Greater Cochin Development Authority

The Greater Cochin Development Authority is the planning and development Authority of the Metropolitan area of Cochin, which is the urban hinterland of Cochin Port. The jurisdictional area of GCDA comprises of the Cochin City, the commercial capital of Kerala, 6 surrounding municipalities and 25 intervening panchayats covering an area of 632 sq.km .

GCDA helps the other developmental agencies both private and public in directing investments; takes up comprehensive sector wise studies, identifies growth centers; creates basic infrastructure including developed land through setting up land bank and takes up private public partnership projects. GCDA also takes up consultancy works in planning and engineering fields, and undertakes studies in urban related projects.

Objectives of GCDA

• To guide urban development by checking urban sprawl and promoting healthy growth of urban and rural areas through long term, short term and action area oriented detailed development plans.
• To coordinate the activities of different developmental agencies including Government departments operating in the area.
• To take up model schemes and projects in different sectors of development.
• To monitor and implement the plans and proposals through public participation, timely revision and by prioritizing proposals.
• With the above objectives, GCDA, in consultation with the State Town Planning Department has prepared and published the following plans.
• Structure Plan for the designated Central City of Cochin with framework of the Regional Development Plan.
• Detailed Town Planning Schemes for the sub areas of the Region each with emphasis on specific sectors of development viz. residential, commercial, road development, recreational development etc.

Functions of GCDA

Fixing priorities of development and choosing sectors for immediate improvement.Taking up model schemes in different sectors of development such as Residential development including construction of houses Road improvement / new roads formation including construction of bridges,flyovers etc.

• Commercial Centre development
• City Centre Development
• Creating open spaces and recreational facilities including sports & games
• Creation of work centres for the urban poor
• Undertaking City Beautification Schemes
• Canal Development and drainage improvement schemes
• Rehabilitation Schemes
• Environmental Improvement and Urban Renewal Schemes
• Heritage Conservation Schemes
• Consultancy Services to Local Bodies & Institutions in Planning & Engineering fields
• Initiating development stratagies especially for infrastructure and area development schemes using innovative planning and implementation techniques such as B O T Schemes / public – private partnership schemes, land pooling, land bank creation etc.

GCDA Organization

Greater Cochin Development Authority is headed by Chairman along with the Secratory . There are five department sunder whom the whole function of GCDA depends they are –

• Planning Department
• Fianance Department
• Estate Department
• Administrative Department
• Engineering Department

Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA)

Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) is one of the two government agencies for the development of Kochi City Region, Kerala along with GCDA which serves entire Cochin Corporation and surrounding municipalities around the region. GIDA’s main purpose, as the name suggests to develop the infrastructure facilities of scattered islands in and around the Kochi city. Its area consists of entire Vypin Island, Vallarpadam, Bolgatty-Mulavukad Island, Thanthonnithuruthu, Kadamakkudy and a group of small islands in Vembanad Lake covering an area of 100 km2 with a population of 3.5 Lakhs.

Contact Details

Goshree Islands Development Authority
P. B. No. 2012
Kochi- 682 020
Kerala India
Tel: 0484- 2206230 ,
2205061
Fax: 0484- 2206230
Email- gcdaonline@gmail.com
Website – www.gcdaonline.com