Demolition of Kokers theater divides council as Kochi mayor demands structural stability test by expert agency

Kokers Theater in Fort Kochi. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT

A structural stability test will be conducted before deciding whether to demolish the iconic Kokers Theatre, Kerala’s first 70mm screen and a popular Fort Kochi landmark.

Mayor VK Minimol made the announcement after a heated exchange of views between the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the demolition. While UDF councillors, including divisional councilor Shiny Mathew, urged that the now defunct theater be pulled down on security grounds, LDF councilors opposed the move, arguing that the finance committee’s recommendation for demolition did not mention the structural stability of the theatre.

“The Department of Tourism has shown interest in preparing a detailed project report for the conversion of the building into a cultural center. While maintaining the main structure, parts of the building, including the enclosure wall at risk of collapse, will be immediately demolished and a new wall will be built to prevent intrusion into the building. The pending case of a rented structure different from the main building will also be investigated,” said Ms. Minimol.

LDF Parliamentary Party leader VA Sreejith insisted that the theater should be renovated and preserved as a cultural center, not demolished.

‘Opinions ignored’

The Finance Committee approved an estimate of ₹ 19.54 lakh based on a survey which pegged the cost of demolition at ₹ 4.50 lakh, while valuing the salable debris at ₹ 14.03 lakh. However, the process stalled after LDF councilor and finance standing committee member Ambika Sudarshan filed a letter against the demolition. Ms. Sudarshan alleged that views expressed by LDF members in the Finance Committee were consistently ignored and left unrecorded.

Ms Mathew countered that the ward committee in her ward had repeatedly demanded the demolition of the structure on security grounds. Renovation, she argued, would be more expensive than building a new facility. Fort Kochi Veli Division councilor Manju Anilkumar, a resident of the theater’s neighborhood, argued that the structure was stable and should be renovated and converted into a revenue-generating facility, sparking a heated exchange with UDF councilor Vijayakumar, who insisted on demolition.

BJP councilor Priya Prashanth pointed out that the corporation was no longer liable for the loss of equipment from the theater because of the statute of limitations in filing a monetary suit in the case of theater owner Siyad Koker against the corporation. However, the case filed by the agency for damages in connection with the rented building along the front of the theater remains pending.

Welfare Standing Committee Chairman Antony Painuthara argued that renovating and using the old structure could put more burden on the corporation, citing the example of She Lodge.

Published – 11 Sep 2026 07:00 IST