It’s time for the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) to take stock of its ambitious projects.
Taking a relook at seven of its key projects worth about Rs. 196 crore, The Hindu found that all of them were either stalled or dropped with one being scaled down considerably. The exhibition-cum-convention centre proposed in front of the Kaloor International Stadium at an investment of Rs. 98 crore remains stalled for want of approval from the State government so as the skywalk project proposed at Menaka for Rs. 2 crore.
The 85-crore tunnel marine aquarium project spread over 12 acres, formation of a special purpose vehicle for a solid waste treatment plant at an investment of Rs. 50 lakh and the setting up of Cochin School of Planning for Rs. 50 lakh have been dropped. A shopping complex project proposed alongside the residential apartment project at Kadavanthra for Rs. 10 crore has been dropped on the ground that it would consume too much space of the total 60 cents.
“GCDA cannot execute projects without the State government nod. The Finance Department has not been enthusiastic about many of our projects,” GCDA chairman N. Venugopal said.
However, M.C. Josephine, who immediately preceded Mr. Venugopal, said she was often bewildered by many of GCDA’s recent projects.
“It’s a fact that there has never been any clarity on GCDA’s role in the city’s development. GCDA hardly has the money for the kind of projects announced now with parcels of land spread across the city remaining its only asset. So, instead of announcing grandiose projects, they should identify and execute projects that would uplift commoners’ life,” she said.
Ms. Josephine wondered why the agency never felt the need to implement the housing project for the impoverished, which she had initiated at Mundamveli towards the end of her tenure.
“Similarly, why can’t GCDA focus on issues like lack of comfort stations, especially for women, in the city,” asked Ms. Josephine.
A shopping complex project has been dropped on the ground that it will consume too much space.
