Minister’s proposal revives row over Kochi Corporation’s old building
A political dispute has emerged in Kochi regarding the future use of the Corporation's old office building. While the Health Minister and local MP advocate for converting the space into an expansion for the Ernakulam General Hospital, the Kochi Corporation leadership opposes the plan to retain their civic assets.
Why it matters
This conflict highlights the tension between urban infrastructure expansion for public health and the preservation of municipal property and heritage.
The controversy over the utilisation of the Kochi Corporation’s old main office building has once again resurfaced, with Congress leader and Health Minister K. Muraleedharan suggesting that the building be used for the expansion of the Ernakulam General Hospital (GH).
However, the Congress-led Kochi Corporation is not in favour of the proposal, which has further complicated the issue for the authorities.
The previous council, led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), had proposed converting the building into a heritage structure as the civic body was moving to its new office.
Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden had opposed the proposal and pushed for using the building and the Corporation’s land for the expansion of the hospital, which lies adjacent to the civic body’s building.
Mayor V.K. Minimol distanced herself from the Health Minister’s proposal and said there were no plans to hand over the building and the Corporation’s land to the GH.
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