GIDA authorized development of Queen's Walkway in Kochi, High Court says

The Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) is authorized to develop the Goshree-Chathiyath road and Queen’s Walkway in Kochi, the Kerala High Court said.

Divisional Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and AK Preetha were of the view that placing GIDA kiosks in the manner approved by the Bench would not violate any fundamental rights of pedestrians.

The Division Bench thus overturned the Single Bench’s decision that the construction of commercial kiosks on the Queen’s Walkway would affect the constitutional rights of pedestrians. The Division Bench also set aside the finding of the Single Bench that the land was under the jurisdiction of Kochi Corporation and not GIDA.

Tritvam Flat Owners Association has moved a Single Bench against the construction, installation and operation of commercial kiosks designed by GIDA on the sidewalk/footpath in front of the apartment complex. The association argued that the proposed kiosks would violate the right to a safe and unobstructed pedestrian walkway. She further claimed that the construction would cause traffic jams and health risks in addition to overburdening the civic infrastructure. The association also argued that GIDA lacked the authority to mediate any commercial kiosks on the sidewalk designated for public benefit.

GIDA claimed that it had an absolute right to use the trail for any activity as a specific government order authorized it to develop 25 hectares of reclaimed land on which the Goshree-Chathiyath road, footpath and Tritvam housing complex stood, under the Kerala Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act.

The authority has approved a special project for the Queen’s Walkway called the “GIDA Happiness Zone Project” to provide quality open spaces for the public and transform the walkway with various facilities of international standards to improve the city’s tourism potential. It argued that the proposal was to build the kiosks on the deck adjacent to the pavement and not on the pavement.

Furthermore, GIDA stated that the kiosks will not be permanent but will be more modular and portable. Additionally, the court took note of GIDA’s affidavit stating that it would delineate a clear, unobstructed sidewalk and place steel railings between the sidewalk and the kiosk area.

The court noted that GIDA was established to implement the Vypeen bridges project, including the reclamation of 25 hectares on Marine Drive, which now includes the Queen’s Walkway. The state issued a patta for the reclaimed land to GIDA to develop the area and use the land to secure funding. Later, the KTCP Act notified GIDA as a development authority. Thus, the Court observed that the Kochi Corporation had no title to the land. The company further admitted that the land was not included in its asset register.

Published – 7 Oct 2026 20:50 IST