Infrastructure development projects get priority in the Kozhikode Corporation budget for 2010-11 presented by Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef on Thursday.
The budget proposes an outlay of Rs.188.63 crore. The civic body expects revenue of Rs.198.54 crore, including funds obtained from the Asian Development Bank for the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Programme. The carryover from last year is Rs.15.79 crore.
Prof. Latheef also presented a revised budget for 2009-10. The total revenue is Rs.136.69 crore and expenditure, Rs.120.09 crore.
The budget for the next financial year has proposed to renovate Oyitty Road, Cherootty Road and Court Road at a cost of Rs.6.76 crore. For the renovation of 120 road and footpaths, which has already started, Rs.3.5 crore has been set aside.
Funds have been earmarked for development of roads in Beypore, Cheruvanur- Nallalam and Elathur, the grama panchayats of which have been merged with the Corporation recently. Besides, for local development activities, Rs.7.5 lakh will be given to each ward in the old municipal area and Rs.9.5 lakh to those merged with the Corporation later.
This apart, 27 wards will be allotted Rs.6 lakh each and the remaining 28, Rs.7 lakh each from the People's Campaign Plan funds.
Multi-level parking facility will be established on a build, operate and transfer basis at two places. ICICI-Kinfra will be entrusted with the task of preparing the project. Two projects at the eastern and western side of the city will be considered for lorry-parking. Bus stands and bus terminals will be set up through private-public participation, Prof. Latheef said.
A sum of Rs.1.21 crore has been proposed for a fruit-vegetable market complex at Kalluthankkadu. A new grandstand pavilion will be constructed at a cost of Rs.1 crore at the E.M.S. Corporation Stadium.
The budget has proposed to construct a community hall at a cost of Rs.1.2 crore at Kovoor and a community hall and playground at Karikkamkulam at a cost of Rs.50 lakh. A cultural centre will be set up at Kannadikkal. An amount of Rs.30 lakh will be set apart for renovation of the Tagore Centenary Hall.
Considering the lack of green spaces for children, Prof. Latheef said that old parks would be refurbished and new ones established. A sum of Rs.61.75 had been set aside for the project. A literary park will be set up at Mananchira Square, with sculptures of characters in the works of Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer, S.K. Pottekat, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Uroob and K.T. Mohammed. The project cost will be Rs.25 lakh. The Manachira Square will be given a facelift by constructing a walkway at Ansari Park, eight rain shelters and an open stage. A sum of Rs.40 lakh has been set aside for the project. Further, Rs.17.4 lakh will be allotted for landscaping and Rs.11.3 lakh for electrification.
A sum of Rs.30 lakh has been set aside for building a godown-cum-shopping complex at Beypore, Rs.30 lakh for a commercial complex at Valiyangadi and Rs.1.25 crore for street-lighting. In the health sector, the budget has proposed to revive the reproductive and child health programme at a cost of Rs.24 lakh. A sum of Rs.25 lakh has been allocated for buying medicines at dispensaries.
