Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed presenting the Kozhikode Corporation Budget for the financial year 2025-26 on March 24.
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

In his final Budget before the term of the current Council of the Kozhikode Corporation ends, Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed, who also chairs the Finance Standing Committee, presented a Budget for the financial year 2025–26 featuring a range of novel projects.

On Monday, the Deputy Mayor presented a Budget with an expenditure of ₹1,397 crore. The Corporation’s total expected revenue for 2025–26 is ₹1,744.89 crore, resulting in a surplus of ₹347.88 crore.

The Corporation has prioritised health and hygiene this time, with a maximum expenditure of ₹101.72 crore set aside for drainage work in city. Meanwhile, ₹46.79 crore has been set aside for road repairs, ₹10.28 crore for repair of buildings under the Corporation, ₹9.68 crore for the construction and maintenance of markets, and ₹7.53 crore for street lights.

Several novel projects have been introduced in the Budget for which funds have been allocated. This includes several projects connected to Kozhikode’s newfound status as the UNESCO City of Literature. The projects proposed include a Literary Museum in memory of late writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, a theatre group by school and college students, and exploring the possibilities of Literary Tourism in the city for which ₹3 crore has been allocated.

Continuing the activities under AZHAK, the hygiene protocol of the Corporation, the Haritha Karma Senas are being formed under a business development scheme. A master plan for optimum use of the land available at Njeliyanparamba, two Resource Recovery Facilities for segregation of solid waste, a Refuse Derived Fuel plant, a plant to process construction waste and robotic cleaning on Kozhikode beach are some of the projects proposed.

The Corporation is also planning to launch a campaign ‘Kuttikal Kalikkatte’ (Let the children play) to check drug abuse and violent tendencies among children.  Augmented reality labs, Innovation labs and Gender Facilitation clubs in schools, a rehabilitation project for residents of South Beach, a shelter for guest labourers, a Respite Care Centre to take care of differently abled children, an old age home for women, special industrial clusters for women, WISH (Women Initiative for sustainable and healthy life) and an online delivery system for Kudumbashree products are some of the other novel projects proposed in the Budget.

Funds have been allocated for an annexe building for the Corporation office, the City surveillance camera system and the development of Oyitty Road considering the changes brought in by the reconstruction of the railway station and a multipurpose auditorium at Chamundi Valappu.

Additionally, the Corporation plans to establish a commission to address issues faced by auto-rickshaw drivers, along with launching the mobile application “Kozhikode Auto” for improved accessibility. A special plan has been made to redesign the Palayam local area as well as Valiyangadi.

Beautification project

An Urban rejuvenation and beautification project is planned, which includes the development of a readers’ street, Mananchira Street, a recreational zone around Conolly Canal and the rejuvenation of various ponds. The Mavoor Road will be developed and beautified based on international standards. There are several projects to develop the tourism potential of the city, including the development of the wetland around Kaippurath Palam and the promotion of backwater tourism at Elathur. A corporation-sponsored shopping festival in Kozhikode from September to December is also being planned.

The Deputy Mayor also presented the revised Budget for the financial year 2024-25 with a total expenditure of 1180.94 crore and a surplus of ₹149.17 crore.