The Union Budget 2026-2027, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday has received mixed reactions from the trade chambers and archaeology enthusiasts from Thoothukudi district.
D.R. Kodeesawaram, president, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Thoothukudi, has emphasised the 2026-2027 financial year’s union budget as “balanced one” for its focus on long term growth, fiscal discipline and infrastructure development.
He added that the mega textile parks to focus on bringing value addition to technical textiles and the public capital expenditure were significant. Public capex has risen manifold from ₹2 lakh crore in financial 2024-2025 to an allocation of ₹11.2 lakh crore in 2025-2026. In the fiscal year 2026-2027, it has now increased to ₹12.2 lakh crore, thereby continuing the growth momentum.
He also highlighted the announcement of promoting environmentally sustainable passenger systems, aimed at creating high-speed rail corridors between the cities.
In addition, he proposed staggering the timeline for filing tax returns and sought an increase in the limit for duty free imports of specified inputs used for processing seafood products for export.
Speaking on the development of a Adichanallur archeological site, an archeology enthusiast Muthalankurichi Kamarasu said that Ms. Sitharaman had laid the foundation stone for the construction of a world class museum in Adichanallur in 2023 to exhibit the artifacts.
“At that time, when there was a strong hope that an international standard museum would be established at the site, the project was suddenly put on hold. This caused great disappointment among the enthusiasts,” he noted.
Highlighting the Porunai archaeological museum inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had attracted over one lakh visitors within 20 days, he added that while this was encouraging, there was also a concern that the site museum at Adicahanallur might be neglected and unfinished.
However, in the current year’s budget there are announcement for developing the Adichanallur archeological site, Mr. Kamarasu requested that steps must be taken to construct the museum in Adichanallur and direct buses must be introduced between Porunai museum and Adicahanallur.
Published – February 01, 2026 08:50 pm IST
