Building tilt prompts Kochi Corpn. to seek mandatory licence

The Kochi Corporation will seek an amendment to the Kerala Municipal Building Rules (KMBR) making it mandatory to obtain prior licence from the Corporation before lifting an existing structure from its original level, primarily to address waterlogging.

The move follows the recent incident in which a two-storey building tilted onto an adjacent multi-storied commercial structure along M.G. Road while being lifted.

“At present, the Corporation has little control over building-lifting works, as no licence is required, even though they have serious implications for structural stability. The Corporation has no clear idea of the extent of such works, which now appear to be widespread, unlike in the past when they were rare. We will write to the Local Self-Government Minister and the Chief Minister seeking to make a licence from the Corporation mandatory for such lifting works,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol.

Meanwhile, the Kochi Corporation has issued a notice to the owner of the building to demolish it on Friday (July 10, 2026).

The owner has been asked to demolish the building at his own expense, failing which the Corporation will carry out the demolition and recover the costs from him. The building, a 60-year-old house as per Corporation records, tilted after a hydraulic jack used for lifting it gave way on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) evening.

On Thursday (July 9, 2026), a team from the Corporation led by Ms. Minimol visited the site after a notice served on Wednesday, directing demolition within 24 hours, was not complied with. “We found the situation extremely precarious, following which we gave an ultimatum to tear down the structure by Thursday. The demolition will be carried out under the supervision of our engineering wing officials. We have also issued an eviction notice to tenants of the commercial building on which the tilted structure remains precariously balanced until demolition. Arrangements will also be made for the possible evacuation of occupants of the Coconut Board office located behind the affected building, if required,” she said.

The lower portion of the tilted building has suffered damage in the incident.

Corporation Public Works Standing Committee chairperson T.K. Asharaf, Development Standing Committee chairperson Shakrita Sureshbabu, division councillor K.V.P. Krishnakumar, Corporation Secretary P.S. Shibu, the superintendent engineer, and the overseer were also part of the Corporation team that visited the site.