Kerala - Kochi   

GCDA's wait for a new chief continues

Staff Reporter

Many projects ready to be implemented

KOCHI: Delay in appointing a new chairman has taken the wind out of the sail of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). When the former chairman Antony Isaac put in his papers, following the change of guard at the State Government, the Authority was poised to begin many projects. All these have been put on hold now.

"Most of the projects have completed technical procedure. Given the sanction, they could begin in 45 days time," said Prof. Isaac. At present, the survey for the outer ring road is going on.

Survey of around three kilometres has been completed and only four kilometres remains to be done. The Authority's proposal is to make a full ring road along the periphery of the city. The 65-km road will start from Marine Drive and connect Vaduthala, Cheranalloor, Kothad, Chennur, Varappuzha, Malikapeedika, Alangad, Chengamanad, Athani, Puthencruz, Udayamperoor and joins the National Highway 47 at Panangad.

The present survey covers the first phase of the road from Marine Drive to NH 17 at Varappuzha. The four-lane road with four bridges across the backwaters is estimated to cost Rs.90 crores. Other major projects lined up include roofing of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, desalination plant for West Kochi, relaying the turf of the stadium, swimming pool complex at Rameswaram, Pappan Smaraka Indoor stadium at Varappuzha and houses at Edathala.

With no one to prioritise, work on these projects cannot be initiated, say GCDA officials. At the same time, these officials are pointing out that the new Government should empower the Authority to take up works in the suburbs.

Development of land in panchayats like Thrikakkara and Cheranalloor are taking place at an amazing pace. With no expertise to coordinate this development process effectively, the result is often haphazard. This could lead to a disaster in future, they said.

Unlike the Corporation and Municipalities, these panchayats are not exercising any control on the new buildings or insisting on proper infrastructure like sewerage. Hence, metro authorities should be entrusted with the work of creating a master plan for the city suburbs, it is pointed out.

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