GCDA challenges allotment of prime land at stadium to St Albert’s College

Kochi: Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) formally petitioned govt to revoke the recent order directing it to hand over 88 cents of prime land near Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium to St Albert's College in Kaloor."Revenue department recently issued an order, directing the Ernakulam district collector to assign the land to St Albert's College. This was done without seeking the opinion of GCDA. Further, while the college uses the land exclusively, the stadium premises under GCDA serve the broader public for sports, exhibitions, and regional events," GCDA chairperson K Chandran Pillai told reporters on Wednesday. TOI earlier reported the controversial order issued on March 15, which also waived around Rs 1.81 crore in rental dues owed by the college to govt for leasing the land until 2004. The issue has spanned over four decades, dating back to 1983 when govt leased land in Elamkulam village to St Albert's College. "During the construction of stadium, GCDA and the college entered a reciprocal arrangement - the college shifted its playground to accommodate the stadium's design, with the understanding that the space would remain available for stadium-related activities," Pillai pointed out. However, KMRL acquired portions of the college's leased land in 2014, and a 2015 govt order directed GCDA to compensate the college with 88 cents of its own land. The same included 74 cents from GCDA and 14 cents from an individual occupying adjacent govt land. GCDA challenged this, citing the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, arguing that public land cannot be gifted to private entities. Legal battles followed; while a 2025 court order favoured the college regarding an injunction, GCDA maintains that the stadium urgently needs this space for fire safety and parking. "We've now requested govt to cancel the previous order and return the land for stadium development," Pillai added. As one of Kerala's two international stadiums and a premier FIFA-standard football venue, JNI Stadium faces a logistical crisis, he said. "The disputed land is vital for fire evacuation zones, open spaces, and parking – the facilities mandatory for maintaining international safety standards for high-capacity crowds," he said. The college management earlier said orders were issued twice to assign land to the college. "Earlier, a similar order was issued by govt in 2016. Later, LDF govt kept it pending, citing technical issues," said Fr Antony Thoppil, manager, St Albert's College.