The State Budget presented by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac in the Assembly on Thursday was rather disappointing with no major announcements for Kozhikode district.
Nothing was mentioned about the proposed ₹2,500-crore Kozhikode Light Metro project in the budget. Besides, no amount has been earmarked for the long-pending Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road widening project. An administrative sanction of ₹234.5 crore had been given earlier for land acquisition on the 8-km stretch of the highway.
However, funds have been allocated to stimulate growth in public sector institutions. An amount of ₹23 crore has been allocated to Cyberpark, Kozhikode. Recently, 150 persons secured jobs across six companies in the Cyberpark. It is expected that 2,000 persons will get direct employment there, the budget says.
Kozhikode will get a share of the ₹116 crore earmarked to the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and that will benefit the Advanced Technology Park at Ramanattukara. Similarly, the Malabar Spinning and Weaving Mills at Thiruvannur will get ₹25 crore. Apart from the financial assistance given to all medical colleges in the State (₹232 crore has been earmarked for 14 medical colleges), the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), an autonomous institute under the government, will get ₹3 crore.
Minority studies centre
Kozhikode will also benefit from the ₹15 crore earmarked for the Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation (KSMDFC) headquartered in the city.
The budget has promised to establish a centre for minority studies at Calicut University. Considering the increase in the number of women going for Haj in recent years, a special block will be constructed for women in Haj House.
The Malabar Botanical Garden and the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) will get a share of the ₹60 crore financial aid given to all such research institutes including KFRI and Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden.
Boost to tourism
The newly mooted West Coast Canal project is expected to boost backwater tourism in Kozhikode and the Malabar River Cruise project. The Beypore port will get a share of the ₹48 crore earmarked for the expansion of shipping operations in all ports in the State.
The district will also be allotted contributions from the ₹1,000 crore earmarked for Rebuild Kerala initiative. Another ₹1,000 crore will also be spent on development works in coastal areas. Houses will be ensured to all eligible beneficiaries in coastal areas under Life Mission project.
The total investment in coastal areas through KIIFB is ₹900 crore. This will help revive educational institutions and taluk hospitals in the coastal regions of the district.
Kozhikode can also expect projects from the amount of ₹1,367 crore earmarked for the Public Works Department. Proposals for construction works amounting to ₹2,500 crore, including projects submitted by MLAs, have been included in the budget by giving 20% provision.
The budget has also proposed to share 50% of the expected cost of ₹450 crore to ₹500 crore for Wayanad-Bandipur Elevated Highway. Besides, new railway lines such as Thalassery-Mysore, Nilambur-Nanjangode are under the consideration of Kerala Rail Development Corporation.