Thiruvananthapuram: The first budget of the V D Satheesan Government will be presented on Friday at 9.00 am. Featuring governance and empathy as its hallmarks, the maiden budget presented by Chief Minister V D Satheesan is expected to give priority to development projects, with a primary focus on port-led development. Interestingly, the Chief Minister, who is an avid reader, is presenting the budget on Reading Day.

  • Vizhinjam Port area likely to become an industrial and logistics hub: Transforming the Vizhinjam port area into an industrial and logistics hub forms the core of the state's port-led development strategy. A shipbuilding centre and a maritime centre are envisioned for Kochi.
     
  • Fishermen welfare and care expected: Fishermen welfare and support will be highlighted. There will be a promise to set up fish processing centres across the coastal belt to enable international marketing of fish without intermediaries. A fund will be established to provide loans for purchasing boats and equipment to empower fishermen for deep-sea fishing.
     
  • Centrally sponsored schemes to be maximised to ease financial crisis: To alleviate the financial crisis, centrally sponsored schemes will be implemented to the maximum extent. The state share will be ensured to fully utilise AMRUT, Smart City and National Highway funds.
     
  • Feasibility of Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur High-Speed rail to be explored: The feasibility of an elevated and tunnel-based Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur high-speed rail corridor will be examined.