The Kochi Corporation plans to advance its 2014 budget session to  the end of next January or early February owing to the Lok Sabha elections  due next year. The preparations in this regard has already begun at the Corporation,   confirming an early budget session. “We have started work for the next   budget. I have started assembling files eying an early budget,” said Kochi   Corporation Deputy Mayor and Standing Committee for Finance chairperson B Bhadra.

However, the Corporation authorities remained tight-lipped on what to expect from the budget.

This will be the first budget of the corporation after the commencement of Kochi Metro Rail work and a number of prospective development projects are facing a cringing fund shortage and delay in implementation, including widening of the South Railway Over Bridge (ROB) and Thammanam-Pullepady Road, construction of Atlantis ROB, Goshree-Mamangalam road, Pachalam ROB, reconstruction of PVS culvert and widening of the stretch between North station and South station.

If the civic body identifies any major source for income generation, as it  is admittedly reeking in revenue deficit, that would be another major  watch-out in the next budget of the civic body. Other significant issues   like projects to tackle waste menace and provide security for women will  also have to be looked out.

“The term of the 16th Lok Sabha will end on 31st May, 2014. The Election Commission has already set the balls rolling for election to be conducted in April - May of next year. With this, the state government may conduct an early budget session. The Corporation would follow the suit,” said Mayor Tony Chammany.

“We are expecting to conduct budget session just after the state budget, which is expected to be conducted very early next year,” the Mayor added.  “At present, the Corporation has serious limits, mainly, financial shortage,” said Mayor.