kochi expediting the procedures to set up a new cricket stadium in kochi the kerala cricket association kca on saturday invited expression of interest eoi for setting up the stadiumthe eoi was invited from landowners and private companies for purchaselease of 20 to 30 acres for the purpose of construction of international cricket stadium with allied facilities in ernakulam districtin december last week the secretary of board of control for cricket in india bcci had visited a 30acre plot along the national highway near the cochin international airport ltd which was identified by the greater cochin development authority gcda for setting up the stadium it is learnt that the eoi advertisement was part of preliminary procedures of finalizing the suitable land to be acquiredthe proximity with the airport and accessibility to the national highway are positive factors for considering the identified land but some portions of the area are paddy fields and wetlands kca is hopeful that government will take a favourable decision for the construction works on the land if the area would be finalized for the projectapart from the identified land we have to check whether there is any other suitable land for the proposed stadium project if we receive any other more suitable proposal through eoi we will consider that land for the project said kca president jayesh georgeafter finalizing the land through eoi process we will approach the government seeking approval for the project he saidthe stadium and allied sports complex are likely to be a part of the proposed rs 5000crore economic city project of gcda which is aimed at developing townships in suburban areas of kochi a concept plan of the economic city project has already been submitted by gcda to the state government for inprinciple approval