THRISSUR/KOCHI: Kerala has reasons to feel satisfied over the allocation of funds for the Kerala Agricultural University in Mannuthy (Rs 100 crore) and Kochi Metro (Rs 60 crore) in the Union Budget on Friday. The 41-year-old KAU hopes to spend most of the promised funds in revamping facilities and implementing research and developmental projects.The KAU is one of the five agricultural universities in the country which were allotted funds by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.A jubilant Dr K R Viswambharan, KAU Vice-Chancellor, told Express: “Finally we got the deserved recognition. It is the result of the varsity’s accomplishments in the last five years in academics and research. I hope the state government will help the KAU lead a mission for food security.’’The university will set aside a major portion of the outlay for starting new generation courses, strengthening regional stations and directorates, and establishing a centre for seed science and a centralised administrative block for the KAU. The Kochi Metro Rail Project got a major thrust with the allocation of Rs 60 crore in the Union Budget. Of the total funds, Rs 49 crore is allocated as investment in public enterprises by the Ministry of Urban Development. “We are extremely happy. This is a great impetus to Kochi’s biggest dream today and it will accelerate the implementation of the project in a significant manner,” Tom Jose, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited said.
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