Kochi gives ambitious ring road project a push

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will submit the alignment of the proposed 64-km ring road connecting Chatiyath and Panangad before the Ports Department for approval. Since about 10.5 km stretch of the road between Chatiyath and Varapuzha passes through coastal areas, GCDA would require the approval from the Ports Department.

The proposed road will connect Chatiyath-Varapuzha-Alangad-Athani-Puthencruz-Mulamthuruthy and Panangad. The road will have a width of 36 meters. GCDA Chairman N Venugopal ruled out the possibility of reclamation of backwaters, and stated that they would bring in the latest technology to carry out the construction over water bodies.

He said the authority was expecting a positive response from the department. GCDA has decided to include the project in the budget for 2013-14 and present it for approval of the state government, he said. On a question on the environment impact assessment (EIA) report, he said that the Centre had already approved the project.

For the second phase of the development of Marine Drive, GCDA has zeroed in on Delhi-based public sector unit RITES, a government of India infrastructure consultancy, to prepare the EIA report. Venugopal said that though the authority had approached other agencies, RITES was the only agency which replied in the affirmative to prepare the report. He also held talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and gave him a status update of various development projects initiated by the authority.

He added that if the authority wants to go ahead with projects it required the support of the government. The proposed ring road will connect Chatiyath-Varapuzha-Alangad-Athani-Puthencruz-Mulamthuruthy and Panangad. It will cover a stretch of 64-km and have a width of 36 meters

About 10.5 km stretch of the road, between Chatiyath and Varapuzha, passes through coastal areas and GCDA requires approval from the ports department for the same. GCDA has ruled out the possibility of reclamation of backwaters, and stated they would use the latest technology to carry out construction over water bodies without damaging the environment.