Archive · 2 Feb 2026
Budget 2026: Turtle Trails and Regional Disparities
The Union Budget 2026-27 has some big plans for India's coastal areas.
It wants to create special paths called 'turtle trails' where people can watch Olive Ridley turtles lay their eggs.
These trails will be in Odisha, Kerala, and Karnataka.
The budget also talks about setting up special areas for mining and processing rare earth minerals in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
This is to help these states grow and create jobs.
The budget also mentions making 20 new waterways for moving goods and setting up three new chemical parks.
However, some people in Kerala feel that their state is not getting enough attention or money from the central government for important projects like a new port and better roads.
The Union Budget 2026-27 proposes ecologically sustainable turtle trails along key nesting sites in Odisha, Kerala, and Karnataka.
Odisha's Gahirmatha rookery is acclaimed as the world's largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley turtles, with a record 9 lakh eggs laid in 2023.
The budget announces dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to promote mining, processing, research, and manufacturing.
Twenty new National Waterways will be operationalised over the next five years, starting with NW-5 in Odisha to connect mineral-rich areas to ports.
Kerala feels neglected by the budget, with no significant allocations for projects like the Vizhinjam port and high-speed rail connectivity.
- Who
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Kerala and Odisha governments, Wildlife activists
- What
- Union Budget 2026-27 announcements on turtle trails, rare earth corridors, and infrastructure development
- When
- February 2026
- Where
- India, specifically Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- Why
- To promote eco-tourism, sustainable cargo movement, and regional development
- Budget Announcement
- Turtle trails and rare earth corridors
- States Mentioned
- Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- Turtle Nesting Sites
- Gahirmatha, Rushikulya, Devi river mouth
- Rare Earth Corridors
- Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- National Waterways
- 20 new waterways to be operationalised
- Chemical Parks
- Three dedicated chemical parks to be established
- Turtle Eggs Laid
- 9 lakh (record number in 2023)
