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• Calling the state budget presented on Friday by state finance minister K M Mani as infrastructure-oriented and progressive, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala said that it was a reflection of the government's focus on enhancing the infrastructure and modernizing the agriculture sector.

• V K Mathews, chairman, CII Kerala State Council & executive chairman, IBS Group, said in a statement on Friday that the move to set up hi-tech bio parks, greenhouse farming, Rice Bio Park and Coconut Bio Park initiatives show the government's intent to transform the agro sector. "The Budget is a realistic assessment of the economic situation and is well balanced when it comes to revenue and fiscal deficit management. A slew of initiatives that will benefit the state citizenry have been announced in health care, water supply, slum rehabilitation, power supp ly and transportation. This is most welcome," Mathews said.

• "Unavailability of suitable land is a bottleneck standing in the way of industrialization and the move to allocate Rs 300 crore for making land available for industrial purposes is praiseworthy. The initiatives on industrial development like 'Emerging Kerala', establishment of business zones, new airports, innovative mission, sea-plane services, and the aviation academy are welcome. It is heartening that the budget has provided for setting up academic institutions like IIT, Ayurveda University and a Technical University," Mathews said.

• Meanwhile, former member of Planning Board K N Harilal said there were not many imaginative announcements like the SPV which was envisaged by the LDF government in its last budget for modernization of the roads. "The UDF government is largely eyeing mega projects like Metro Rail project and High Speed Rail Corridor project. They also have made some allocation in the budget for these projects and some road projects. But whether such projects can be realized by this allocation is doubtful," he said.

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