A special purpose vehicle (SPV) for waste collection and transportation, digital payment facilities for remitting tax and a road map for mosquito control programmes are some of the projects that the Kochi Corporation proposes to implement in the next fiscal.
Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod made these announcements in the annual Budget of the civic body presented on Saturday.
The digital payment of tax will be tried in 12 divisions of the central zone on pilot basis.
Finance managers of the civic body hope to collect an additional revenue of ₹62 crore. However, no new tax will be levied on city dwellers.
Major roads will be relaid as thin white-topped ones. An e-mobility action plan will be implemented with the support of international agencies, Mr. Vinod announced.
The civic body hopes to implement a large number of projects proposed in the Budget, including the smart road project, e-mobility action plan, smart signalling system, canal restoration programmes, drinking water projects, and the central command and control room with the support of various State and Central agencies and the Kochi Smart City project.
Considering the fact that the use of water in toilets of houses and apartments is high when compared to other cities, the corporation proposes to introduce steps to bring down water consumption. Modern flushing system, urinals, and taps that can reduce water use will be made mandatory. A new water use policy will be introduced for apartment complexes, he said.
The Kochi Integrated Vector Control Programme will be intensified in the city to check pest population.
The modernisation and construction of public toilets will also get financial support in the next fiscal, announced Mr. Vinod in his Budget speech.