Thiruvananthapuram Corporation unveils new housing scheme in budget; thrust on waste and stray dog management, public health

The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation budget for the 2026-27 fiscal envisages an independent housing scheme under which the local body will fully fund the construction of houses for eligible homeless beneficiaries. The local body also targets a comprehensive overhaul of its solid waste management system and steps to address the stray dog menace.

The budget is the first one to be presented by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) since coming into power in the Corporation for the first time.

Deputy Mayor G.S. Asha Nath, who presented the budget on Tuesday, announced the Pradhan Mantri Bhavana Yojana (PMBY) housing scheme for which a significant allocation of ₹20 crore has been made. She claimed that the initiative is bound to benefit nearly 2,000 people who are being denied housing in the Corporation limits due to the stubbornness of the State government to implement the Centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Besides, an allocation of ₹50 lakh has been made to ensure the coverage of PMBY among transgender beneficiaries.

In order to enhance waste management efforts, the Corporation will introduce modern technology-driven processing systems similar to those adopted in cities such as Varanasi, Goa and Indore. The local body will also intensify its stray dog rehabilitation measures by establishing more shelters in coordination with Central animal welfare authorities.

Healthcare projects

Multiple medical service projects will be introduced in association with HLL Lifecare Ltd. The Corporation will establish ‘Amruth pharmacies’ to provide medicines at discounts up to 50%. ‘Prime Health laboratories’ will also be introduced for medical diagnoses at discounted rates up to 40%. Sample collection centres will be set up at 50 centres for the purpose. Allocations of ₹1.5 crore each have been made for both proposals.

Yet another allocation of ₹1.5 crore has been set aside to establish a Comprehensive Diagnostic Centre that will provide high-end facilities including CT scanning, MRI, ultrasound scanning, X-ray and mammography at discounted rates up to 50%.

‘Atal Canteens’ will be established in various parts of the city at an outlay of ₹2 crore to provide meals for ₹20.

New offices

An international office will be established with an allocation of ₹1 crore to manage partnerships and collaborations with international agencies and global institutions that handle matters related to expatriates. The office will give shape to ‘city-to-city’ partnerships, undertake projects like ‘City of Peace’ and global conferences including ‘Thiruvananthapuram Global Peace Summit 2027-28’.

An ‘Office for Night Economy’ is being established to oversee, regulate and promote a safe and vibrant nightlife in the city. This office will coordinate night-time activities in collaboration with the police, security agencies and private businesses. An amount of ₹10 lakh has been set aside for the purpose.

A language training centre will be established with an outlay of ₹15 lakh to provide training in Indian languages and foreign languages such as German, English and French in collaboration with the NoRKA Institute of Foreign Languages.

The administrative activities of the Corporation will soon be made paperless. Modern facilities will be acquired to prepare agenda, reports and decisions of council meetings available in the digital format. An allocation of ₹50 lakh has been made for the purpose.