Kerala - Kochi   

GCDA planning to set up art gallery, Naval museum

Staff Reporter

Decommissioned warship to be a star attraction

KOCHI: The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will join hands with the Indian Institute of Architects to set up a permanent exhibition venue for building materials and an art gallery.

The authority has approved a proposal by the institute to build a second floor on its building at Kadavanthra.

Of the built-up area of 5,700 sq. ft., the institute will retain 3,000 sq. ft. and the authority will get the rest.

"While the institute is planning to set up a permanent exhibition venue for quality building materials, we will be setting up an art gallery in our space," GCDA chairman Antony Isaac said.

The authority is also planning to offer a certificate course on architecture, in association with the institute.

The authority is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Navy soon for converting INS Chatak, a decommissioned warship, into a Naval museum. The ship was part of the fleet of missile boats that participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

The document has been prepared after incorporating minor changes suggested by the Navy. Two agreements will be signed in this regard: one between the authority and the Navy and another between the former and a contractor, who will tow the ship to a site identified by the authority.

The authority has allotted 25 cents of land near the market canal at Marine Drive on lease for 15 years. Though the documents are ready, the work may take time. The contractor is waiting for the signing of the agreement before starting dredging up to a depth of about 500 metres, which is needed to tow the ship to the site.

A problem that the authority may face in setting up the museum is the presence of a mobile-phone transmission tower of a private company on the site. The tower was set up temporarily on the rented land.

However, the company has applied for a renewal of the rent agreement, which will complete six months on August 20. The authority is not keen on renewing it.

The authority has started patchworks on the Kaloor-Kadavanthra road, which was damaged in the rain. About Rs. 9 lakh has been spent on repairs. The rough estimate for a full renovation using rubber bitumen is Rs. 1.01 crore.

Trees will be planted on the sides of the road. Prof. Isaac will inaugurate the planting of trees at Kamadhenu Square, Kadavanthra, on August 15. The drive is being carried out by the authority, in association with Nehru Darsana Vedi and Jaladhara Cultural Vedi.

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