The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) said that the steps have been initiated to float tenders for Marine Drive beautification project. The Authority’s Chairman V Saleem also confirmed the move.
Following the Kerala High Court order on ensuring Marine Drive’s maintenance, bids for three city improvement projects, including the beautification of Marine Drive Walkway and Open Air Theatre, are being implemented under the Smart City projects will be floated this week.
The High Court recently intervened in the issue of sprucing up the walkway and ensuring better public amenities there. The beautification, as proposed by Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML), will cover theme-based play area, public amenities, lighting, and also the relocation of wayside traders.
According to the CSML officials, the Mission has drawn up a 7.10-crore plan, which also covers the operation and maintenance of facilities there.
The project proposal for a multi-level car parking facility at Kacheripady will be reworked as the original proposal had failed to find takers.
According to the officials, a few of the bidders had also expressed concern over the viability of the project at Kacheripady and suggested shifting it to Marine Drive.
Incidentally, the Mission was criticised in a recent meeting of the Kochi Corporation council. A few councilors had alleged that the project was being delayed despite funds reaching the coffers.
Responding to the criticisms, A P M Mohammed Hanish, Chief Executive Officer of CSML, said the present dispensation and the Project Management Consultant came into existence only in October 2017, two years after the Mission projects were allotted for Kochi.
