The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) would join hands with Chengamanad panchayat to ready a detailed town planning scheme as part of an international cricket stadium and sports city that have been envisaged at Chengamanad near the Cochin International Airport, GCDA K. Chandran Pillai said here on Monday after presenting the agency’s Budget.
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are expected to ready the stadium in India’s first carbon-neutral sports city, in 40 acres of land identified by the GCDA at Chengamanad. The stadium that is expected to cost ₹400 crore would be readied in four years. Components like road connectivity and environment impact assessment (EIA) ought to be done for the project. The decision to opt for a locale in the northern part of Kochi was taken considering the need for the city to expand east and northward since the western coast was vulnerable (to rising sea levels).
The KCA had handed over the proposal for the sports city, which is part of its mission ‘Beyond 2020,’ and the initial design to the Chief Minister in January. BCCI president Jai Shah had earlier visited the site and cleared the ₹750-crore proposal. The proposed stadium will have seating capacity for 40,000. It would also feature indoor and outdoor practice spaces, training ground, sports academy and research centre, eco park and water sports park, sports medicine and fitness centre, e-sports arena, entertainment zone, and a club house.
