KOCHI: Dashing hopes regarding formation of metropolitan development authority (MDA) in the city, state govt informed assembly that govt will not form the authority in Kochi.
Replying to a question from TJ Vinod, MLA, LSGD minister MB Rajesh said govt has no plan to form MDA or expand the limit of city corporation.
In March 2023, high court directed state govt to form a metropolitan planning committee (MPC) and MDA, based on a public interest litigation petition. Following this, govt already initiated procedures to form MPC in the city. However, experts pointed out that formation of MPC without MDA would not be effective, as MPC has no implementation power. When govt announced in the finance budget 2025-26 that MPCs would be formed in three major cities, including Kochi, there was an expectation that MDA would also be formed in these cities.
Following reports that govt is planning to dissolve Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), authorities demanded that GCDA be elevated to the status of an MDA when govt forms MPC. GCDA requested seventh state finance commission to take steps to elevate it as an MDA and also to vest the authority with powers to issue municipal bonds. GCDA chairman K Chandran Pillai cited the need for planned development and elevating GCDA as MDA.
Richard Rajesh, one of the petitioners who approached high court demanding MPC and MDA, expressed disappointment over ‘lack of interest’ from govt to form MDA. “MPC is only a planning body. We need a development body to implement projects. Officials should understand relevance of MDA,” he said.
It is learnt that petitioners will approach court demanding MDA once govt formally declares MPC in Kochi.
