Kerala Budget Focuses on Public Transport Development and Green Fuel Promotion
Key Ideas
- The Kerala budget emphasizes public transport development with measures like reducing road tax for stage carriers and promoting greener fuel like hydrogen.
- Financial aid has been allocated for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), but experts feel that more support is needed for the fleet augmentation.
- The budget also includes allocations for inland navigation, hydrogen valley project, development of new airstrips, road transport, and integrated water transport in Kochi.
- While the increase in budget for the transport sector is positive, there are concerns about the adequacy of funds for the required 8,000 public transport buses in the state.
The Kerala budget for the development of public transport in Kochi and other cities has been received positively. The budget, led by Finance Minister K N Balagopal, focuses on key aspects like reducing road tax for stage carriers, introducing metro in more cities, and promoting greener fuel options like hydrogen. The outlay for transport sector development is set at Rs 2,065.01 crore, showing an increase from the previous year. Noteworthy measures include a 10% cut in road tax for stage carriers and financial aid for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). However, experts believe that the Rs 107 crore allocation for KSRTC fleet augmentation is insufficient, considering the need for 8,000 more public transport buses. The budget also allocates funds for inland navigation, a hydrogen valley project, airstrip development in Idukki, Wayanad, and Kasaragod, road transport, and integrated water transport in Kochi. While the budget signals progress in the transport sector, concerns remain about the adequacy of funds to meet the state's public transport needs.