ABOUT GCDA

The Greater Cochin Development Authority has come into existence on 24-01-1976 under the Madras Town Planning Act of 1920 and Travancore Town Planning Act IV of 1108 readwith G.O. (MS) No.19176/LA & SWD dated 23-01-1976.

As a first step towards the formalised development planning of the Cochin region, an advisory committee was set up in 1965. In the same year itself a Joint Town Planning Committee was constituted for the Greater Cochin region and this committee has been elevated in to a trust viz. Cochin Town Planning Trust under the Chairmanship of the District Collector. In the course of time the authorities wereconvinced of the fact that a larger set up is required to control the growth of the Cochin City and its environs in a planned manner which resulted in the formation of GCDAas noted as first.

The jurisdiction of GCDA covers an area of 732 km2 consisting of KochiCorporation, 9Municipalities and 21 Panchayaths. Subsequently Goshree Islands    DevelopmentAuthority(GIDA) was constituted vide G.O.(MS) No.114/94/LAD dated 18-05-1994 comprising 8 Island Panchayaths and two wards of Cochin Corporation viz. Thanthonnithuruthu and Fort Vyppin having an area of 100 km2 and thus delimiting the jurisdictional area of GCDAto 632 km2.

Corporation: Kochi except Fort Vypeen, Gundu Island and Thanthonnithuruthu

Municipalities: Aluva, North Parur, Angamali, Perumbavoor, Tripunithura Kalamassery, Maradu, Thrikkakara and Eloor.

Panchayaths:Chellanam, Kumbalanghi, Mulanthuruthi, Cheranelloor, Kumbalam,Udayamperoor, Vadavucode-Puthencruz, Vazhakulam, Choornikara, Edathala,Keezhmadu,Chengamanad, Sreemoolanagaram, Alangad, Kadungalloor. Ezhikkara,Kottuvally,Nedumbassery, Kanjoor, Varapuzha and Chottanikkara.

The following are the specific functions of GCDA:

To guide urban development by checking urban sprawl and promoting health growth of urbanand rural areas through long term, short term and action area orienteddetailed development plans.

Preparation and notification of draft General and Detailed Town Planning Schemes in consultation with the Town Planning Department.

Implementation of General and Detailed Town Planning Schemes sanctionedby Government.

To co-ordinate the activities of the various agencies

To determine the phasing of development in providing open spaces and recreational facilitiesdepending on the needs of the region.