Parade Ground in Fort Kochi. The grass planted during the renovation nine years ago survives only in patches today, while users complain of injuries due to the uneven surface. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT
The Parade Ground, an iconic landmark of Fort Kochi, whose historical significance goes beyond its sporting legacy, has remained in a state of neglect for years.
After undergoing a facelift as one of the practice turfs for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, some of whose matches were held in Kochi in 2017, the ground, one of the few open spaces available to sports enthusiasts in West Kochi, has seen little maintenance since then. The grass planted during the renovation nine years ago now survives only in patches, while youngsters complain of injuries from the uneven surface. The fence built as part of the renovation lies dismantled along the edge and serves no purpose other than as another source of injury to users.
Shiny Mathew, councilor for Fort Kochi division, said the land belongs to the revenue department and that repeated pleas to Fort Kochi’s finance director for its maintenance have gone unheeded. “Either the revenue department should entrust the maintenance to the agency or hand it over to the Corporation. It is now reduced to a parking lot where tourists even cook food and leave garbage behind. Santa Cruz Ground, another large open space in Fort Kochi, is in a similar state of disrepair,” she added. Revenue sources said the matter would be investigated.
Published – 18 Apr 2026 19:41 IST
