Kerala Budget: Kollam integrated into Southern Economic Corridor
Infrastructure development in the city has found scant allocation in the revised State Budget for 2026-27 presented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Friday (June 19). The Budget mentions only an allocation of ₹1 crore for the initial steps of the construction of the Goshree–Bolgatty Parallel Bridge and land acquisition and construction of the Goshree–Mamangalam Road.Though an appendix document mentions proposals such as renovation of the Ernakulam Boat jetty, Udayamperoor-Koorikkad road renovation, construction of drainage and footpath along MG Road, renovation of Thripunithura-Mankayikadavu Road, Edappally-Ponevazhi Road and construction of Thuthiyoor-Eroor bridge, the details of the projects were yet to emerge. A parallel railway overbridge at Kalamassery also finds a mention in the appendix.Though the Budget has allotted ₹20 crore for the activities related to the proposed Light Metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, there is no specific allocation for the Kochi Metro.The Kochi Metro Rail Limited, meanwhile, hailed the ₹20 crore allocation, terming it a major encouragement for the continued growth of the metro network and the realisation of future expansion projects.While Kochi MLA and District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas said the Budget announcements will pave the way for the development of the port and tourism sectors in the district, CPI(M) district secretary S. Sathish said the Budget totally ignored the district’s dream projects.“There is no mention of the second and third phases of the Kochi Metro expansion and Water Metro in the Budget. The previous Budget presented by the LDF government had allotted ₹79.03 crore for Kochi Metro. Key road projects, including Angamaly-Kundannoor Bypass, Moothakunnam-Edappally NH 66, Angamaly-Airport Bypass and Aluva-Munnar four-lane, were also ignored,” Mr. Sathish said.He also flagged the Budget not mentioning the Angamaly-Erumely Sabari rail project. CPI district secretary N. Arun also slammed the alleged neglect of the Sabari rail project, saying it amounted to cheating the people. Published - June 20, 2026 12:49 am IST
