Earmarking of ₹1 crore to study the feasibility of a ring road linking Angamaly with Ezhupunna in Alappuzha, through Puthen Cruz, Mulanthuruthy, and Poothotta, was among the highlights of the annual budget of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) presented by its Chairman K. Chandran Pillai on Thursday.
Shortly after assuming charge as the head of the agency earlier this year, he had cited the need to revisit the road’s alignment, in keeping with the times.
He further spoke of the need to develop eastern and north-eastern parts of the district, since Kochi is among the coastal cities identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as vulnerable to up to 25 cm sea level rise by 2050. A 50 sq km area is vulnerable to the phenomenon. The ring road must also redress threats posed by urbanisation and worsening traffic congestion, Mr. Pillai said.
The budget envisaged an income of ₹210 crore vis-a-vis ₹132-crore expenditure.
Another long-overdue road project that found mention in the budget was the Chilavannur bund road that will link Thykoodam on the NH Bypass with Thevara on MG Road. Approximately 1 km of the road needs widening, and those who have to surrender land will be rehabilitated in land pool available with the GCDA. A sum of ₹50 lakh was set apart to speed up road-widening work.
The budget also cited the need to develop a regional master plan to develop 632 sq km area under the GCDA, for which ₹10 lakh was allotted.
Logistics park
The budget earmarked ₹50 lakh for a feasibility study for a multi-modal logistics park in the suburbs. The aim is to bring about a modern and centralised godown space, with ample area to park goods carriers and rest rooms for crew. This gains relevance in the wake of godowns and other commercial structures propping up in hitherto residential areas in the city, spoiling the peaceful life of residents.
Mr. Pillai said a parking policy would be formulated in the Greater Kochi area, since narrow roads and obstructive parking were causing traffic congestion and accidents. “Pay and park lots will be developed with the help of local bodies, police, and the Road Safety Authority.” A sum of ₹10 lakh was set apart to study the issue and frame a policy in this regard. In addition, cycle tracks will be readied wherever possible.
