The local body elections in Kerala are scheduled to be held later this year, but the Budget of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s Budget for the 2025-26 financial year presented by Deputy Mayor P.K. Raju indicates plans for a longer haul. In the election year, stress has been laid equally on basic infrastructure projects as well as welfare measures.

The Budget proposes ₹1,928.35 crore expenditure for the year, a jump of around ₹226 crore from the previous year, and a projected surplus of ₹257.64 crore. Considering the rather short time available for plan implementation, it remains to be seen how much of this aim can be met. The revised surplus from the previous year is a massive ₹405.37 crore, against the projected surplus of ₹150.19 crore, indicating some delays in project implementation last year.

CBG plant

One of the biggest allocations is for waste management for which ₹300 crore has been earmarked. A compressed biogas (CBG) plant for treatment of biodegradable waste will be set up at a cost of ₹100 crore. The Local Self-Governments department had earlier this year identified a land which was earlier leased for clay mining to the English India Clay Company as a suitable one for setting up a CBG plant in partnership with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

An automated plant for processing non-biodegradable waste will be set up. A waste water treatment project will be implemented in Beemapally at a cost of ₹3 crore. An additional allocation of ₹17 crore has been made for further developmental works at the Muttathara sewage treatment plant. Civil works and town planning-related projects got a total allocation of ₹300 crore. For a project to renovate city roads as per BMBC (Bituminous Macadam and Bituminous Concrete ) standards, an amount of ₹100 crore has been allocated.

Green capital

The Budget has a few proposals in continuation of the ‘Carbon-neutral Thiruvananthapuram’ project to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2040. An amount of ₹10 crore has been earmarked for setting up electric charging stations. For providing subsidies for electric two wheelers, an amount of ₹10 crore has been allocated, while ₹5 crore has been allocated for providing subsidy for electric taxi vehicles. Solar-powered streetlights will be installed at a cost of ₹10 crore while an allocation of ₹10 crore has been made for providing subsidy for solar roofing.

Flood mitigation projects got a total allocation of ₹200 crore, while an amount of ₹22 crore has been allocated for disaster management. Housing projects got a total allocation of ₹220 crore. Housing complexes are planned at Vallakkadavu and Karimadom at a cost of ₹15 crore. For renovation of dilapidated houses for people for economically disadvantaged categories, an amount of ₹18.5 crore has been allocated. An amount of ₹20 crore has been earmarked for land purchase for LIFE housing project beneficiaries from Scheduled Caste categories. Poverty alleviation and job creation schemes for a total allocation of ₹85 crore. Health sector got a total allocation of ₹77.2 crore. A total allocation of ₹65 crore has been made for the education sector.

As part of gender budgeting, projects focussed on women got a total allocation of ₹67.4 crore. An amount of ₹5 crore has been earmarked for promoting women’s entrepreneurship. A women’s fitness centre will be set up at a cost of ₹7 crore. The ‘She Cab’ project to promote more women car drivers in the city, an amount of ₹15 crore has been allocated. Taking forward the initiatives for the welfare of senior citizens envisaged in the previous year’s Budget, an amount of ₹40 crore has been allocated for the purpose.

Key allocations

Projects focussed on children got a total allocation of ₹34.7 crore. Projects for the welfare Scheduled Caste categories got a total allocation of ₹38.2 crore. The fisheries sector and the coastal regions of the city got an allocation of ₹41 crore. An outlet of Ananthapuri medicals, to provide medicines at affordable rates will be set up in the coastal area at a cost of ₹1 crore. Considering the current focus across the State on fighting drug menace, an allocation of ₹1.5 crore has been made under the ‘Drug-free Trivandrum’ programme.

For the completion of ongoing works under the Smart City project, an amount of ₹100 crore has been allocated. An amount of ₹10 crore has been allocated for a multi-level car parking lot project. Projects for setting up smart classrooms and smart bus shelters have been allocated ₹10 crore each. The agriculture sector got a total allocation of ₹48 crore. Sports and youth welfare projects got a total allocation of ₹19 crore, while youth entrepreneurship schemes got an allocation of ₹5 crore.