A gate at the main entrance of the JLN International Stadium in Kaloor remains closed after it collapsed on Friday evening. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT
An autorickshaw driver and three passengers had a narrow escape when a heavy gate at the main entrance of the newly renovated Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) International Stadium in Kaloor collapsed with a loud crash around 5.30 pm on Friday (March 6, 2026).
Owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), the stadium was renovated last year by a private sponsor, the Reporter Broadcasting Corporation, which claimed to have spent around ₹70 crore on the works.
Chandran, an autorickshaw driver, was ferrying passengers to a bus stand near the stadium when the incident occurred. “I saw the security guard at the entrance pushing the gate which suddenly started collapsing. I was lucky to brake in time and narrowly avoid hitting my vehicle,” he said. “The incident, which occurred at rush hour when motorists and pedestrians were passing through the entrance, could have had serious consequences,” he added.
Although guards and autorickshaw drivers nearby tried to move the collapsed gate from the road, they could not due to its weight. GCDA sources said the gate fell off its hinges when the constable tried to close it. It was later closed. GCDA engineers are due to inspect the site on Saturday (March 7, 2026).
This is the second incident to cast a shadow over the recent renovation work. Last month, the roof of the stadium leaked heavily during the first showers, on the eve of Kerala Blasters FC’s season opener in the Indian Super League. The episode triggered a flood of memes on social media, one with the caption: “Free showers for Messi too. in an apparent reference to the international friendly the stadium was supposed to host last year.”
The renovation was carried out in preparation for an international friendly with defending world champions Argentina led by Lionel Messi. The match, originally scheduled for November 25, 2025, has since been postponed. The sponsor handed the stadium back to the GCDA on November 28 after demanding completion of the works. The GCDA’s decision to entrust the renovation of the stadium to a private sponsor has drawn considerable criticism.
Published – 06 March 2026 21:59 IST
