The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Growth-oriented budget for Varkala municipality

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Growth-oriented budget for Varkala municipality

Staff Reporter

Honeymoon cottages at Papanasam beach resort

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A package of development projects aimed at improving basic infrastructure and boosting the commercial and tourism sectors is the highlight of the Varkala Municipality's annual budget for 2005-06 that was unanimously approved by the council.

The budget shows a surplus of Rs.98.03 lakhs with an estimated revenue of Rs.9.17 crores and an expenditure of Rs.8.19 crores. In a move aimed at improving tourist inflow, the budget proposes the construction of honeymoon cottages at the Papanasam beach resort. Estimated to cost Rs.10 lakhs, the cottages will be constructed on 21 cents of `puramboke' land.

Another major scheme featured in the budget is the development of 10 major junctions in the municipality. In his budget speech, the municipal vice-chairman, K. Suryaprakash, said the Palachira, Kidavathuvila, Puthenchantha, Chilakoor, Chumaduthangi, Odayam, Anchuthengu, Janathamukku, Nadayara and Vattaplamoodu junctions would be developed with financial assistance from the State Government and the neighbouring panchayats that also benefit from the streamlined traffic.

The budget proposes three major trade centres in a bid to give a fillip to the commercial sector. An amount of Rs.2 crores has been earmarked for the construction of a new shopping complex at the municipal bus stand and Rs.1 crore for a commercial complex at the Sagar College compound. A sum of Rs.50 lakhs has been allocated for work on the second floor of the Punnamoodu commercial complex.

The budget proposes the acquisition of five acres to set up a garbage dumping yard and a compost plant for the municipality. Mr. Suryaprakash said efforts were on to secure assistance from the Sports Council and the Central and State Governments for the construction of a stadium complex. A swimming pool will be constructed at Perunkulam at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs.

Bridge across TS Canal

Mr. Suryaprakash said the Inland Navigation Department had agreed to partially fund the construction of a bridge across the TS Canal, connecting the Varkala railway station with Srinivasapuram. The municipality will also seek Central and State Government assistance for the project.

In the agriculture sector, the budget has earmarked Rs.5 lakhs for distribution of banana and pepper saplings, paddy seeds and fertilizer.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section

Computer networking of district courts on course

Growth-oriented budget for Varkala municipality

Water supply suspended

Lightning kills woman, child

Making it safe

In Tiruvananthapuram Today

Readers' Mail