Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal presented the 2026 State Budget focusing on Malabar's development. Work has begun on the 8.73-km Wayanad tunnel road (Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi), estimated to cost ₹2,134.50 crore. The budget allocates ₹80 crore for the Wayanad Development Package. The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will expand in phases: Thrissur to Kozhikode, Kozhikode to Kannur, and Kannur to Kasaragod, aiming to boost regional connectivity. Tourism gets a push with ₹5 crore for the Beypore Uru project and ₹2 crore to start a blue-green integrated tourism circuit at Dharmadom in Kannur. An integrated international sports hub in Kannur will feature world-class facilities including a FIFA-standard football stadium and an FIH-standard hockey arena. The budget sets aside ₹10 crore for initial work. Cultural and heritage sectors also benefit: ₹3 crore for a historical research centre at Ponnani named after scholar Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdoom II, ₹1.5 crore for the first phase of M.T. Memorial Cultural Centre at Thunchan Parambu, and ₹1 crore for the South Zone Cultural Centre at Pinarayi. Plans include establishing a Kerala Kala Kendra in Kozhikode. An additional Kerala Administrative Tribunal bench will open at Thalassery with ₹28.01 lakh allocated. Water resource research via the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management gets ₹13 crore. Cyberpark Kozhikode is allocated ₹12.10 crore. The Kasaragod development package rises by ₹5 crore to ₹80 crore. Funds for the Cauvery River basin projects total ₹28.75 crore, including ₹27 crore from RIDF. The Banasura Sagar project receives ₹21.75 crore, with ₹20 crore from RIDF. These initiatives mark a strong push to transform Malabar's infrastructure, connectivity, sports, culture, and tourism sectors.