Greater Cochin Development Authority, GCDA was constituted by the State Government in 1976 with a view to mastermind an orderly and planned development within the Greater Cochin Region comprising Kochi Corporation, 6 municipalities & 33 panchayaths having an area of 732 sq. km. Later Government of Kerala constituted Goshree Islands Development Authority, GIDA in 1993 comprising 8 island panchayaths of Greater Cochin region and a portion of Corporation having an area of 100 sq. km. The present GCDA area comprises Kochi Corporation, 9 municipalities and 21 panchayaths having an area of 632 sq. km. GCDA is also having its role to co-ordinate activities of various developmental agencies operating in Kochi Region. There are Twenty three Detailed Town Planning schemes and the Structure plan for Kochi Central city to the credit of GCDA.

GCDA also has been very selective in fixing up priority sectors of development and choosing out sectors for immediate improvement. The development schemes launched and works attended by this Authority include the following

1 Preparation of Urban Planning schemes
2 Research and Studies on subjects related to Urban development
3 Infrastructure development such as
i. Housing
ii. Roads, Bridges & Fly over construction
iii. Commercial infrastructure development
iv. Neighbourhood development projects
v. Environmental Improvement projects
vi. Creation of recreational facilities
vii. Stadia and sports complexes etc.

Major projects under taken in these sectors are as follows,

Housing

 

Sl.No	Schemes Name	No.Dwelling Units	No.Plots	Remarks
1	Panampilly Nagar	556	600	-
2	Gandhi Nagar	920	2	-
3	South Commercial Centre	36	20
4	Indira Nagar ( UnderThevara-Perandoor Canal DTP Scheme	156	55
5	Chilavannur	-	11
6	Thottakkattukara	-	122
7	Aluva	26	-
8	Paravur	50	-
9	Vaduthala	56	-
10	Thrikkakara	191	378
11	Edathala	202	-
12	Kasthurba Nagar	100	-
13	Sasthry Nagar	104	-
14	Koovappadam	170	-
15	Working Journalists	72	-
16	Rameswaram West	60	238
17	Asoka & Tharangini Flats at Marine Drive	204	-
18	Flat at Gandhi Nagar	48	-
19	Kaloor	-	28

 

 

Apart from the above GCDA has provided developed lands to many Central Govt. establishments in Kochi like P & T, LIC, Customs & Central Excise, Passport Office, Income Tax Department, various Banks, Navy, Coast Guard, VSNL, Cochin Shipyard, Central Administrative Tribunals and Employees Co- Operative Housing Societies etc.

The Authority has extended its development arms to the weaker section of the Society as well by way of various slum improvement projects. The major Slum Improvement Projects are;

 

Kareethala and Udaya colony:-

The scheme implemented as part of Elamkulam North Detailed Town Planning Scheme. 152 houses were built as part of this slum improvement scheme.

 

Koothappady Colony:-

36 houses were built here as part of the slum improvement under the Elamkulam Road DTP scheme

 

Thammanam Colony:-

197 houses were built as part of this slum improvement scheme.

 

Fort Cochin Colony:-

60 houses were built as part of the slum improvement scheme.