Kodagu Health and Road Infrastructure Receive Boost in Karnataka Budget; Tourism Sector Disappointed
- Kodagu Express Bureau
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Bengaluru: Road infrastructure and healthcare services in Kodagu have received allocations in the Karnataka Budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on 6 March 2026, Friday, drawing mixed reactions from political leaders and stakeholders in the district.
While Congress leaders described the budget as development-oriented, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised it, stating that the district had not been given adequate attention.
Among the announcements, the government has earmarked ₹20 crore for the restoration of roads and bridges damaged due to heavy rainfall in Kodagu. The works are expected to be carried out in areas such as Virajpet, Madikeri and Ponnampet, which frequently experience infrastructure damage during the monsoon season.
Kodava Development Board:
The budget has also made provisions for developmental initiatives through the Kodava Development Board, welfare programmes for tribal communities that form a considerable portion of the district’s population, and improvements in healthcare facilities.
In the health sector, the Virajpet Government Hospital will see its capacity expanded from 200 beds to 400 beds. Funds have also been promised to upgrade the Kushalnagar Community Health Centre, while Ponnampet is set to receive a new community hospital.
Tourism stakeholders flag lack of support:
Despite these announcements, tourism stakeholders expressed disappointment over the absence of dedicated funding for tourism infrastructure in the district.
Nagendra Prasad, president of the Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association, said Kodagu contributes substantially to the State’s revenue through tourism-related activity and liquor sales but does not receive proportional investment.
“From property taxes paid by hospitality establishments to GST collections, the tourism sector generates significant revenue for the State. Unfortunately, little of this is reinvested in improving tourism infrastructure in Kodagu,” he said.
Political reactions:
Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna said that the budget presented by the Chief Minister has prioritised the welfare of all communities in the district and the overall development of Kodagu.” Allocations have been announced for the Kodava Development Board, lake development, tribal welfare, road infrastructure, and several other development initiatives in the district,” he added.
Former BJP Virajpet MLA K. G. Bopaiah strongly criticised the budget, describing it as “useless” and calling it a “record of complete failure”. According to him, the budget lacks people-centric measures and offers only assurances without concrete planning.
He pointed out that during the BJP’s tenure, Kodagu had received special allocations following the Nanjundappa Committee report, particularly because of the district’s vulnerability to heavy rainfall.
“Earlier, the district used to receive special packages of up to ₹100 crore. Over the last three years, Kodagu has been neglected,” he alleged.
Bopaiah also stated that the government has not presented a clear strategy or adequate funding to address the issue of human–wildlife conflict, which continues to affect several parts of the district.
On the other hand, Dharmaja Uthappa, district president of the Congress party, defended the budget, saying it focuses on development priorities for Kodagu. He said the allocations for the Kodava Development Board, road repairs and improvements in healthcare facilities demonstrate the government’s commitment to the district. “The budget also addresses concerns such as wildlife conflict and overall reflects a development-oriented approach,” he added.
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