. However, only seed money of Rs 100 crore is earmarked for the project for which land acquisition alone costs Rs 2578 crore. Though the project has won in-principal approval under Bharatmala Pariyojana, the state government will have to bear 50 % cost of land acquisition.
The light metro project did not get much support in the budget as only Rs 9 crore was allotted for preparation of DPRs for various infrastructure works, including construction of airstrips, in the state. Similarly, the second phase of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road widening project was announced in the budget speech without mentioning any amount.
Other major announcements are the Rs 864 crore allotted for the second phase of City Roads Improvement project and Rs 900 crore for public works and KIIFB works which will give boost to the road widening works in the district.
A permanent complex for international film festival was a long pending demand. Finance minister T M Thomas Isaac has given Rs 150 crore for setting up Chitranjali film city complex and other cultural centres.
A total amount of Rs 635 crore was allotted for Neyyar and Aruvikkara water supply projects, which would bring additional water to the city.
Other major proposals are Rs 525 crore to improve sewerage connectivity, Rs 900 crore to turn city into education and health hub, , Rs 250 crore for Thiruvananthapuram Heritage project, Rs 150 crore for Akkulam, Veli tourism development and Rs 534 crore for development of IT, Life Science and Video parks.
Rs 22 crore was earmarked for the development of Technopark. During the speech, Finance minister announced that multinational firm Quantiphi will start operations in the first quarter of 2021. “The construction of Taurus Downtown is progressing in Technocity. The construction of World Centre of Brigade Enterprise will begin in April,” he said. Other major announcements for the city are a new headquarters for Kerala Technical University, Rs 24 crore for IITMK, Rs 50 crore for Institute of Advanced Virology, Thonnakkal, Rs 16 crore for higher education council, Rs 19 crore for Kerala Science and Technology Museum, Rs 71 crore for regional cancer centre, press club for women journalists in the city etc.
Jisha Surya is a media professional with over a decade of experience in various media houses including The New Indian Express and Times of India. She covers city infrastructure, social issues, and lifestyle stories.
