The Hindu                15.06.2013

Kochi to seek more funds for flyovers, water supply projects

City administrators are planning to seek additional funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for flyovers, water supply and drainage projects.

The Corporation Council, which met here on Friday, approved a resolution moved by Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany in this regard. The Council’s clearance is required for the civic body to move ahead with its projects.

Briefing corporation councillors at the meeting, Mr. Chammany said the Central government had announced its intention to provide more funds for local bodies which could submit Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of their projects before July.

Sudhir Krishna, Secretary of Ministry of Urban Development, had also hinted at the funding possibilities at a function organised in connection with the Kochi metro rail project, Mr. Chammany said.

City corporation will forward the proposals of the State government to build flyovers at Kundannoor, Kalamassery, Vyttila and Palarivattom. It will be on the understanding that the State government will bear the cost of land acquisition, tender excess and the share of the urban local body that the projects will be forwarded. The support of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will also be sought. The role of the civic body will be that of a facilitator as JNNURM projects are sanctioned to local bodies, Mr. Chammany said.

The Ring Road proposed by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) from Marine Drive to Varapuzha at a length of 10.5 km will be submitted under the transport sector. The cost for acquiring land for the project will be jointly met by the civic body, the GCDA and the State government.

A new water supply project for providing additional volume of drinking water to the city is also in the wish list of the city administrators. The civic authorities plan to join hands with the Kerala Water Authority for the project. The KWA is the implementing agency for the Muvattupuzha drinking water project for which the Kochi Corporation had obtained funds from the JNNURM earlier.

The State Irrigation Department will be roped in for a project for improving the water quality of major canals and water bodies in the city. A drainage project for eastern Kochi and an integrated drainage scheme for West Kochi, a water transport project meant to act as a supporting infrastructure project for the Kochi metro rail and a few heritage conservation projects at West Kochi will also be forwarded. A few projects including the Broadway heritage conservation will be resubmitted for additional funds.

The civic body may have to rely on the DPRs prepared by agencies such as the NHAI for its flyovers. Going by the funding pattern of the Mission projects, the Centre will provide 50 per cent of the project cost.