GCDA to boot out BOT

KOCHI: As a first step against disbanding BOT system, the Greater Cochin    Development Authority (GCDA) has written to the state government to do away   with the proposal for infrastructure development at Manappattiparambu on BOT basis.  A day after assuming charge as the chairman of the GCDA, N Venugopal wrote   a letter to the local body secretary in this regard.  Talking to City Express, he said the executive meet to be held on Friday   would take a final decision in this regard. “The BOT cell of the government  has not yet decided on the proposal submitted by the GCDA officials. I have already talked to the secretary of the local bodies and other officials concerned,” Venugopal said.  He added that instead of BOT, the GCDA would come up with a proposal on the  lines of PPP, in which the GCDA would have a major share.“There was a proposal to build a convention centre at Manappattiparambu on a BOT basis on the two-and-a-half acres of land left with the authority. The  remaining two acres of land is now being used by the Kerala Metro Rail Limited,” he said.  As per the present proposal forwarded to the BOT cell, the constructors  would have the right for about 35 years and after that it would be handed  over to the GCDA, he said and added that it would only bring loss to the Authority.  Moreover, the condition as per the present proposal was that an amount of  `50 lakh would be given to the GCDA for 35 years which meant that the  Authority would be getting `17 crores for the whole period.  Pointing out that the land at Manappattiparambu is valued at `80 crore to  `100 crore, he said the GCDA would be at a loss if the present proposal was agreed upon.    “Though the proposal was for constructing 2.50 lakh square feet of building, we can build 10 lakh square feet of building which means more space,” he said.