A Rs 95-crore international exhibition-cum-convention centre, a Rs 3-crore laser project, Rs 70-lakh solar power station top the list of the development initiatives of Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).
The 60-kw solar power station set up at its headquarters in Kadavantra will be commissioned by Minister for Transport and Electricity Aryadan Muhammed on October 7.
The Authority has installed solar panels worth Rs 80,000 in the garden on an experimental basis. The installation is expected to power the second and third floors of the office building. The Authority plans to save an average of Rs 60,000 each month from its Rs 1.4 lakh energy bills per month, almost 50 per cent of its energy requirements, through the project. A Pune-based firm, Photonix India Ltd, and United Electricals Ltd, a public limited company under the state government, were entrusted with the installation of solar panels.
GCDA chairman N Venugopal said that Photonix is a registered company with the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy and has a valid licence for installing panels. He also added that the solar panel cells have been imported from Germany.
District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth, Mayor Tony Chammany, MLAs Dominic Presentation and Hibi Eden, District Panchayat president Eldose Kunnapallil among others will attend the function.
The Rs 3-crore laser project of the GCDA at Rajendra Maidan will be inaugurated by Minister for Urban Affairs and Minorities Welfare Manjalamkuzhi Ali on October 15. The project includes a gallery to accommodate nearly 600 people, a musical fountain and a laser projector system. According to the chairman, the project would help attract more tourists to Rajendra Maidan which is almost deserted now with nothing to interest the public.
The Rs 95 crore International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) is another dream project of GCDA which will soon become a reality. “The executive committee has approved the design and KITCO has made the estimate for the project. It will be submitted soon for the state government’s approval. We expect to commence the work by December-end,” said N Venugopal.
The GCDA will spend Rs 30 crore and Rs 65 crore for the project which will be let out on rent. The design of the 80,000 sq ft IECC includes a wide and spacious convention centre studded with commercial stalls, food court and guest rooms.