KOCHI: The move to develop a parking lot for the Kerala High Court on the Old Railway Station premises, located inside the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in Kochi, has triggered concerns among green activists. According to environmentalists, the decision to set up the parking facility will destroy the bird sanctuary.
They also question the need for a new parking ground when the state cabinet has approved shifting of the High Court to Kalamassery.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had in March 2026 issued a gazette notification declaring the 22 acres of land owned by the Southern Railway as the eco-sensitive zone of Mangalavanam sanctuary. ESZ skirts the Mangalavanam sanctuary at a radius ranging from zero to 0.55 km and covers a total area of 0.122 square km, inclusive of the land belonging to Railways. There is no ESZ on the northern and western boundaries of Mangalavanam as large buildings, including the High Court, are located close to it.
Currently, the Southern Railway is drafting an agreement to lease out 11.36 cents (460 sq m) of land to Kochi Corporation for the parking facility. “The land is being leased out based on the High Court directive. The Railways’ engineering department is drafting the lease agreement, and the process will be completed soon,” said Ardra, Railways area manager, Ernakulam.
‘Parking facility move will destroy canopy on Old Rly station premises’
Considering a contempt case filed by Suman Chakravarthy, a lawyer, in 2022, the Kerala HC directed the Kochi Corporation and state government in June 2026 to take time-bound steps to establish a dedicated car parking facility on the Old Railway Station premises. On September 28, the government informed the court that it has disbursed Rs 4.35 crore for the facility.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar directed the corporation and Southern Railway to finalise the lease agreement. The parking lot is expected to be completed by November 1. “There is no adequate parking space on the High Court premises, and I had filed the case in 2015 seeking direction to develop a parking facility on Railway land. In 2021, Chief Justice Manikumar issued an order accepting my plea, but the Railways approached the Supreme Court. The SC disposed of the case in 2022, and I filed a contempt case as the corporation failed to act,” said Suman Chakravarthy.
Environmentalists say the decision will destroy the canopy on the premises, which offers nesting places for birds visiting the sanctuary.
“The high-rises close to the sanctuary interrupt proper orientation of birds arriving in Mangalavanam. Birds need space to soar, fly and land in the sanctuary. If this area is also used for developmental activities, it will adversely affect their movement,” said environmental activist Vishnupriyan Kartha.
Justifying the decision, a forest official said allocation of parking ground will not affect the ecology. “The Environment Protection Act bans only quarrying and polluting industries. A zonal master plan should be made for management of the ESZ, and a monitoring committee chaired by the district collector has to approve any development activities there,” the official said.
However, the Centre’s ESZ notification clearly says vehicular movement shall be regulated in a habitat-friendly manner and specific provisions in this regard shall be incorporated in the zonal master plan. Efforts shall be made to reforest unused or unproductive agricultural areas. Prevention and control of noise pollution is another provision mandated by the notification.
Mayor V K Minimol said the corporation is facilitating the development of parking facility as per court directive.
“A total of 460 sq m of land is being leased for 35 years to the High Court Bar Association. The government has allocated funds to pay the lease amount. The land will be developed by PWD, and any call on felling trees has to be approved by the Tree Committee,” she said.
460 sq m of land on
Old Railway Station premises to be leased out to Kochi Corporation for High Court parking lot
Lease amount: L4.35 cr
Lease period: 35 years
