The Times of India 21.06.2013
Development body moots infrastructure projects
KOZHIKODE: The recently revived Calicut Development Authority (CDA) has unveiled a host of key urban development and infrastructure projects, which will be implemented in the city under its aegis.
Among the key projects that will be undertaken by the agency include a multi- level car parking at Link Road and four- laning of the Kallayi Road from Palayam to Meenchanda.
The CDA has also proposed implementing an ambitious urban re-construction project at Veliyangadi and urban renewal project at SM Street, apart from development of a godown complex at Beypore as part of its action plan.
CDA chairman N C Aboobacker, told the media that the authority will take over the multi-level car parking project at Link Road, which has been initiated by the Kozhikode corporation.
"Lack of parking spaces has become a major problem in the commercial hubs of the city. CDA will set up a multi-level car park with a capacity to accommodate over 100 vehicles along with a commercial complex in the 21 cents it has near the Link Road under a PPP(public-private partnership) model. The corporation has already inked a BOT(build operate transfer) agreement with a company called Yennavees for the project, which will now be implemented by the CDA," he said.
The project envisaging four-laning of the 4km stretch of Kallayi Road from Palayam to Meenchanda has been taken up as the widening of the road to 24m is vital for the Kozhikode monorail project. CDA said that the existing project to widen the road from Palayam to Francis Road Junction will be extended till Meenchanda considering its criticality for the monorail project.
"The authority will ensure that the shops and business establishments affected by the project will be provided premises near the widened road as part of the rehabilitation package," CDA secretary AM Jayan said.
CDA authorities said that final decision on the funding of the projects would be made only after the constitution of the executive committee of the CDA, which will be completed soon. "Most of the proposed projects would be either through PPP or BOT model. The authority is also expecting grants from the state government and intends to raise funds from its own assets," a CDA official said.
Among the other projects in the pipeline include development of busy road junctions in the city. It will also look into the possibility of setting up an international sports complex.
The state government had earlier this year revived the CDA, which was disbanded by the LDF government on March 31, 2007 and ordered the transfer of CDA assets held by the corporation to the revived authority.
The CDA assets include eight shopping complexes in the city, a godown in Beypore and land at key locations.
