The Kochi Corporation almost drew a blank in the revised State Budget, with even priority projects identified for assistance by the United Democratic Front-led governing committee overlooked, save for a meagre allocation of ₹1 crore for the proposed Goshree–Bolghatty Parallel Bridge and for land acquisition and construction of the Goshree–Mamangalam Road.
The Corporation had submitted to the government a wish list of priority projects to be favourably considered in the revised Budget. This included subsidy for Indira Canteen, the 190 MLD water treatment plant, construction of the Thammanam water tank, the waste-to-energy plant at Brahmapuram, three major roads—Thammanam–Pulleppady Road, Goshree–Pachalam–Mamangalam Road, and Palluruthy 40-feet Road—two rail overbridges—Atlantis and Mattancherry Halt ROBs—and the Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Mission.
Mayor V.K. Minimol, while attempting to put up a brave face, reasoned that the Goshree–Pachalam–Mamangalam Road, which she said was the only new project in the list, had been allocated funds, while the rest, including the Thammanam–Pulleppady Road and the Atlantis ROB, were mostly ongoing projects. “We remain confident that subsidy for Indira Canteen will eventually be extended assistance, considering it was part of the UDF manifesto in the local body elections. We will take up the matter with the State government. The proposed Mattancherry Halt ROB seems to require clearance from the Navy,” she said, adding that financial constraints may also have played a role in the limited allocations.
V.A. Sreejith, the LDF parliamentary party leader in the Corporation, slammed the revised Budget for completely overlooking four critical areas affecting people’s lives—transportation, drinking water shortage, waste management, and the stray dog menace. “The biggest contributing city to the State’s coffers has been completely ignored in the Budget, despite being part of the home district of the Chief Minister. The UDF governing committee’s propaganda that the revised Budget would change the fortunes of the city has proved to be a damp squib. Even their own proposals have been overlooked,” he said.
Former Mayor M. Anilkumar observed that the Budget neglected long-overdue projects such as the water treatment plant, a network of roads, canal rejuvenation, Kochi Metro extensions, and a cultural centre proposed on land owned by the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development at Kacherippady. “The water treatment plant should have been provided allocation to initiate the project. The canal rejuvenation project should have been allocated funds at least for the first year’s work. Similarly, the Budget is silent on metro extensions to Nedumbassery and West Kochi,” he said.
Another former Mayor, K.J. Sohan, rued the Budget’s failure to address fundamental problems facing the city, such as tidal flooding and drinking water shortage. “The political establishment should identify and set the basics right. Climate mitigation technologies are available and should be embraced. Canal dredging by the port authorities should also be prioritised to address tidal flooding,” he said.
Published – June 19, 2026 09:55 pm IST
