The Kochi Corporation has formally requested Southern Railway to lease land adjacent to the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary. This land would be utilized to construct a parking facility for Kerala High Court, a move aimed at addressing ongoing parking challenges faced by court visitors.
This initiative follows a stalled proposal from Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) to create a multi-level robotic parking structure on the High Court premises. Originally suggested several years ago at the request of High Court officials,the plan included provisions for approximately 250 parking spaces. CSML had even prepared a detailed location and demolition plan for an existing building,which was submitted for court approval.
Hibi Eden, a Member of Parliament,recalled discussions with former Chief Justice S. Manikumar regarding the parking project. The High Court registrar had been instructed to designate land for the facility, but the proposal ultimately did not advance. Eden noted that if plan had been executed, it could have preserved railway land within the buffer zone of Mangalavanam.
In light of the High Court's directive to establish a parking facility, the Corporation's recent letter to the Railways was prompted by discussions during the last council meeting . Mayor V.K. Minimol emphasized the need for the state government to cover the long-term lease costs,warning that without state support, the Corporation might have to impose parking fees .
P.M. Naseema, chairperson of the Town Planning Standing Committee,highlighted that even if the lease costs were waived, the Corporation would still be responsible for ongoing maintenance expenses. This adds another layer of complexity to the project.
Former mayor M. Anilkumar recalled that the United Democratic Front,when in opposition,had expressed concerns over the original proposal,urging that it be addressed with Eden. He reiterated that the state government bears responsibility for resolving parking issues at the High Court, which it had constructed. Anilkumar also suggested that alternative locations for the parking facility should be explored, stressing importance of minimizing construction around the ecologically sensitive Mangalavanam area.
