The stretch between Gandhi Statue near Rajendra Maidan and CSI Immanuel Church near Broadway here must be converted into a heritage corridor, said speakers at a function held as part of Vishu Cultural Yatra held here. They also decided to fight for it under the banner of Kochi Heritage.
K.J. Sohan, State convenor of INTACH, an NGO, said the stretch had over a dozen heritage buildings, many of which were not well-maintained.
“The buildings, ranging from the taluk office, Maharaja’s College and Law College, and the CSI Church, were planned in such a way that they overlooked the backwaters. Steps must be taken to ensure that they adhere to a uniform colour code and aesthetics. The Archaeology Department must be proactive in the matter. Trees in the corridor too must be pruned and taken care of. Vendors and other encroachers must be evicted,” said T. Jayachandran, a votary of heritage conservation.
Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan, former Vice Chancellor, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, said the Tourism and Archaeology departments must jointly take initiative to preserve old buildings. Buildings at the Old Railway Station must be preserved as a they are, and the premises must be made an open space.
Earlier, the speakers commuted by a ferry from the city to Fort Kochi and back. They also took stock of how the beach front and other tourist attractions in Fort Kochi could be better maintained.
The event, organised by the Maha Kavi Kali Dasa Samskarika Vedi, saw writer K.L. Mohana Varma being honoured. V.D. Majeendran of the National Alliance of People’s Movements, writer Sreekumari Radhakrishnan, and Bharat Kona, former president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, too were present.
