Mayor M. Anilkumar addressing the first meeting of the Kochi Corporation Council held at the civic body’s new headquarters on Monday. | Photo credit: H. VIBHU
Mayor M. Anilkumar flagged off the conversion of the old Kochi Corporation office into a museum and directed the Center for Heritage, Education and Development (C-HeD) to prepare a plan in this regard while presiding over the council meeting on Monday.
However, he said the final decision will be taken by the next elected steering committee. Mr. Anilkumar suggested that a portion of the old office should be allotted to the C-HeD for its operation, while the remaining premises could be combined and converted into a museum.
He suggested that the proposed museum be designed to introduce the city’s mayors and their contributions to future generations. He also mentioned that Cochin Shipyard Limited had approached the corporation with a proposal for a museum showcasing the vessels built there.
The potential future use of the land and the old Corporation office now that the civic body has shifted to a modern premises near Marine Drive had earlier sparked a war of words between MP Hibi Eden and Mr Anilkumar. Mr Eden requested that the land on which the old corporation building is located be handed over to the General Hospital, citing its proximity and other factors, arguing that the building lacked heritage value to warrant conversion into a museum.
Mr. Anilkumar replied that the fate of the building and land was decided by the Corporation Board. He disputed the MP’s remarks about the heritage value of the structure, saying that heritage is not limited to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry and that each place has its own heritage.
C-HeD was also tasked with preparing a plan to renovate the Kokers Theater with two screens, restaurants and other amenities. Additionally, the council decided to recognize Haritha Karma Sena and sanitation workers for their significant contribution towards waste management in Kochi.
Published – 27 Oct 2025 22:26 IST
