KOCHI: The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has approached the state govt seeking amendments to the land pooling rules notified for initiating the land acquisition process for the Phase III campus of Infopark. The proposed campus, based on a township model, will span 300 acres in the Kunnathunadu constituency.
The govt has decided to implement the project using the land pooling method, with GCDA designated as the agency to oversee the process. Under the land pooling system, landowners receive 60% of their original land back after project completion, with the value of the returned land expected to increase by three to four times.
GCDA has requested the state govt to revise the existing land pooling rules and integrate them into the Town Planning Act to ensure smoother implementation and avoid legal challenges.
During a workshop organized by GCDA to discuss the land pooling method, experts from states where the method has been successfully implemented highlighted several issues in the current rules.
“Experts pointed out that the notified rules are complex and need streamlining. They emphasized the importance of simplifying the procedures and ensuring clear guidelines on landowner share allocation. Incorporating these rules into the Town Planning Act would help prevent legal complications in the future,” said a GCDA source.
GCDA officials stated that they are awaiting the govt’s decision on their request for amendments. “Only after the govt addresses these issues can we proceed with the land pooling procedures,” the official added.
The demand for a third campus at Infopark, Kochi, has been long overdue, as the Phase I and II campuses are fully occupied. Currently, 582 companies operate in the IT park, employing over 70,000 people, while more than 120 companies are on a waiting list for space.
The govt envisions an investment of Rs 12,000 crore and the creation of over 1 lakh IT jobs through the establishment of the Phase III campus.
