Thrissur will become a Wi-Fi enabled city soon. The project will be implemented in association with the BSNL.
In a modernisation drive, the city corporation is also planning to set up air conditioned bus shelters. The street lights of all the 55 divisions will be replaced with LED bulbs.
Various municipalities such as Kunnamkulam, Guruvayur, Chavakkad, Kodungallur and Irinjalakuda will be added to Thrissur Corporation when it becomes a ‘Smart City’ soon.
The 2015-16 budget of the city corporation has focussed on infrastructure development, including repair, construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and culverts. Social security projects, agriculture, health and sanitation will also get priority.
Comfort stations will be set up at Swaraj Round and West Fort. Mobile waste management units will be established. The budget also suggested a sanitation master plan. Houses will be constructed for mentally and physically challenged people. A fruit market will be set up in the city.
The corporation is planning to introduce a modern parking system in BOT-PPP mode. Sakthan Nagar and Priyadarshini bus stands will be renovated. Adattu model insurance scheme will be implemented for all the families in the city. An amount of Rs. 4 crore has been earmarked for the development of the Nehru Park. The services of the corporation will be available online and through mobile. International tournaments will be conducted at the renovated corporation stadium. The budget has allocated Rs.10 crore for agriculture, which includes setting up a waste treatment plant at Kokkali and infrastructure development in the kole fields. A sum of Rs.10 crore has been earmarked for conservation and upkeep of major water resources.
The corporation will encourage organic farming in the city. Marketing facilities will be provided for farm products. A bio-diversity register will be prepared.
A sum of Rs.15 crore has been earmarked for the welfare sector, which includes construction of ‘Pakalveedu’ for elders and shelter homes for migrants. Like the Pulikali festival, a Kummatti festival will also be organised.
There are no new major tax proposals in the Rs. 5.50 crore surplus budget, which expects a revenue of Rs. 387.05 crore and an expenditure of Rs. 381.54 crore. However, the budget has emphasised the need to revise the tax structure.
Social security projects, agriculture and infrastructure development to get priority.