KOCHI: The annual budget of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) for the 2016-2017 fiscal, presented by chairman N. Venugopal on Tuesday, focuses on infra development, eco-friendly and non-motorised urban transport, tourism, organic farming, city beautification along with local development.
The budget put the income for the year at Rs 243.38 crore and expenses at Rs 211.77 crore, with a surplus of Rs 31.61 crore. The development authority has proposed 15 new projects for the next fiscal.
Unlike the traditional infra projects, a Rs 5 cr cycle track from Vyttila Hub to Infopark, Kakkanad is one of the prominent projects proposed for the next fiscal. “A cycle track alongside the backwaters needs no land acquisition and can be completed with minimum funds,” said N. Venugopal.
The highest budget allocation is for the renovation of the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Rs 27 cr, using both State and Union government funds. A mega logistic centre on 100 acre land at Kalamassery, the largest of its kind in the state, is another major project for which '1 cr has been earmarked. The project will be taken up with private participation.
Funds have also been allocated for Kaloor – Kadavanthra road development, Rameswaram – Mundamveli – Kalathara Bridge, Ambedkar Stadium ring road and JN Stadium ring road. Rs. 1 cr each has been allocated for a project to address water logging, development of KP Vallon Road, HPCL Road and for laying concrete tiles in the two acre land in front of Ambedkar stadium.
After the Budget presentation in the administrative council, the GCDA chairman told mediapersons that except for three projects - the tunnel aquarium, the convention centre at Kaloor and the international shopping mall at Manapattiparambu - all other proposals announced in the previous budget were either completed or were works in progress.
Expressing his displeasure over the state government’s negative approach to GCDA’s project proposals, N. Venugopal alleged that the government was reluctant to approve GCDA proposals. MLAs Hibi Eden, Benny Behanan, Dominic Presentation, Anwar Sadath, Saju Paul and Jose Thettayil also attended the session.
