EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTER AT JNI STADIUM, KALOOR

The exhibitions and melas in Kochi nowadays are conducted in the temporarily built structures in the open ground at JNI stadium, Marine drive ground, Ernakulathappan ground, Rajendra maidanam, Ambedkar Stadium etc. The authority allots site for erecting the structures to conduct the exhibition at a very low rate in these prime locations resulting huge loss to GCDA. The exhibitions are being conducted here in temporary structures and a fire or an accident may result in the loss of human lives. So it is high time that a metro city like Kochi have an International Exhibition Centre which is safe, secure and convenient. The aim of this project is to develop a modern exhibition centre of international quality in the available space in front of the JNI stadium. The exhibition centre cum convention centre with sufficient parking, food court etc.Without disturbing the existing parking for the stadium and view of the stadium. A Request for Proposal RFP have already been invited from short listed Consultants of the project

The Consultant shall prepare the master plan (site layout) for the optimum utilization of the entire land and the detailed drawings of the exhibition cum convention centre.

The plot decided to set up exhibition cum convention centre is the open space available in front of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, without hampering the openness of the space and functioning of the stadium. The proposed centre will have an area in the range of 15000 sqm to 20000 sqm.

The centre will include the following components such as Spatious (air conditioned with good lighting) & flexible (with minimum pillars) hall, Information booth, Media centre/ VIP Lounge, Food court, Toilet complex, Security, Medical Assistance, Telephone and internet kiosk, ATM etc. The hall willbe designed with inbuilt adaptability for partitioning for using it as an exhibition centre as well as a convention centre as per requirement. It will have state of the art inbuilt provision for partitioning into smaller units with appropriate access and service facilities, so that multiple events can be heldsimultaneously. Adequate parking space will also be provided. The design will be such that Green Building accreditation can be obtained.

The expected total cost of the project is 80 – 85 Cr. GCDA has already provided 30 Cr. In the Budget for the FY ’13-’14 and the balance will be met as loan from financial institutions.

The occupancy rate of the open ground in front of the JNI Stadium now is about 200 days in a year which is expected to be 250 days once the exhibition centre is commissioned. The investment is expected to be recovered in 7 years.