No new projects, interim budget disappointing: CM Pinarayi

New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has termed the Union budget 'disappointing' and criticised the Centre for not providing enough funds for the flood-hit state.

Even if the BJP-led NDA government presented the interim budget eyeing the upcoming Parliament elections, Kerala was not given enough consideration, he said in a Facebook post.

No package was announced in the budget for the state to tide over the August deluge and to strengthen its rebuilding initiatives, he said. The budget, which reduced the existing allocations to the states, was silent about many long-pending demands of Kerala, he said.

There was no mention about any effective measure to contain the soaring price hike of essential commodities and petrol, diesel and cooking gas, he said.

Kerala has also not received any new projects or funds except for gauge change and track doubling.

Doubling of tracks on Kottayam line received Rs 104 crore and Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari line received Rs 133 crore. The Alappuzha line was allocated Rs 47 crore and Haripad-Ambalapuzha (18km) got Rs 26 crore. Guruvayur-Thirunavaya and Angamali-Erumeli Sabari line received Rs 1 crore each.

A token amount of Rs 1,000 was allocated for Kanjikode coach factory, Palakkad, suggesting continuation of the project. A coach factory is impossible without private partnership, said the ministry.

However, no hike in rail passenger tickets or freight charges was declared in the interim budget.

(With PTI inputs)