Kerala Budget: Kollam integrated into Southern Economic Corridor
While Kollam has secured some infrastructure and industrial allocations, there is no specific project aimed at boosting its regional economy and traditional manufacturing sectors in
While Kollam has secured some infrastructure and industrial allocations, there is no specific project aimed at boosting its regional economy and traditional manufacturing sectors in the Revised Budget. Under the State’s newly announced macrodevelopment blueprint, Kollam has been integrated into the Southern Kerala Economic Corridor. This ambitious corridor links the unique geographical and economic strengths of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha into a unified economic zone.
Within this regional cluster framework, Kollam is designated to function as the primary nerve centre for mineral processing and rare earths. To operationalise the corridor and its parallel Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Corridor, the government has provided an initial financial backstop of ₹50 crore and ₹100 crore respectively, mapping out necessary infrastructure and policy interventions through an expert agency. Parallel to these industrial initiatives, the Budget places a strong emphasis on reviving Kollam’s traditional industries.
An allocation of ₹56 crore has been earmarked under the traditional industries framework to fuel a comprehensive cashew revival package. The district’s animal husbandry and infrastructure sectors too have received direct project-specific outlays. As part of the Kerala Chicken Project, the government has sanctioned the establishment of a state-of-the-art, modern poultry processing plant with a capacity to process 1,000 chickens per hour, alongside a dedicated pet food factory, both situated at Kottukkal in Kollam district.
Infrastructure in the district is also set for an upgrade, with ₹5 crore allocated for the initial expenses of construction of a skyway and urban park at Chinnakada.
The BriefWire