THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union Budget spelt doom for the development prospects of the capital. The budget did not allocate any funds for the capital’s pet projects like the Vizhinjam port project or the mass rapid transport system.
Except for the allocations for some Central institutions based here, the capital did not receive a significant share for infrastructure development. Rs 41.60 crore was earmarked for the infrastructure development of Laxmi Bai National Institute of Physical Education (LNCPE).
Central institutions in the health sector, the Regional Cancer Centre and the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology were ignored. The RCC, South India’s most important cancer treatment centre, is now striving hard to cater to the increasing number of patients.
Rs 10 crore was sanctioned for the 11 units of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) across the country, including the one in the capital. Rs 40 crore was earmarked for five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) including the one in the capital.