Kannur Corporation Budget focusses on welfare, infrastructure

The Kannur Municipal Corporation’s new council presented its maiden Budget for 2026-27, outlining a series of people-oriented schemes and major infrastructure projects with an estimated outlay of ₹715.84 crore and a projected closing balance of ₹360.42 crore.

Presenting the Budget, Deputy mayor K.P. Tahir said it sought to blend Kannur’s heritage and cultural legacy with urban development while touching all sectors.

The Budget projected an opening balance of ₹232.91 crore and an anticipated a revenue of ₹482.93 crore, taking the total estimated receipts to ₹715.84 crore. The expenditure is estimated at ₹355.41 crore, leaving a closing balance of ₹360.42 crore.

Social security measures

The major announcements in the Budget include a hunger-free city project titled ‘Indira Canteen’, which has been allocated ₹10 lakh. The project aims to provide free food to the poor within the Corporation limits. A comprehensive stray dog and street animal control programme has been earmarked ₹1 crore. Under the Corporation’s Jeevan Raksha scheme, ₹20 lakh has been set aside to provide insurance-backed life protection coverage to residents. A sum of ₹85 lakh has been allocated for supply of free uniforms to school students, while the Housing Protection Scheme has been allotted ₹80 lakh.

Infrastructure

The Budget has earmarked ₹5 crore for the development of the Corporation headquarters. Scientific road development and maintenance has been allocated ₹5 crore, while ₹7 crore has been set aside for a comprehensive urban drainage system.

A modern bio-solid waste management system has been allocated ₹6 crore, along with ₹1 crore for a robotic waste removal system.

A sum of ₹1 crore has been set aside for modern solar streetlights. An underground duct project will receive ₹50 lakh. Electric buses and EV charging stations have been allotted ₹5 crore to strengthen green mobility.

Tourism and heritage

Payyambalam will be developed as an international tourist destination with an allocation of ₹2 crore, alongside ₹2 crore for coastal tourism, including Azhikadlai.

A weaving, Kalaripayattu and Theyyam experience centre, reflecting Kannur’s cultural legacy, has been allotted ₹10 lakh. Kannur Dasara has been earmarked ₹1 crore through sponsorship support.

Economic initiatives

The Budget has earmarked ₹1.5 crore for the preparation of a detailed project report for a sports commercial complex. The night office project under the Sleepless Kannur initiative will receive ₹10 crore. The Kannur Toy Town project has been allotted ₹1 crore.

A job website has been allocated ₹1 crore to enhance employment opportunities. The vertical farming project will get ₹2.5 crore.

The Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme has been allocated ₹3.56 crore.

Under the civic and social projects, ₹2 crore has been set aside for Mahatma Wards Service Centres, and elderly-friendly projects have been allotted ₹10 lakh.

Animal protection programmes will receive ₹50 lakh, while ₹80 lakh has been earmarked for the ‘Fish is Our Welfare Scheme’. International standard city signboards and wayfinding systems have been allocated ₹4 lakh. An AI-based international urban design and 3D city visualisation will receive ₹3 lakh.

The Budget underscores a blend of welfare, culture, tourism promotion, environment sustainability, and infrastructure expansion, positioning Kannur for inclusive and technology-driven urban growth in the coming financial year.