Abandoned building at Kundannoor, in Kochi
An alarming incident near Ernakulam South railway station on May 5 highlighted the ground situation: a three-member gang attempted to rape a woman inside a deserted, multi-storey building. “A 10-storey previous hotel, Raj Mahal, has been empty for two decades following its owner’s bankruptcy. Former Kochi mayor K J Sohan pointed out Mattancherry Bazaar, where nearly 80% of buildings are abandoned. Similarly, expansive port infrastructure on Willingdon Island, including 100-m-long warehouses and rail lines, lies neglected. Another example is the 14-storey Revenue Tower, built by Kerala State Housing Board for Rs 28 crore to consolidate govt offices. It opened in 2009; major tenants like Kochi Metro have vacated, leaving most upper floors unused.
We’ve already increased night patrolling around such sites to rein in anti-social elements,” said DCP (law & order) Arun K Pavitran. Also, local police must conduct regular night beats to clear out trespassers,” said KVK Krishnakumar, Ernakulam South councillor. The location, easily accessible yet entirely unmonitored, allowed trespassers to camp inside undetected. Following a public outcry, police promised swift action. Authorities have decided to identify all abandoned and high-risk buildings across the city, map out vulnerable zones and compel property owners to secure their premises. “We’ve issued directives to all police stations to list such shadow locations. The process is on. The area has become a safe den for anti-social elements. There are several abandoned, unmonitored buildings in the city. Property owners must be legally required to fence off unfinished structures or hire private security. Once the region’s spice trade hub, it struggled as logistics shifted from water transport to modern roadways that its narrow streets couldn’t handle.