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Puducherry Lt Governor K Kailashnathan has said that the government's long-term vision is to create a Puducherry that is industrially developed, attracts investment and generates employment while remaining self-reliant and environmentally sustainable.
Addressing the state assembly on Monday at the start of first budget session of the 16th Puducherry Legislative Assembly, the Lt Governor said the constituency development fund for MLAs would be increased from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore. He said 42,000 people below the poverty line are benefiting from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, while 38,200 people above the poverty line have also been added to the scheme. Kailashnathan said Rs 20 crore has been allocated for the development of Karaikal beach and announced that 15,000 new beneficiaries have been added to the old-age pension scheme. Women's pension has also been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500. Kailasanathan said Puducherry's economy has continued to grow, with the growth rate rising from -2.21 per cent in 2020-21 to 8.12 per cent in 2025-26. He said 4,160 government posts have been filled based on merit and transparency in the last five years, while around 1,000 more posts are expected to be filled through written examinations. The Lieutenant Governor also announced a Rs 4,800-crore project for the expansion of Puducherry airport. Under the project, the runway will be extended from 1,500 metres to 2,300 metres, and a new passenger terminal will be constructed to handle larger aircraft. He said an IT Special Economic Zone worth Rs 725 crore and a multipurpose SEZ worth Rs 2,500 crore are proposed in Uzhavarkharai-Thattanchavadi, which are expected to generate thousands of jobs over the next 10 years. He also highlighted major infrastructure projects, including Rs 4,750 crore for drinking water, Rs 1,433 crore for coastal protection and Rs 1,500 crore for the expansion of the high-level road and NH-32. (ANI)
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