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.