TIRUCHY: While projecting a fiscal deficit of Rs 128.95 crore, the Tiruchy corporation budget for financial year 2025-26 tabled on Wednesday earmarked major allocations for strengthening canal banks and improving storm water drains in the city, the reconstruction of the Gandhi Market building, and installation of a solar power plant in Panjappur, among others.
Delivering the keynote address ahead of the commencement of the session, Corporation Mayor Mu Anbalagan said that the budget focuses on improving basic infrastructure in the city. He also clarified that the corporation has no plans to shift all of Gandhi Market’s traders to Panjappur. Further he stressed that the upcoming market in Panjappur is for wholesale traders.
Taxation-Finance Committee chairperson T Muthuselvam then tabled the budget for 2025-26.
According to the budget, the expected revenue for 2025-26 is Rs 1,308.16 crore, while the expected expenditure is Rs 1,437.11 crore, leaving the civic body with a projected deficit of Rs 128.95 crore.
In the education sector, the expected revenue is Rs 25.30 crore while the expected expenditure is Rs 17.44 crore, netting a projected surplus of Rs 7.86 crore.
Pointing to the deficit and the “lack” of revenue generation projects, AIADMK councillors Ambikapathi KK, Anusiya Ravishankar and Aravindan staged a walkout.
The budget has made an allocation of Rs 16.84 crore for undertaking underground drainage (UGD) work in Ward 60, Rs 3.65 crore for the work in Ward 4 and a similar allocation for a few other wards.
Identifying about five flood-prone areas in the city, the budget has earmarked Rs 2 crore each to tackle inundation in the areas.
An allocation of Rs 60 crore has been made towards the reconstruction of the Gandhi Market building.
The budget also has allocated Rs 15 crore towards beautification of the Cauvery banks in Ward 12.
It also made mention that the Rs 50-crore expansion of the corporation's main office is under the state government’s consideration.
Further, the budget announced that Rs 115 crore will be spent on setting up a 19.20 MW solar power plant in Panjappur. It also made an allocation of Rs 6.50 crore towards replacement of 40-watt LED street lights with 90-watt ones. Similarly, an allocation of Rs 2 crore has been made for replacing 20-watt LED street lights in the city to 40-watt lights.
The city’s canal banks will be strengthened and the storm water drains improved at an outlay of Rs 110 crore.
Pointing out that the corporation identified 32 locations from where untreated sewage water is discharged into the Uyyakondan canal, the budget stated that measures will be taken to arrest it.
In regard to potable water supply, an allocation of Rs 20 crore has been made for constructing overhead tanks in about 10 places in the city.
On the Rs 236-crore Panjappur wholesale market project, the budget stated that Rs 100 crore will be met through the issuance of bonds.
The budget has also made an allocation of Rs 1 crore each towards implementation of the food street project in all five corporation zones.