Latest news with #GCDA
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Pothole-riddled arterial roads make commute a nightmare for Kochiites
The proliferation of potholes even on innumerable arterial roads and on national highway corridors has made commuting a nightmare in Kochi, following which angry motorists, pedestrians and others are demanding accountability from the agencies concerned. Ranjit Thampy, a city-based socio-environmental activist, said that only the roads which had been resurfaced a few years ago in the city hub by Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) were largely found to be free of potholes. He noted that this indicated a failure by the Kochi Corporation, Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA), Public Works Department (PWD), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure that preventive maintenance and the mandatory resurfacing of damaged corridors were carried out before the onset of the monsoons this year as well. 'The reason why roads that had been resurfaced using the BMBC method (that comes with a five-year warranty), and NHAI-owned NH corridors that are resurfaced using higher specifications develop potholes has to be probed. It often takes over an hour to reach from one point to a nearby point due to the worsening condition of roads and obstructive parking on almost all roads,' he said. Sources in the traffic police said that they were hamstrung, considering the unprecedented number of severely-potholed roads in the city and its immediate suburbs and the plethora of bottlenecked junctions. 'We are fed up with commuters often complaining to us about serpentine traffic snarls, wastage of time, fuel and the wear and tear of their vehicles. Incidents of road rage and accidents too are becoming common, since motorists often enter the wrong side of roads to avoid potholes,' they said. Gaping potholes With gaping potholes galore on the main carriageway and service roads of the NHAI-owned 17-km-long Edappally-Aroor NH 66 Bypass and the Kundannoor Junction-Maradu NH 85 corridor, the GCDA-owned Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road, the Kochi Corporation's Stadium Link Road, the GIDA's trio of Goshree bridges, the PWD's Thammanam-Pullepady Road and the NH Bypass-Vennala-Seaport-Airport Road corridor, NGOs and others filled a handful of potholes with stones and mud. There were also protests, with anything from shrubs to plantain trees coming in handy to warn motorists of impending potholes. Road owning agencies cite administrative delays for not doing preventive maintenance, rains and slack inter-departmental coordination as the reasons for the pathetic plight of roads in the city. Mayor M. Anilkumar spoke of how the Stadium Link Road would be resurfaced once the rain abated. Sources in the GCDA said that although tender was finalised to resurface the Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road earlier this year, the State government had not given sanction to execute the ₹2.50-crore work. 'The GCDA can directly award works only up to ₹1 crore. For now, workers have been directed to temporarily fill potholes and to place sign boards warning of potholes,' they said. On its part, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is facing flak for delay in repairing damaged and trenched parts of the arterial Civil Line Road that it barricaded a year ago for Kochi metro's Kakkanad extension.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Decks cleared for land pooling for Infopark phase III expansion in Kerala
KOCHI: With the state government issuing an order instructing the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) to pool 300 acres of land in Kizhakkambalam for Infopark's Phase III expansion, the space-starved IT park can now breathe easy. According to Chandran Pillai, GCDA chairman, decks have been cleared with regard to land pooling. 'Earlier, we didn't get the go-ahead from the chief minister's office. Then there was the problem associated with the approval from Kizhakkambalam panchayat. We got that too,' he said, adding that the GCDA team associated with the land pooling will now study similar cases, like the Amaravati model. 'This is a first-of-its-kind step in the state. We don't have a precedent. We are studying the Amaravati model and others. Careful study needs to be done before we begin the process,' Chandran said. Discussions will also have to be held with the IT and revenue departments, as well as the district collector to hammer out the nitty-gritties of the procedure, he said. 'However, the fact we have got the green signal is a big step forward in terms of the Infopark Phase III project. Envisaged as a township it is a prestigious project for the city and also much-needed, since we have a queue of companies wanting to set up offices at the IT park,' Chandran said. In the 10 years encompassing two tenures of Pinarayi Vijayan government, 352 new firms launched their offices in Phases I and II, creating over 73,500 jobs, said an Infopark official. The city's IT sector has seen a steady growth since the inception of Infopark, from 100 acres with four companies in 2004 to 583 companies in 2025 -- tech giant IBM Software's Ecosystem Incubation Centre (EIC) being the latest entry. Started as a small unit providing employment to close to 100 people, IBM has grown exponentially in the last three years to grant jobs to over 35,000 IT professionals.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GCDA staff association protests move to hand over land to registration department
Kochi: Employees' associations initiated protests against Greater Cochin Development Authority's (GCDA) decision to hand over 15 cents owned by the agency to the registration department. The association demanded that when leasing out GCDA's land to others, adequate rentals should be charged. Leaders of GCDA staff association, a pro-Congress union, wrote to the GCDA secretary regarding this issue. "It is learnt that there is a plan to hand over 15 cents of land owned by GCDA near Kadavanthra police station to the registration department. GCDA, being an agency that operates using its own funds, handing over the assets will affect day-to-day operations. GCDA does not receive any grant or financial support from govt. Therefore, land transactions should be conducted only after obtaining market value. Otherwise, the move to hand over the land should be scrapped," the association stated. Moreover, the plan to give various local bodies Rs 1 crore each to develop or construct infrastructure facilities within the holdings in such civic bodies' limits should also be reconsidered. The financial condition of GCDA is not satisfactory. Thus, providing financial support to the local bodies will affect GCDA's day-to-day activities, the association leaders said.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Infopark Phase III land pooling clears key hurdle
Kochi: The proposed Phase III campus of Infopark, planned in 300 acres in Kizhakkambalam panchayat, is a step closer to reality with the local self govt department (LSGD) formally appointing the greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) as the land pooling agency for the project. Earlier, the govt had decided to implement the Phase III project using the land pooling model and nominated GCDA as the executing agency. However, since Kizhakkambalam lies outside GCDA's jurisdiction, the agency sought special approval to proceed. With the latest LSGD order, GCDA has now been officially authorized to carry out land pooling in the area. A GCDA official confirmed that the new order removes a major procedural hurdle. However, further progress depends on the approval of the IT department, which has yet to give the green light to Infopark authorities. The proposal has been pending with the department for several months. The govt envisions a township-model IT hub under Phase III in the Kunnathunadu assembly constituency. As per the land pooling scheme, landowners will receive 60% of their original land post-development, with the value expected to rise three to four times. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Since this is Kerala's first project to follow the land pooling approach, GCDA recently hosted a workshop to familiarize stakeholders with the process. Demand for additional space at Infopark has been rising steadily. Phases I and II are already at full capacity, with over 600 companies operating and more than 70,000 professionals employed. Currently, more than 120 firms are on the waiting list for space. The Phase III expansion is expected to attract investments of around Rs 12,000 crore and generate IT employment for over one lakh individuals.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GCDA likely to invite PMC for Ambedkar Sports City project next week
Kochi: Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is likely to invite the tender for project management consultancy (PMC) for the construction of Ambedkar Sports City project next week. A GCDA source said the authority prepared a preliminary design of the project and the consultancy will prepare a final design. The authority plans to implement the project using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. The total estimated cost is Rs 90 crore. "We have already selected three public sector firms for spending their CSR funds on the project. Discussion with more agencies is going on," the source said. The project is being implemented after demolishing the existing Ambedkar Stadium. The stadium, located in the city centre, was in a dilapidated condition. It was around two years ago that the executive committee of GCDA granted approval for the demolition of the existing stadium to set up a sports city. The design of the new stadium is almost finalised. As part of the construction work, GCDA already completed the demolition of the galleries of the existing stadium. The demolition work was completed using Rs 2 crore. A new football stadium will be constructed along with other sports facilities. Apart from sports infrastructure, lighting and toilet facilities will be arranged. There will be an exclusive parking area for the new stadium.
