Kochi pushes for metro city status
By Shibu B S - KOCHI
12th July 2012 09:03 AM
Only days after receiving the nod for the Metro Rail project, Kochi is now pushing for the status of a Metro city. The plan is to have under its ambit towns such as Vaikom, Thodupuzha, Cherthala, Kodungalloor and Chalakkudy from other districts.
Taking a cue from a proposal submitted by the Greater Cochin Development Authority, the state government is planning to take up with the Centre the elevation of Kochi as a Metro. To this end, the report proposes the formation of a Metropolitan Development Authority. A meeting has been convened in Thiruvananthapuram later this month to discuss the report titled ‘Proposal for the Kochi Metropolitan City’.
“A lot of things have to fall in place. If any city in Kerala deserves the Metro status, it is Kochi”, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told Express.
It may be recalled that soon after taking office, Chandy had said that his government would consider the formation of a Metropolitan Council for Kochi.
“We will invite representatives from the GCDA, ministers and MLAs of the proposed area and other officials concerned for the meeting later this month. The date of the meeting will be confirmed later,” Urban Development and Town Planning Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali said.
“This has been pending for a while. This is the right time for the state to push the proposal as the infrastructure parameters in Kochi meet the requirements,” said Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas.
“It was based on the Chief Minister’s declaration and instruction that the GCDA has prepared the report. Along with Metro status, the report moots the formation of a Metropolitan Development Authority which will cover a wider agglomeration area that includes towns from neighbouring districts such as Thrissur, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki,” said GCDA chairman N Venugopal.
He said the Metro proposal was made after considering the big leap by the city in seven key sectors. “With the sanctioning of Metro Rail and other infrastructure projects, Kochi now tops other cities in the state on infrastructure, real estate and transportation,” Venugopal said.
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Comments(7)
Besides a GREATER COCHIN METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY , a Greater Cochin Municipal Corporation has also to be formed; comprising Maradu , Thripunithura , Trikakara , Kalamassery , Eloor Municipalities and a dozen of neighboring panchayats such as Kumbalangi , Chellanam , Cheranelloor, Varapuzha , Kadamakudy ,Elamkunnapuzha , Narakkal etc etc etc. This is the right time for the formation of both the statutory and civic authorities. The authority may be included the parts of Alapuzha , Kottayam and Thrissur districts like Cherthalla , Vaikkom , Kodungallur Taluks . But Thodupuzha and Chalakudy are far extreme places . We are happy about joining the both areas including whole present Ernakulam district and the Taluks outside the districts quoted above .
Posted by Kabeer at 07/12/2012 22:34 Reply to this Report abuse
Please annexed all cities in kerala and rename the state as Kochi state.
Posted by kochiete at 07/13/2012 00:38 Reply to this Report abuse
it is a welcome step. We want huge fund for the development of the city. Will lead to flow of funds from many central agencies. But annexing town from other districts may not succeed.
Posted by p.s.sidhan at 07/13/2012 02:21 Reply to this Report abuse
Some years ago, MGR, the late chief minister of Tamilnadu declared change of his party's name from ADMK to All-India ADMK to prove his party as a national party which it is not eeven today.Similarly, simply declaring certain areas adjacent to Kochi city is not going to make it a metro city. First and foremost the proper infrastructure such as drainage and running water supply is paramount to such status. Let the MPsand the MLAs concentrate on this aspect befor screaming for metro statusAlso running water supply toits booming population is the most important requirement of the day..
Posted by lakshmi krishnamoorthy at 07/13/2012 08:50 Reply to this Report abuse
Some years ago, MGR, the late chief minister of Tamilnadu declared change of his party's name from ADMK to All-India ADMK to prove his party as a national party which it is not eeven today.Similarly, simply declaring certain areas adjacent to Kochi city is not going to make it a metro city. First and foremost the proper infrastructure such as drainage and running water supply is paramount to such status. Let the MPsand the MLAs concentrate on this aspect befor screaming for metro statusAlso running water supply toits booming population is the most important requirement of the day..
Posted by lakshmi krishnamoorthy at 07/13/2012 08:51 Reply to this Report abuse