Capital city's pet projects, including Vizhinjam Container Transhipment Terminal, monorail and personal rapid transport system, were handed out major allocations in the annual State Budget for 2012-13 presented by Finance Minister K.M. Mani on Monday.
Mr. Mani announced an allocation of Rs.224 crore for the Vizhinam project and Rs.20 crore for preliminary works of Thiruvanathapuram and Kozhikode monorail projects. An amount of Rs.25 lakh was earmarked for the preliminary implementation of personal rapid transport system projects in Thriuvananthapuram and Kottayam districts.
Another much anticipated project for the city, the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod High Speed Rail Corridor, got Rs.50 crore for the first phase (from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam).
Aerospace Centre
A host of new initiatives have also been announced for the city, among which is an Aerospace Centre to be established here in association with Keltron and VSSC. For the project, Rs.10 crore has been allocated.
A biological park in 36 acres of land in Thonnakkal; construction of ‘balimandapams' at Varkala Papanasham beach and Aruvikkara; establishment of Convention Complex and Expo Centre at Akkulam; and extension of ‘Hunger-free City' project to the capital city figure among the new projects.
Cancer detection
To upgrade facilities on the Medical College campus in the city, Rs.16 crore has been allotted. This includes the Rs.8-crore project for setting up multi-disciplinary research labs. Another Rs.8 crore has been earmarked for enhancing early cancer detection facilities for women and children at the Regional Cancer Centre.
The Anayara World Market will be upgraded to an Agriculture Super Mall to provide quality agriculture produce at fair price. The Institute of Land and Disaster Management is to be upgraded to an international level Administrative Training and Management Institute. A public office complex will come up at Attipra at a cost of Rs.2 crore.
Many new courses have been proposed for the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology in the city. The academy will get a Rs.6-crore twin-engine aircraft for training young pilots. Widening of Karamana-Kalayikkavila NH to four lanes; Rs.5-crore project for a CDS model research institute; Rs.25 lakh for Peppara Dam tourism development project; and tourist boat service from Valiyathura to Alappuzha too are mooted in the budget.
