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 GCDA headquarters at Kadavanthra | |
| Company type | Development corporation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976[1] |
| Headquarters | Kadavanthra, , India |
Area served | Kochi, Kerala |
Key people | K. Chandran Pillai (Chairman) |
| Website | www |
Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is the statutory body overseeing the development of the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. Headquartered at Kadavanthra, GCDA oversees the development of the major part of Greater Cochin area which consists of the Kochi Municipal Corporation,[2] surrounding municipalities (Thrippunithura, Thrikkakara, Aluva, Kalamassery, Maradu, Eloor, North Paravur, Angamaly and Perumbavoor) and 21[2] intervening panchayats (Chellanam, Kumbalangi, Cheranelloor, Varappuzha, Chennamangalam, Kadamakkudy, Kadungalloor, Alengad, Chengamanad, Nedumbassery, ezhikkara, Chottanikkara, Choornikkara, Edathala, Kumbalam, Kottuvally and others) covering an area of 632 km2.[2]
As of 2001, the area has a population of more than 2.5 million.[3] GCDA is one of the two development authorities in Kochi, the other being GIDA which oversees development in the islands towards west of the Kochi mainland, and north of the harbour, covering a total area of 100 km2.
The state government and the GCDA have plans to include Angamaly, Perumbavoor, Piravom and Kolenchery in Ernakulam district; Mala and Kodungallur in Thrissur district; Thalayolaparambu and Vaikom in Kottayam; and Cherthala in Alappuzha district within the Kochi metropolitan limits. The newly formed metropolis would be put under the charge of a new authority called Kochi Metropolitan Regional Development Authority.
GCDA was the first exclusive agency formed for the development of any urban area in the state of Kerala. This led to the formation of development authorities for other cities in the state. The first of these were TRIDA – the Trivandrum Development Authority. Later development authorities were formed for Kozhikode and Thrissur as well.
- ^ "About". 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021.
- ^ a b c GCDA, Official Web site of GCDA, 'About Us' page
- ^ "Ernakulam.com". Archived from the original on 22 June 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2006.