Seating capacity at Kaloor stadium for Argentina football match to be decided after safety audit; experts from IIT Palakkad in Kochi

Greater Cochin Development Authority has handed over the stadium to SKF to facilitate infrastructural enhancements in association with the sponsors of the event ahead of Argentina teams visit

Dwarapalakas were gold cladded in 1999, says former special commissioner

KOCHI: Refuting the claims of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) that the Dwarapalaka idols, doors and pillars of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple were not covered with gold by industrialist Vijay Mallya, former special commissioner to Sabarimala Justice K P Balachandran said he was personally convinced that the the idols and other structures were gold cladded in 1999. I was the special commissioner for Sabarimala from 1997 to 2000 May and the gold cladding of the temple was taken up during this period. I am personally convinced that the doors of the Sreekovil, Dwarapalaka idols, pillars and other structures were gold covered by Vijay Mallya in 1999, he told TNIE. Former administrative officer of Sabarimala temple Murari Babu had told TNIE on Tuesday that the 30.3 kg of gold donated by Vijay Mallya was used only for gold cladding of the roof of the sreekovil. He claimed the Dwarapalaka idols, the rain gutter above the offerings box, the front doors of the sreekovil, the kamakudam, the six pillars etc were gold plated later using 1.3 kg of gold. As the quantity of gold used for gold plating was low, the colour of the gold plates deteriorated by 2019 which necessitated re-plating in 2019, Murari Babu had said. Refuting the claim, Justice K P Balachandran said he cannot reply to such distortions. They might have corrected the documents. But I am convinced that it was not the roof alone that was gold cladded in 1999. I was there with senior officials during Makaravilakku festival after the gold cladding, he said. Sabarimala row: Did TDB ignore change of name in warranty? Justice Balachandran asked why the panels were taken out for gold plating in 2019. If the panels could be covered with gold at the Maramath (works) building at Sannidhanam in 1999, why it could not be done in 2019? Why did they take the panels to Chennai without seeking permission from the High Court? The works should have been completed under the control and direction of the court, he reminded. Prayer meeting at Pampa Ganapathi temple The Achara Samrakshana Samithi, which played a prominent role in the protest against women entry at Sabarimala in 2018 has decided to hold a prayer meeting at Pampa Ganapathy temple on Sunday. It will be a peaceful meeting chanting the name of Ayyappa and praying to save the temple from exploitations. Ayyappa devotees from Pathanamthitta district, and tribal community members will participate, said chairman P V Anojkumar.

Kerala HC seeks Union govts view on denial of film certificate

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has sought the Centres response on a petition against the denial of issuing certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification to the Malayalam movie Haal, starring Shane Nigam. The court issued the order on the petition filed by the producer and the director. The board informed the petitioners that the film has been viewed by the revising committee, and it has come to the conclusion that the film is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition but may be suitable for public exhibition restricted to adults provided the excisions/ modifications are made. The board directed the makers of the film to delete the dialogues Dhwaja Pranamam, Abhyanthara Shathrukkal, Ganapati Vattam, and Sangham Kavalund (also from subtitles), the scene of eating beef biryani, and blur rakhi.

Former Prant Sanghchalak of RSS P E B Menon passes away at 86

KOCHI: Former Kerala Prant Sanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) PEB Menon passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Thursday. The 86-year-old RSS leader, respected by the Sangh for his contributions during the past two decades in building the organisation, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. The body will be kept for public homage at Aluva Town Hall from 10 am to 1 pm on Friday. The funeral will be held at Aluva Thantra Vidya Peedam at 3 pm. He is survived by wife Vijayalakshmi, son Vishnu Prasad, daughter Vishnu Priya, son-in-law Rajesh and daughter-in-law Anupama. A reputed chartered accountant by profession, PEB Menon was attracted to the Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samithi through his association with RSS Pracharak and ideologue late P Madhavji. Later he joined the RSS and served as the taluk and district sanghchalak. He assumed charge as the Kerala Sah Prant Sanghchalak in 1999 and was elevated in 2003 to the post of Kerala Prant Sanghchalak and led the organisation for two decades. Amid his busy professional life he found time to travel across Kerala inspiring the pracharaks and completed three years of Sangh Siksha Varg. He used to tell the pracharaks that Sangh is a family and mutual respect, faith, discussions and teamwork are the fundamentals of success, said RSS South Kerala Prachar Pramukh M Ganesan. Menon was the guiding force of many organisations in Aluva including Grama Seva Samithi, Thantra Vidya Peedam, Bala Samskara Kendram, Dr Hedgewar Memorial Seva Samithi, Vidyadhiraja School, International Sri Krishna Centre and Rashtra Dharma Parishad. Paying tribute to PEB Menon, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat said he was an ardent swayamsevak of the first order. His vision and foresight coupled with his social stature and professional experience provided a great leadership to the Sangh movement in Kerala. Menon inspired the Sangh work to grow in various dimensions. He endeared himself to the Swayamsevaks by his care and affection, he said.

Interstate luxury bus services hit as Karnataka operators halt services to Kerala

KOCHI/BENGALURU : Scores of passengers travelling between Kerala and major South Indian cities like Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad were left stranded after several private luxury bus operators cancelled trips, citing safety concerns following alleged assaults on drivers. According to operators, a section of drivers resorted to a token strike, demanding adequate protection after one of their colleagues was reportedly attacked by anti-social elements near the Kerala border. The drivers handed over a letter about their protest only last night. We had to cancel several trips and block charts for the day. Services are expected to return to normal from Friday, said Rijas A J, who oversees inter-state operations for Sona Travels. Sources said the drivers of buses operating via Walayar and Coimbatore suspended services following the incident. One of us was assaulted by a Coimbatore-based private bus owner and his gang. Another bus was stopped in Chennai on Wednesday. We want authorities to take strict action and ensure our safety on these routes, said a driver, requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, in Karnataka, the State Private Bus Owners Association confirmed that most Karnataka-owned private buses had suspended services to Kerala over the past week, alleging repeated instances of physical assault and harassment. Our drivers are scared to operate in Kerala after being stopped and attacked. Until the issue is addressed by the departments concerned, many have chosen to stay off the road, said association president S Nataraj Sharma. He added that while around 20 Kerala-owned buses continue to operate normally, nearly all Karnataka-owned services remain halted. The association has taken up the issue with Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Transport Commissioner Yogeesh A M, sharing video evidence of the incidents. If the operators provide proof, we will pursue the matter, the Transport Commissioner told TNIE.

Operation Numkhor: Customs seize three more vehicles

A Nissan Patrol, a Nissan Pickup Truck, and a Toyota Prado seized in Kochi. Total number of vehicles seized under Operation Numkhor now 43

Kalamandalam to open global outreach centre at Fort Kochi

Housing trends: All-India house price index up 3.6% in Q1, Nagpur and Chennai lead quarterly gains

India's house price index saw a 3.6% year-on-year rise in Q1 of the current fiscal, moderating from last year's 7.6% growth. The Reserve Bank of India's updated index, now with a 2022-23 base year and expanded city coverage, also recorded a 2% sequential increase. Nagpur, Chandigarh, Chennai, and Kochi led the gains.

House Price Index up 3.6% annually in Q1: RBI

House prices across India saw a 3.6 percent rise year-on-year in the first quarter of the current fiscal. This growth is lower than the previous year's 7.6 percent. Nagpur, Chandigarh, Chennai, and Kochi recorded the highest increases quarter-on-quarter. The Reserve Bank of India released this data with a new base year of 2022-23, including eight new cities.

Kochi daylight robbery: Police take five into custody; alleged robbers still on the run

Two cars seized

How Mubeena P A, a young mother of three, became a bodybuilding champion in a matter of months

In May, when Mubeena P As name was announced as the South Asia Gold Medallist in bodybuilding at a grand event held in Mumbai, the 35-year-old mother of three could not believe her ears. I never thought Id reach this far, she tells TNIE . I only wanted to see how strong I could get. Indeed, her journey began far from the world of witness. Originally from Kochi, Mubeena was working in a salon in Dubai when she fell seriously ill. I had a terrible stomach pain, she recalls. And when I consulted doctors, they told me I needed immediate surgery. So, Mubeena returned home and was admitted in a local private hospital. But the operation that ensued only complicated matters. I had to immediately get yet another surgery at a different hospital to undo the damage. But even then, it was the post-recovery part that was the most painful, she says. For seven months, Mubeena was confined to her bed and with a colostomy bag. Those were hard days, she recalls. To pass the time, she began watching reels online, and quickly enough, went down a rabbit hole on fitness videos. I saw reels of women lifting, training, and transforming themselves, says Mubeena, who was an enthusiastic athlete during her school and college years, having taken part in many relays and sprints. Something about those women gave me energy. I wanted to feel my old strength again, Mubeena continues. So, when her stitches healed, she asked her doctor if she could start exercising. He agreed. I was scared at first, Mubeena admits. I kept thinking, What if something breaks inside? Well, it didnt. And what began as slow walks soon turned into light training and eventually gym visits. Then came the routine that would shape her days: waking at 4.30am, running long stretches, cardio in the morning, weight training in the evening, and work at a city salon in between. Discipline became everything, Mubeena says. No steroids, no shortcuts. Just hard work and diet. In November 2024, Mubeena stepped onto her first stage for the Miss India bodybuilding event in Chennai and finished second runner-up. The results only pushed her further. In less than a year since beginning her training, she won titles at Miss Ernakulam, Miss Kerala, Open Kerala Silver, and the South India Championship, before clinching the South Asia Gold in Mumbai. Mubeena P A Each medal came with its own price. I dont have sponsors, she says. I often take loans to be able to compete. But its worth it when Im on stage. The hardest part, however, wasnt financial, but social. Some people cant accept women in bodybuilding, especially when were on stage in bikinis, says Mubeena, who hails from a conservative Muslim background. They think its wrong. But I dont do it to impress anyone. This is my passion. I know myself. Thats enough. Even injuries havent slowed her. After I broke my left hand, I had steel plates inserted for a while. Even after they were removed, people warned me about returning to the gym. They said my hands would be weak and prone to injuries. But I believed I could heal stronger, Mubeena says. Mubeena P A Next, shes gearing up for the Miss Universe Championship in Haryana next year, where she hopes to earn a Pro Card, officially making her a professional athlete. Thats my dream, she says. Ive been selected already, but I have not lined up sponsors yet. Besides, I think I should reset my body, Mubeena says. But she does not plan to stay idle. The routine will continue, of course, and now, given that her name rings loud in bodybuilding circles, several young women have also started to approach her seeking a mentor and others, inspiration. I always tell them, Im just a normal woman. If I can, you can too. Once you push through that first wall, be it family, fear, whatever it is, the support starts coming, she says. In my case, the win is not important. Ive already achieved the courage to start again, to rebuild my life. Thats what matters, she adds. Indeed, for Mubeena, bodybuilding isnt about vanity or validation. Its about endurance. The quiet, persistent kind that begins when no ones watching. When I look back, she says, I dont see muscles or medals. I see a woman who didnt give up. Forget the first few days or weeks. Keep training, regardless of how you feel. Soon, it wont tire you. Instead, it will give you an abundance of energy, mental clarity. I used to have breathing issues when I was young. Consistently training has improved my breathing. Now, I dont even need an inhaler. My body feels strong and my head is calm, despite the storms around me. Mubeenas advice to those who think going to the gym is tiring...

From fanmail in blood to soldier's mouth-written letter

There are many things we learn to value only with time. Like the simple delight of opening a letter and feeling the touch, and maybe catching a whiff, of the person who wrote it. This old-world charm is now being relegated to collective nostalgia. Letter-writing, today, is a rarity especially among the urban population. However, for people in remote corners, where digital connectivity still falters, the humble post office continues to be a vital bridge to the world outside. Moreover, despite the ease of instant communication, reports suggest dependency on postal services remains formidable. About 1.5 billion people worldwide about 28% of the adult population still access basic financial services through postal networks. World Post Day (October 9) marks the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland. In India, the postal service has long been woven into the fabric of everyday life even romanticised in films and literature. India celebrates National Post Day on October 10 every year, commemorating the founding of the Indian Postal Service in 1854. Notably, India still holds the record for having the largest postal network in the world, with 1,64,987 post offices 1,49,164 rural and 15,823 urban. But the times have brought about a digital shift. Streamlining, officials say, has become necessary. The Telegram service, which once carried both joy and heartbreak across the nation, has quietly faded away. So too has the Book Post. More recently, plans have been set in motion to merge the Registered Post facility with Speed Post. Several rural post offices now offer emailing facilities, helping people use technology with the support of postal staff. More such changes are on the way. But it is also important to analyse the requirements of the people because there is still a population that waits for the postman, says an India Post official. About 90 per cent of Indias post offices are in the rural areas. A walk into any post office today reveals how much has changed. The once-familiar blue inland letters and postcards are now rare. The red post boxes symbols of trust and anticipation stand mostly as silent milestones. Some, however, still keep the tradition alive. Like Mohanachandran Nair, who is part of a philately club. Waiting for the postman remains exciting because it means a freshaddition to my collection of stamps, he says. I still send snail mail to exchange stamps. There are others who hold on to letters not as correspondence, but as keepsakes of emotion and memory. Jaya B Vasudevan keeps her mothers letters in a small metal box. Her words bore love. She is no more. Reading them induces a unique joy laced with multiple emotions and feelings, including the pain of separation, she says. Booster Posts One letter that I have kept safe is a handwritten one from V N Rajan, a former IG, who is no more. He was quite old when he wrote to me, lauding my work as Kochi Commissioner. The prose was beautiful, in impeccable memory. I still have it with me. Another letter that I treasure is one from my father when I was at the National Police Academy. He wrote to me at a time when I was feeling drained by the tight regime. His words, written on a postcard, urged me to stand up, bear the drill, and come out stronger. There are many other letters too that I hold dear like the one from a mother whom we helped to regain her childs custody. Her estranged spouse had been illegally keeping the child. I will never forget that letter of gratitude either. Loknath Behera, former state police chief and MD of Kochi Metro Rail Loknath Behera P.O. @ my Lake District Letters opened a world of imagination to me. We used to live in Mannanthala, and the post office was near Mar Ivanios College. My father worked in Chennai and his correspondences were through letters. He would also send money through post. I have fond memories of waiting for those letters and the money order. Every Saturday, I would visit the post office to check for his letters. I would also take the opportunity to wander through the wilderness surrounding the college. Those were precious moments time seemed to stand still as I delved into my thoughts and felt nature fill me from within. I used to call the pond and hillside near there my Lake District. I also fondly cherish the reply I received for a poem I had written for Malayalanadu, as well as letters written to me by doyens such as M T Vasudevan Nair, O N V Kurup, and Hridayakumari Teacher. K Jayakumar, former chief secretary of Kerala K Jayakumar Jail-time notes Letters were my doors to the world, especially during the years I spent in jail. My mother used to write to me regularly when I was in the Central Jail, Thiruvananthapuram. Her words were full of strength she wrote about how I should be, about political developments, but never about the tough times or the emotional turmoil she herself was going through. I still recall those words, and can sense how she must have steeled herself to write them. I too would write back to her. On release, I took home all the letters that she had written to me. Much later, after she passed away, I compiled them into a book titled Letters from a Mother to a Daughter. Ajitha, social activist and former Naxal leader Ajitha Mouth-written letter Indian Navy veteran and defence analyst I was a student of Sainik School, Kazhakuttam, before leaving for the NDA in 1981. My friend M P Anilkumar was also with me. He later joined the Air Force while I joined the Navy. In June 1988, I came to know that Anilkumar had met with an accident and had become a quadriplegic. But his spirit was indomitable, and he continued to communicate through letters. One day, a common friend and I received a letter in Anilkumars beautiful handwriting. We were overjoyed, believing he had fully recovered. But later, we learnt that he had been so determined to write that he had developed the skill of writing with his mouth. He later went on to participate in a competition called Turning Point, where he wrote an essay titled Airborne to Chairborne also written with his mouth. It won a prize and was later included in several school textbooks. He also contributed several articles to international magazines on strategic affairs before passing away at the age of 50. That letter still remains vivid in my mind. It first brought elation, then pathos, and now, when I look back at his life, immense pride. That letter was a manifestation of an extraordinary spirit. Commodore G Prakash (retd), Indian Navy veteran and defence analyst Commodore G Prakash Fanmail in blood The word post reminds me most about fanmail. I was in school when I began acting. Some cinema magazines had given my address, and I was bombarded with bags of fanmail. Some of the letters and post cards I received were written in blood. That left me a little troubled. Any talk of post and letters evoke those memories. Lenaa, actor & author Lena Indira gandhis urgent telegram The day was August 8, 1984. It was about 3.55am IST, and I was in Los Angeles for the Olympics. Just minutes earlier, at about 3.30am IST, I had missed the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles by just 1/100th of a second. After the race, I went for the dope test, where I was handed a telegram that read: Usha, you have not failed. May the Supreme bless you to reach far greater heights in the future. We will support you as a nation in all such endeavours. It was from then prime minister Indira Gandhi. She had written to me immediately after the event, and the message was delivered to me within minutes. It was a deeply touching moment. It continues to inspire me as I coach future athletes. Indira Gandhi passed away that October. That telegram is still with me among my most precious keepsakes. P T Usha, member of Rajya Sabha and president of Indian Olympic Association PT Usha Traditional pen-pal experience on your smartphone In the age of instant messaging, Slowly takes a deliberate step back. The app, launched in 2018 by a Hong Kongbased team, is built on a deceptively simple idea: to mimic the motions of traditional letter writing in a digital world. Instead of instant delivery, each message takes hours or even days to reach its recipient, depending on the geographical distance between them. A note sent from Kochi to Copenhagen, for instance, might take 15 hours to arrive. This delay is by design. In fact, it is the whole point of the app. Slowly pairs users from across the globe based on shared interests, language, etc. Once connected, they exchange messages that feel closer to letters than texts. Or you can opt to pair with just your friends. For Slowly, this throwback to the pen pal era has cultivated a quiet, global community. Users can also collect virtual stamps from different countries, adding a small ritualistic pleasure to the exchange. For many, this experience is akin to posting a letter adorned with a rare stamp. The app is available on App Store and Google Play By Ronnie Kuriakose

TPuram Metro: Sreekaryam flyover service road work to commence soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Work on the Sreekaryam flyover, a key preparatory civil work part of the ambitious Thiruvananthapuram metro rail project, is gathering pace, with the laying of the service roads set to begin soon. According to sources, around 90% of the stormwater drain construction has been completed. Giving impetus to the much-awaited project, the chief secretary-led high-level committee constituted to examine and finalise the alignment for the project being implemented by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) had its first round of meetings recently. KMRL managing director Loknath Behera told TNIE that the committee had sought additional details after the meetings. We have given the committee all the details and information they demanded. The committee will be deciding and recommending the alignment to the government, Behera said. Three main corridors are under consideration for the metro rail: Kazhakkoottam to Pappanamcode, Kazhakkoottam to Killipalam, and Palayam to Civil Station. KMRL, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) appointed to implement metro projects in the state, had submitted a proposal several months ago suggesting six different alignments for the conventional metro. The Sreekaryam flyover project got the green signal from the state government in 2016 and the foundation stone was laid in January 2025. An official with KMRL said 90% of the stormwater drain construction has been completed. We had to build retaining walls in many places. The construction of the service roads will begin soon. It is one of the busiest stretches in the capital with a huge traffic volume and we want the service road to be ready to ensure smooth commuting. We are hoping to start piling work for the main flyover by December, the official said, adding that the shifting of utility lines is progressing fast. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly on Wednesday that the preparatory work for the metro project is progressing and that the alignment finalisation and DPR approval are pending. As per the revised Metro Rail Policy of 2017, a detailed project report (DPR) has to be prepared based on the comprehensive mobility plan and alternative analysis report submitted by KMRL. These documents are currently under the state governments consideration. Once they are approved and the Centre grants approval, the final DPR will be readied and further steps can be taken, the chief minister said.

Kerala HC: Exploitation of women in guise of surrogacy programmes shocking

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has expressed shock over alleged instances of exploitation involving women brought to the state purportedly as egg donors or prospective surrogate mothers under the guise of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) programmes. The court observed that the health department and the police have a clear duty to ensure that such exploitation is eradicated and prevented in the future. The court made the observation while considering a petition filed by Abdul Muthalif, managing director of ART Bank, Chengamanad, Ernakulam, seeking the release of seven women who had been brought from other states to Kerala for surrogacy. The police had detained the women following a raid conducted in coordination with health authorities under the ART Act. The petitioner alleged that the women were being illegally detained by the police and sought a directive to produce them before the court. However, the police and other authorities contended that the petitioner was acting in violation of the law and suspected possible exploitation and even human trafficking. All women were reportedly from regions far outside Kerala and, after being taken into custody from the petitioners premises, were housed in Santhi Bhavan, a government-run shelter home. Advocate Ferha Azeez, counsel for the shelter home, submitted that there were several attempts by vested interests to influence or threaten the women. The court observed that its concern was not limited to the financial aspects of the case but extended to the prima facie impression of exploitation of uneducated and naive women from other states, lured by promises of money.

Didnt recommend gold plating for temples dwarapalaka idols, Murari Babu sought nod: Thantri

KOCHI: Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru on Wednesday refuted the statement of former Sabarimala executive officer Murari Babu that the proposal to carry out gold-plating of the temples dwarapalaka idols in 2019 was made on his recommendation. He said he granted permission for the work after the officer came to him. Rajeevaru also said he granted the nod expecting that the work will be done at Sannidhanam itself. The officer came to me and said the gold covering of the dwarapalakas had faded due the rush of devotees. He said some parts of the cladding were damaged by the coins thrown by devotees. I granted permission as there is no need to check the deitys will for repair works. But I was of the belief that the work will be conducted at Sannidhanam. I didnt know of the plan to take it to Chennai, Rajeevaru said. He also denied Murari Babus claim that the dwarapalaka idols were not gold-plated in 1999. The idols, he said, were indeed covered in 1999 using the gold donated by industrialist Vijay Mallya. The use of the term copper panels is wrong as no temple uses copper panels to cover the dwarapalakas and doors, he said, alluding to the entry by Murari in the mahazar in 2019 when the gold-plated panels were handed over to priest-turned-businessman Unnikrishnan Potti. The TDB suspended him for the lapse on Tuesday. Rajeevaru said he knew Potti as the latter served as the helper of a keezhsanthi (assistant priest) at Sabarimala for eight years. He visited me at the time of my sons marriage; that was why I invited him. I never knew about his other activities and have no knowledge of his sponsorship of the works at the temple, he said. Thantri: Let the truth come out The high court is considering the case. Let the truth come out, the thantri said. On the Vaji Vahanam (horse sculpture) that was atop the old flagmast and was reportedly missing after the flagmast was replaced in 2017, Rajeevaru said it was with him. There is a practice of handing over the vahanam to the tantri as it should not be reused. Former TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan had handed it over to me, he said, ending speculation that it was gifted to one of the sponsors by the authorities.

Sabarimala row: Did TDB ignore change of name in warranty?

KOCHI: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) maintains that it was forced to depend on Unnikrishnan Potti to re-plate the dwarapalaka idols in 2025 as Smart Creations, Chennai, had issued the warranty in the name of the sponsor in 2019. Experts have contested the claim, pointing out how the Devaswom Board can accept a warranty issued in the name of a sponsor for a property it owned. Records accessed by TNIE reveal that the same Smart Creations had issued a warranty in the name of the TDB secretary in March 2019 for the gold plating of the doors of the Sabarimala sreekovil. As the order to gold plate the dwarapalaka idols was a continuation of the previous order, there is little chance of changing the name in the warranty document. Even if the company changed the warranty on the insistence of Potti, the TDB should have demanded a change of name, an official said. The moolasthana front door of the temple, gold plated with 7 grams per sq feet, carries a warranty of 35 years for 24-carat gold plating and lacquering while the moolasthana back door, done with 3 grams per sq feet, carries a warranty of 15 years from March 4, 2019, said the warranty document for the doors, signed by Smart Creations managing director Pankaj Bhandari. The document said that 80 to 90% of the 24-carat gold used for plating can be recovered. TDB president P S Prasanth told TNIE that the warranty was issued in the name of Unnikrishnan Potti and that the board has initiated steps to cancel the document. He said the TDB suspects the involvement of a few retired officers and a decision will be taken after receiving the investigation report of the vigilance officer. The vigilance officer will be submitting the report before the High Court on October 10.

Gang flees with 80 lakh from shop in Kochi in alleged daylight robbery

Kochi Water Metros new terminals to be inaugurated on Saturday

No plan to further extend Kochi metro for now, says Chief Minister

'Who are you trying to fool?': High Court slams Centre for refusing to waive loans for Wayanad landslide victims

KOCHI: Coming down heavily on the central government for its stand that there would be no loan waiver for the Wayanad landslide victims, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday orally observed that the Centre has failed the people of Kerala. Enough is enough. We don't need the central governments charity. This is just bureaucratic babble. Its not about whether the central government can act, but whether they are willing to act. If you are unwilling to act, we (the Bench) dare to say it. Who are you trying to fool? remarked the court. In its affidavit, the central government stated that there is no provision for granting loan waivers in cases of natural disasters. A Division Bench comprising Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian suo motu impleaded 12 banks in the case, including the State Bank of India, and directed that any recovery action initiated by these banks against the Wayanad landslide victims shall be kept in abeyance until the final disposal of the writ petition. The court also took note of newspaper reports stating that the central government had approved Rs 707 crore for Gujarat and Assam, which were affected by floods and landslides in 2024. One could understand if the Union Executive did not have the funds. Let us hope we dont reach that stage where the Union of India is helpless and in penury, unable to assist any particular State, the court observed. The newspaper report stated that a High-Level Committee had approved Rs 707.97 crore of additional central assistance to the states of Assam and Gujarat, which were affected by floods and landslides during 2024. Neither these floods nor the landslides were classified as severe, and yet Rs 707 crore was allocated to them. It doesnt end there. The same committee also approved Rs 903.67 crore to Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan under the NDRF for the expansion and modernisation of fire services. If they have the courage, let them say they are not willing to help. But at the very least, the people should know that in times like this, the Union Government has failed the people at least of this State. This is deeply disturbing, the Bench observed. During the hearing, the counsel for the central government submitted that the Ministry of Home Affairs is limited in its involvement with the commercial transactions of banks, as these are regulated by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. In response, the court asked: The Union of India has limitations because of an RBI circular? In relation to the Union of India, what is the Reserve Bank? Affidavits filed by bureaucrats often fail to grasp the legal significance of what transpires within Constitutional institutions. We have made it very clearthis is not a case where the Union is powerless to act; it is a matter of whether the Union is willing to act. Through this affidavit, you have again demonstrated that by hiding behind the argument of powerlessness, you are essentially saying that you choose not to act. Why is that being done? The affidavit states that you cannot do this. But that simply reflects an unwillingness to act on the part of the Union of India. If there is an unwillingness to act, then have the courage to say sodont hide behind a supposed lack of power. Anyone who reads the Constitution should be able to see this clearly. Who are you trying to fool? The Bench further observed: Our sense of Constitutional morality requires us to respect the principle of separation of powers, and therefore, we will not issue directions to the Union Government. That is not due to any lack of authority, but because of our magnanimityas a Constitutional body and integral part of the State that respects the Constitution. Enough is enough. We do not need the Unions charity. The court further directed the banks to file affidavits explaining whether they are willing to waive, either wholly or partially, the loans availed by the landslide victims in Wayanad. If they are not willing to do so, the banks must provide a justification with reference to the terms of the loan agreements for seeking repaymentalong with interestduring the pendency of these proceedings. The court noted that, exasperating though the situation may be, its commitment to constitutional morality requires respect for the principle of separation of powers as envisaged under the Constitution. Therefore, it must defer to the Union Governments decisions in matters of economic policy. We therefore refrain from issuing any directions to the Union Government regarding how it should exercise its discretion. However, as an integral part of the 'State' under the Constitution, and as a guardian of the fundamental rights of the people, we cannot remain mute spectators to the Shylockian methods being employed by the concerned banks to recover the loans they have advanced, the Bench observed.

Boosting marine fisheries infrastructure, 250-tonne slipway cradle launched in Kochi

Built by the Fishery Survey of India at a cost of 1.78 crore, the new cradle is a heavy-duty steel structural platform designed for the safe hauling and launching of vessels up to 250 tonnes displacement

ED raids homes of Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan and others

Kochi: The alleged Bhutan luxury car smuggling scandal took a serious turn on Wednesday with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launching simultaneous raids at 17 locations across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including the homes of leading Malayalam actors Mammootty, his son Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Amit Chakkalakkal. The searches were carried out at Mammoottys Elamkulam Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Workload, uncertainty over promotion render HM unattractive

KOCHI: More than 600 headmaster and headmistress (HM) posts remain vacant in government lower primary (LP) and upper primary (UP) schools across Kerala. Teachers say the post has become increasingly unattractive due to the heavy administrative workload and uncertainties over promotion and service benefits. In Ernakulam district alone, around 55 to 60 headmasters retire every year, but only about 15 teachers or fewer take up the position, according to teachers representatives. The post comes with numerous responsibilities, many of which go beyond the schools scope. Headmasters have to coordinate with government departments such as the local self-government, handle schemes from the state and central governments, and manage day-to-day school administration all without clerical support, said Martin Abraham (name changed), a teacher at a government LP school in Ernakulam. A long-pending court case has also contributed to the shortage. The governments decision in 2011 to promote teachers above 50 years of age as headmasters was challenged in court. The Kerala Education Rules (KER) stipulate that promotion to HM requires 12 years of continuous graduate service and passing the Accounts Test (Lower) and the Kerala Education Act & Rules test, under Rule 44A(1). With the case pending for years, vacancies began piling up, especially after the Covid shutdown, said retired headmaster Basel K V, from Alappuzha. To address the shortage, the state introduced a new rule allowing promotion purely based on seniority, invoking Rule 13B of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules (KS&SSR). This rule exempts officials over 50 years of age with 25 years of service from departmental tests. Promotions were also determined by Rule 27, which establishes seniority as the basis. However, many teachers contest this approach. In education, qualification and capability should matter, not just seniority. These emergency rules were never meant for regular academic promotions, said Alby, another teacher from Ernakulam. The temporary nature of such promotions has also created complications. Teachers promoted under these provisions often face delays in receiving salaries and benefits. Since the posts are not regularised, getting service benefits becomes difficult. One HM had to approach the court for his pending dues, Basel said. As the reluctance to accept promotions grows, the state government has issued a directive requiring teachers who wish to opt out of promotion to inform authorities before the seniority list is published. Once the list is out, they must accept the post or face disciplinary action, Martin said. Apart from administrative and legal issues, the workload itself discourages teachers. LP and UP headmasters have to give classes in addition to handling school administration. They oversee noon-meal schemes, coordinate education projects at the panchayat level, attend multiple meetings with block resource centres (BRC), assistant education officers (AEO), and even departments like police and excise, said retired HM Yeldho K V of Kottayam. They are also responsible for organising arts, sports, and science festivals. With so many duties, they rarely find time to manage their own schools, he said. With the post becoming increasingly burdensome, many teachers nearing retirement are willing to take it up, but younger teachers with years of service ahead prefer to avoid it. Several educators suggest that the government consider filling the post through the Public Service Commission (PSC) to ensure administrative efficiency and reduce the burden on teaching staff. Five districts with most vacancies in govt primary schools Malappuram: 121 Thiruvanthapuram: 99 Kollam: 54 Kasaragod: 54 Kozhikode: 49 Ernakulam: 42 (Source: Entered vacancy published by DDE office, as on 21-05-2025)

Super League Kerala 2.0: New coaches, smart marketing & a competition raising the bar

KOCHI: Keralas homegrown professional football league, the Super League Kerala (SLK), has entered its second season and everything about it feels bigger, sharper, and more ambitious. From a full-fledged marketing blitz led by film stars and celebrities to a revamped scouting system and a new wave of international coaches, the league seems to be getting transformed from a promising experiment into a confident, professional spectacle. If last years debut was about proving a point, Season 2 is about raising the bar. The fan engagement alone tells the story packed stadiums across Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Thiruvananthapuram, roaring crowds, and a record 21,903 spectators at the opener. The acceptance has been phenomenal, both in stadiums and online, says Mathew Joseph, CEO and director of SLK. This season feels like a movement. A major part of that movement has been the leagues focus on homegrown talent. Through Project Gamechanger, SLKs in-house scouting initiative, five young players have graduated into professional ranks this year. The first two assists of the season came from players scouted through Project Gamechanger Sangeeth Satish of Forca Kochi and Muhamad Sinan of Kannur Warriors, says Firoze Meeran, SLK managing director. With 100 Kerala players in the mix up from 90 last year the league is fast becoming the states strongest platform for nurturing future football stars. On the field, there is a new international flavour too. Every team has refreshed its setup with new managers, most of them from Europe and South America. D Arun Kumar of Calicut FC celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Forca Kochi FC Kannur Warriors retained their Spanish coach Sanches Murias, while Malappuram FC brought in Miguel Corral, Forca Kochi signed Miquel Plana, Thrissur Magic turned to Russian Andrey Chernyshov, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans appointed Englishman James McAloon, and Calicut FC, the defending champions, are now led by Argentine Ever Demalde. The arrival of ISL veteran Roy Krishna at Malappuram FC has further added to the star quotient. Behind the scenes, the marketing game has gone professional. A slick campaign featuring Basil Joseph, Prithviraj, Shashi Tharoor, and Sanju Samson has given the league unprecedented visibility. Social media campaigns, city-based fan drives, and an online prediction game have amplified fan engagement beyond the stadiums. When personalities like Tharoor and Sanju Samson back the league, it helps us reach a national and even international audience, Mathew says. Each franchise has used the Rs 2.5-crore spending cap smartly, bringing in key players and coaches to strengthen their squads. The league itself has expanded geographically, with Thrissur Magic and Kannur Warriors getting dedicated home turfs for the first time. Broadcast on Sony Sports Network and Doordarshan, with live streaming on Sports.com as part of a three-year deal, the 33-match season will culminate in a grand finale on December 14. With its mix of star-studded marketing, professional management, and a clear vision for nurturing local talent, Super League Kerala has evolved into more than just a state league it is Keralas bold statement in Indias growing football ecosystem.

Original Sabarimala gold coverings sold as divine trophies?

KOCHI: Were the original gold coverings of Sabarimalas dwarapalaka idols, plated using the gold donated by industrialist Vijay Mallya, sold as divine trophies to the wealthy? The contradictions in the statements of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials and the report its chief vigilance and security officer filed before the Kerala High Court certainly point to this possibility. The TDB vigilance officers report submitted before the HC on October 6 said a comparison of the photographs of the gold-cladded panels taken on July 19, 2019 just before they were removed and of the new coverings taken on September 11, 2019, shows marked differences. This validates the HCs doubt that the copper plates entrusted by priest-turned-businessman Unnikrishnan Potti to Chennai-based Smart Creations could be totally different. It points at the possibility that the old panels were sold as trophies and that a different set of panels was provided for gold plating to Smart Creations. It is said people associated with Sabarimala temple cultivated the belief in wealthy devotees that keeping trophies from the temple will bring them prosperity. Notably, there is also a 39-day delay between Potti receiving the panels and them being handed over to Smart Creations the panels were handed over to Potti on July 20, 2019, but were delivered to Smart Creations on August 29, 2019. Noting the reduction of 4.147 kg in the weight of the panels that were returned to Sabarimala on September 11, 2019, the HC had recently observed: We had expressed doubt that the copper plates entrusted by Unnikrishnan Potti to Smart Creations may, in fact, have been another set altogether. Gold-cladding row exposes lack of inventory on offerings at temples TDB vigilance officer had also produced before the HC a letter issued by the manager of Mallyas UB Group to the TDB secretary, endorsing that 1.564kg of gold was used for the cladding of the dwarapalaka idols in 1999. Contradictions emerge on gold-cladding done on idols Contradictions have also emerged in connection with the gold-cladding done on the dwarapalaka idols. TDB deputy commissioner Murari Babu, who was suspended on Tuesday for lapses in connection with the gold cladding, told TNIE that the idols were not gold cladded under the sponsorship of Vijay Mallya in 1999. However, Senthil Nathan, the amalgamation expert engaged by Mallya to check the quality of work, refuted the argument by producing a photograph taken in 1999 outside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple with the gold-cladded idols in view. Meanwhile, the TDB vigilance officer had also produced before the HC a letter issued by the manager of Mallyas UB Group to the TDB secretary, endorsing that 1.564kg of gold was used for the cladding of the dwarapalaka idols in 1999. Says the report: The total quantity of gold utilised for the entire gold-cladding project which include (i) the roof of the Sreekovil (including the front and rear arches), (ii) the rain gutter above the Hundi, (iii) the Hundi in front of the Sopanam, (iv) the narrative panels depicting the story of Lord Ayyappa on both sides of the Sreekovil, (v) the front door of the Sreekovil and the arch above it, (vi) the two Dwarapalakas in front of the Sreekovil, (vii) three Ghanadwarams (Kamakudam), (viii) the side beadings and eight surrounding pillars, and (ix) five Kalasams, including those of Kannimoola Ganapathy and Nagaraja is recorded as 30,291 g. This document conclusively establishes the dwarapalakas handed over by the devaswom board to Unnikrishnan Potti had been cladded with 1.564 kg of gold, and were therefore not mere copper plates, as inaccurately described in the mahazar dated July 19, 2019, says the report. Murari defended his actions, saying, I submitted the report seeking permission for gold plating of the copper panels of the dwarapalaka idols before the TDB along with a recommendation letter from thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru. The board suspended me alleging I mentioned the panels as copper plates in the report. Though the panels were gold plated, the base metal was copper, Murari, who was the administrative officer of Sabarimala temple in 2019, told TNIE. He also said that Vijay Mallya donated only 30.3 kg of gold for cladding which was used for covering the roof of the sanctum sanctorum. TDB gets Rs 3 crore sponsorship for Ayyappa Sangamam The dwarapalaka idols, the rain gutter above the offerings box, the front doors of the sreekovil, the kamakudam, the six pillars, etc, were gold plated later using 1.3kg of gold. As the quantity of gold used was low, the colour of the plates deteriorated by 2019 which necessitated re-plating that same year. Records of this will be available with the works division of the TDB, Murari said. Senthil differed. The idols were covered with gold by Vijay Mallya, and I personally inspected the work in 1999 , he said, producing the photograph taken in 1999 as proof. The HC has allowed the vigilance officer to compare the photos of the gold plated panels taken to Chennai this September 7, with the one brought back last week to verify if there have been further alterations. Meanwhile, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam national chairman S J R Kumar has written to additional chief secretary (home) demanding the state government should recommend a CBI inquiry into the theft and substitution of the gold cladding. He said the interstate connections and suspected collusion of TDB officials should be probed. Kerala High Court orders SIT probe over Sabarimala gold plating row

Two new STPs for Kochi await govt. nod

Man held for allegedly duping Korean firm of 43 lakh in Kochi

PVL 2025: Kolkata Thunderbolts Pick Solid Win Over Kochi Blue Spikers to Get Three Points

Pankaj Sharma named Player of the Match

Kerala High Court tells actor Dulquer Salmaan to approach adjudicating authority under Customs Act to get his SUV released

The actors Land Rover Defender had been seized from his house in Kochi as part of Operation Numkhor a crackdown on celebrities who reportedly purchased high-end used cars/SUVs from Bhutan using forged documents.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan holds high-level meeting on Argentina football team's visit to Kerala in November

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting to review preparations for the visit of the Argentina football team, which is scheduled to play a friendly match in the state next month. The match featuring the Lionel Messi-led team will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi in November, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. The renovation works to upgrade the stadium to world-class standards will be completed soon, the statement added. The CMO said intense security arrangements will be put in place for the event, and the possibility of holding a fan meet was also discussed during the meeting. The meeting decided to make adequate arrangements for parking, health facilities, clean water supply, electricity, waste management and related needs. GOAT's own country: Ahead of Messi's arrival, Kerala readies itself for more than just a football match The chief minister suggested that various departments should coordinate their work in this regard. An IAS officer will be appointed to coordinate matters related to the match, and a committee headed by the Chief Secretary will oversee arrangements at the state level, the statement said. At the district level, the collector will coordinate preparations. The high-level meeting, held at the chief minister's conference hall, was attended by Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, Industries Minister P Rajeev, LSGD Minister M B Rajesh and other senior officials, the statement added. India a passionate football nation, honour to return: Lionel Messi

Discussion paper on water hyacinth menace in Kerala inland waters

The report, titled Tackling Keralas Water Hyacinth Menace, was prepared by the Future Kerala Mission, an initiative of Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Kochi campus.

Kerala CM chairs meeting on Argentina football team playing in Kochi

Meet lays out roadmap for refurbishing Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium to international standards for match in November

Cladding can go 50 yrs without restoral: Expert

KOCHI: Gold cladding and gold plating are two different methods and a structure that has been cladded with gold can withstand weathering for 50 years, said Senthil Nadhan, the amalgamation expert who was deputed by businessman Vijay Mallya to assess the quality of work funded by him at Sabarimala in 1999.The amalgamation work was conducted at Sannidhanam under the supervision of TDB engineers. The work was executed by Chennai-based JNR Jewellery. I was brought to Sabarimala when the TDB complained of water leakage in the sanctum sanctorum after completion of the work. I removed the faulty teak wood and replaced the gold covering. After this, Mallya asked me to conduct a thorough inspection to avoid any issue in future, he said. Senthil said Mallya donated 30.3kg of 24 carat gold and 1,600kg of copper for the gold cladding. The gold is flattened into thin foils of 2 microns each and 160 pieces of these foils weigh around 36 grams. The foils are kept in the pages of a book. Later, the foils are melted using mercury and spread over copper sheets to form a gold-mercury amalgam. The sheets are then heated to vaporise the mercury, which will form a layer of pure gold. Many such layers are added to a sheet to improve quality. JNR Jewellery used seven to ten layers in sections that devotees could not reach out and touch. It was thicker on the roof and areas devotees can access, said Senthil. So, is it possible for the gold cladding to start fading in 20 years? Senthil says the chances are rare. The gold covering in high-contact areas that are prone to abrasion and friction may fade. But have the steps faded? The covering on the roof has not lost its lustre and is frequently cleaned by the TDB. Electroplating is an electrochemical process that coats a surface with a thin layer of metal using an electric current and a metal-containing solution. Compared to gold plating , amalgamation, which is a traditional method, has more quality and will last long, he said. Around 5kg of gold was used for the gold cladding of the dwarapalakas in 1998-99. But for gold plating the idols, only 400 grams of gold was needed.

Gold-cladding row exposes lack of inventory on offerings at temples

KOCHI: The controversy over the gold cladding on the dwarapalaka sculptures at Sabarimala temple has snowballed, with the entire episode exposing the absence of an inventory of articles donated by devotees to temples across the state. It was a report submitted by Sabarimala special commissioner to the Kerala High Court on September 9 this year that triggered the row. It said that the cladded panels on the sculptures were removed and sent to Chennai for restoration without the permission of the court. Sources said the cladding was removed secretly at around 1.30am on the final day of Onam poojas after everyone, including the special commissioner, had left Sannidhanam. Expressing concern over the incident, the devaswom bench of the HC directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to immediately return the cladding. The board replied that the gold had already been melted for electroplating. The panels were later brought to Sabarimala and will be re-laid on October 17, when the temple opens for monthly poojas. The special commissioners investigation also revealed that the cladding had previously been sent to Smart Creations in Chennai for gold plating on July 20, 2019. A meeting of the TDB board chaired by the-then president A Padmakumar decided to hand over what it termed copper cladding to Unnikrishnan Potti, who volunteered to sponsor the process on July 6, 2019. It may be noted that the entry of devotees was restricted at Sabarimala in 2019 after the womens entry row, when the hill shrine was totally under the control of police and TDB. After the cladding on the sculptures was removed in August 2019 The entire sanctum sanctorum, including the dwarapalaka idols and doors, was gold cladded using 30.3kg of 24 carat gold donated by former chairman of the UB Group Vijay Mallya in 1998-99. A key question is how the gold on the cladding, which was covered for 40 years, faded in 20 years. The TDB meeting on July 6, 2019 sent a letter seeking Pottis willingness to gold plate the dwarapalaka idols. He responded immediately and the panels were handed over, without tender on July 20, 2019. As per temple records, the 12 panels weighed 42.8kg when they were handed over to Potti, but there was a reduction of 4.541 grams when they were returned. On their part, Smart Creations got hold of the panels on August 29 a full 39 days after they were despatched. And, the items were returned to Sabarimala on September 11, 2019. Last month, the HC ordered a comprehensive investigation by a retired judge into the alleged disappearance of the panels from the hill shrine. The probe will be part of a judicial scrutiny into the handling of temple assets. The bench, comprising Justices K V Jayakumar and Raja Vijayaraghavan, flagged serious lapses in maintaining official records. A detailed inspection will be conducted regarding the handling of valuables in the devaswom strong room where gold plaques and the thiruvabharanam are stored. The court also ordered a complete inventory and valuation of the assets in the strong room. The entire saga raises several questions: what was the need to plate the idols in 2019? Did the gold cladding fade and turn into copper in 20 years? If so, why didnt the TDB contact the original sponsor and JNR Jewellery, who executed the work, who had guaranteed the work for 40 years. Also, where did the panels go missing for 39 days? After the gold cladding on the sculptures was removed in September 2025 A mafia involved Allegations have surfaced that the cladding were taken to the houses of VIPs in Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru and Chennai. There is a mafia involved. They create an impression among the affluent that keeping the cladding of Sabarimala at home and conducting poojas will bring good fortune. There are many businessmen in Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka who have made Lord Ayyappa a partner of their business. So a share of the annual profit goes to Lord Ayyappa. The mafia employs various tricks to siphon this money. The role of the TDB and its officials should be probed, said Sabarimala Karma Samithi general convenor S J R Kumar. Potti had arrived at Sannidhanam as the helper of a keezhsanthi, the assistant priests appointed by the chief priest for conducting poojas. In no time, he grew close with devaswom employees and became an influential figure at Sabarimala. It is said he facilitated special darshan for affluent people arriving from other states and hobnobbed with them. His proficiency in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada helped to build the connections. He was later removed from Sabarimala for trying to influence officials. Potti who went back to his native Kilimanoor started a business and later shifted to Bengaluru. He returned to Sabarimala as a sponsor offering to plate the doors and dwarapalaka sculptures. When the row over the panels roiled state politics against the backdrop of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, organised by the LDF government, Potti added fuel to the fire by alleging that two pedestals donated by him to Sabarimala temple were missing. The devaswom vigilance, which launched an investigation based on a court direction, found the plinths at the residence of Pottis sister on September 27. There are also allegations that the Vaji Vahanam, the horse idol placed atop the old flag mast of the temple has gone missing. The flag mast was replaced in 2017 and the Vaji Vahanam was handed over to the tantri. As per custom, the tantri has to return it to the TDB. The businessmen who sponsor work at Sabarimala think keeping sculptures from the temple at home will bring fortune. The authorities might have gifted it to a sponsor, a devotee said. Refusing to comment on the issue, former TDB president Padmakumar said he will wait for a comprehensive investigation into the incident. When Potti said the pedestals had gone missing, the media hailed him as a hero. Now you are celebrating Mallya. I dont want to comment as the issue is under court review, he said. Regarding the decision to hand over the dwarapalaka idols to Potti in 2019, he said there was nothing wrong in it. The TDB cannot come between a devotee and God. Potti came forward to sponsor the plating and we accepted it, he said. There is no chance of the cladding on the dwarapalakas and the doors fading and losing their gold content within a short span of time. Regular devotees are not allowed to enter the enclosure, which is restricted to VIPs and priests. If the gold cladding fades due to use then the same logic should hold for the steps of the sanctum sanctorum. But, this has not been the case. The cladding are of high value considering the divinity attached to them. So there is nothing wrong in suspecting a conspiracy, said Mahesh Panicker, a member of the Thattavila family that made the panchaloha idol of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala in the 1950s.

Infopark Kochi seeks State govt. clarification on conversion from charitable society to company

The clarification sought is whether Infopark should be registered as a for-profit or a non-profit company; the new corporate structure will legally enable the IT hub to own, develop, and manage such a large-scale commercial project and enter into the necessary contractual agreements for the land-pooling scheme

Kochi Corporation initiates steps to make contingent workers permanent

Mayor seeks division-level seniority lists of workers engaged in sanitation and waste management

Hibi seeks steps to ease congestion at railway stations in Kochi

Ernakulam MP urges the Railways to develop the Ernakulam marshalling yard as a new terminal with four platforms

Crimes against elderly people on the rise in Kochi: NCRB

This marks a sharp increase from the 74 such incidents reported in 2022 and just 28 cases in 2021; chargesheeting rate for crimes against senior citizens in the city in 2023 is 74.5%

Pushed into dump of development, elderly couple fear for their lives

KOCHI: The relentless roar of a busy National Highway 544 is a constant companion of the residents of a small house in Chirangara, on the Thrissur-Edappally section. For Thomas Kudiyappadan and his wife Thressiama, the cacophony of development has a ring of horror to it. Having entered the sunset years of their lives, the couple have seen their tranquil existence abruptly shattered, not by age, but by the construction of an underpass and its allied structures. Their house, at the foot of the highway, was once a quiet and cosy residence. Then came the underpass. Almost overnight, they found themselves engulfed by mounds of earth and the terrifying realisation struck: they were trapped. Their home had been completely cut off from the outside world. Nine-month ordeal For a painful nine months, the couple ran from pillar to post for access to the underpass. All this while, they literally used ropes to climb the steep face of earth to reach the road stretch. Finally, the contractor, PST Engineering Constructions, offered a grudging solution: a narrow, steep access path leading up to the road. It was a makeshift construction of compacted earth and a hasty pour of raw concrete, resulting in a flight of steps so daunting that for the aged couple has become a precarious climb just to leave their home. We live alone after we married off our daughter. Its very difficult to negotiate the steep staircase. But this we manage somehow..., 68-year old Thomas sighs. The difficult climb pales in comparison to the dread that befalls them when rain clouds gather in the horizon. Fear of flooding Thomas points rather nervously to the small drainage canal the areas lifeline against waterlogging -- that flows past their house. The contractor dumped concrete waste, generated when the old structure was demolished for highway expansion, in the drain. Our repeated pleas fell on deaf ears. Moreover, the rainwater outlet of the highway drains into our premise. The arrangement is very shoddy, rues Thressiama, 62. With the drain choked by concrete debris, a heavy rain is all it would take for the canal to swell and break its banks. For Thomas, the memory is still vivid. Ours was one of the houses that was completely inundated in the 2018 floods. Now, we live in fear of waterlogging all year round. While Guruvayoor Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (GIPL) is the concessionaire responsible for maintenance of the Mannuthy-Edappally stretch, the underpass and allied works are carried out by PST Engineering, which is engaged in construction at five locations: Chirangara, Koratty, Muringoor, Perambra, and Amballur, as part of eliminating black spots along the route. There are a couple more houses on the stretch with no proper road access. What will all the people living in them do in an emergency situation? National highways have very specific access regulations. This is a classic case of a contracting firm failing to meet mandatory Indian Road Congress (IRC) standards and giving scant regard to safety, said Denny Jose Veliath, a local resident and state vice president of the BJP Minority Morcha.

Kerala police develop tools to fight child abuse online

KOCHI: The increasing use of smartphones and advanced communication technologies have been linked to a spurt in cyber crimes, especially those involving the sexual exploitation of children. Taking note of the need for modern solutions to weed out culprits in cases involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Kerala Police organised a hackathon in the run up to the cOcOn 2025 cybersecurity conference, which led to the creation of two products Trace an Object and Take it Down, which together are first-of-their-kind solutions developed by a police department in the country. Speaking to TNIE, Ankit Asokan, superintendent of police for cyber operations, said, Since 2015, we have cracked more than 350 CSAM cases and confiscated over 2,000 devices. With the advancement of technology, law-enforcement agencies also need to have the tools to crack such cases. The Trace an Object and Take it Down services will add teeth to the victim identification task force of the state police. We are the only law-enforcement agency in the country to have developed such solutions to fight child sexual abuse material. According to Adarsh Nair, commander (honorary rank), Kerala Police Cyberdome, Every team worked on developing the solutions. Even the awards reflect this. We recognised teams that were the most creative. Then there was an award for the most unconventional approach taken to develop them. Explaining the solutions, he said, Take It Down allows people to safely report child sexual abuse material online while protecting victims privacy. Instead of sharing the actual content, the system creates a unique digital code, known as a hash. This code is then shared with major platforms like Meta, TikTok, etc. If the same content appears again, these platforms can quickly remove it stopping the spread of harmful content without ever exposing the original material. While Take it Down helps remove abusive content, Trace An Object works by finding important clues in the child abuse material, he said. It uses public support to help investigators find important clues. Instead of showing the harmful content, the tool with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) picks out small details like a chair, a toy, or wallpaper pattern. These snippets are then shared with the public, who may recognise a location or link it to a victim. This way, investigators get valuable leads while the abusive material itself remains private, Adarsh said. At present, the solutions are in the prototype stage, he added. However, it should be understood that the core concept and methodology of the products have been developed. The only thing remaining is security testing, developing the infrastructure, and analysing its scalability, he said. According to Peter Pilley of Kindred Tech, a New Zealand-based registered charity dedicated to combating online harm and child exploitation, the participants of the hackathon had done a swell job. They created two high-end solutions in four days that would have taken a tech company one year to develop, Peter said. Meanwhile, state police have set in motion plans for latest versions of the solutions.

Traffic snarl-ups persist at Muringoor on NH 544

PALAKKAD: There is no end in sight to the traffic gridlock at Muringoor, a choke point on the Edappally-Thrissur section of National Highway 544, though the situation has eased in other underpass construction sites like Chirangara. Experts and local residents have blamed unscientific construction by the NH contactor, PST Engineering and Constructions, for the situation, with several mishaps being reported from the area. Unlike in big projects like the Kochi Metro construction, the Tamil Nadu-based firm failed to carry out adequate preparatory work such as widening and repairing service roads before starting underpass construction. The failure has resulted in heavy traffic blocks at choke points like Muringoor, with the High Court suspending toll collection at the Paliyekkara plaza. Later, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) submitted that it carried out tarring and other maintenance of the service roads, even as the quality of the work has come under the scanner. The NHAI contractor carrying out the underpass construction is not adhering to the mandatory Indian Road Congress (IRC) standards. For instance, a portion of the service road at Muringoor, through which vehicles are being diverted, caved in. This after the firm attempted to build a retaining wall even when the site, excavated for a drain cutting across the highway, was filled with storm water, alleged Saji Raphel T, former additional government pleader and public prosecutor. Another reason for slow traffic movement is the initiation of construction activities simultaneously at all five locations. Three underpasses are coming up in a 6-km stretch, from Chirangara to Muringoor, alone. And there is no service road for almost three kilometres, from Divine Nagar to Koratty, he added. Newly laid concrete slabs cave in Meanwhile, multiple incidents were reported of newly laid concrete slabs placed over drains along service roads caving in, from both Muringoor and Chirangara. The latest incident happened last Thursday when a slab at Muringoor caved in around 7 pm. An examination of the broken slabs revealed they were made without using iron rods. The authorities had earlier promised the same could support heavy vehicles as well. But the inferior quality slabs are now posing a threat to vehicles as they ride over the slabs through the congested service road. Earlier, a two-wheeler rider fell into the drain after the slab broke. They have replaced the broken slab with an iron grill at one spot in Muringoor while the other damaged pieces were replaced with new ones, said Denny Jose Veliath, a local resident and vice-president of the BJP Minority Morcha. Construction waste dumped on service road Local residents are upset after the contractor dumped construction waste on the service road at the busy Koratty junction. The situation is set to worsen with the annual Koratty Perunnal (church festival) slated to be held in just over a weeks time. The authorities had promised to tar the passage near the widened road section, and make it motorable, during a meeting held in September 2024. But nothing has been done, and worse, construction waste has been dumped there, cutting the width of the service road by half. Multiple mishaps have happened in the night with vehicles unable to figure out the edge of the road, said Shaju George Meledan, a representative of the autorickshaw drivers in Koratty. The area has nearly 40 households, besides numerous shops. Now, only one-way traffic is possible through the service road left untarred. It is posing difficulty to the residents, and the shop owners have been hit by the dust issue, said Ouseph Veliyath, who runs a grocery shop. Shoddy job The Tamil Nadu-based firm failed to carry out adequate preparatory work such as widening and repairing service roads before starting underpass construction The failure has resulted in heavy traffic blocks at choke points like Muringoor, with the High Court suspending toll collection at the Paliyekkara plaza

Kochi leads in chargesheeting rate among metropolitan cities: NCRB

The city recorded a chargesheeting rate of 98.9% in 2023, continuing its impressive performance from 98% in 2022; as many as 67,616 cases were registered under both Indian Penal Code and Special and Local Laws, according to the data

PVL 2025: Kochi Blue Spikers Beat Goa Guardians in Five-Set Thriller

Goa captain Chirag Yadav set the tone early, starting the game with a super serve.

How safe is child online? The Kerala case that exposes dark side of dating Apps

Kochi: A 16-year-old boy from Kerala recently became the victim in a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online dating apps. Police charged 14 people, including government workers, with sexually assaulting the teenager. The group allegedly befriended the boy through the app before the attacks occurred. As the investigation unfolded last month, it was Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Hybrid ganja worth Rs six crore seized at Cochin Airport

KOCHI: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Cochin International Airport nabbed a Malayali passenger with a hybrid ganja worth around Rs 6 crore in possession, on Sunday. The accused has been identified as Abdul Jaleel Jasmal, a fashion designer from Kodungallur in Thrissur. The contraband was found concealed in special packets hidden in the Check-in baggage, said a source with AIU. Jaleel had arrived in Kochi from Bangkok via Singapore Airlines flight SQ 536, which landed around 12.10 am on Sunday. Based on a confidential tip-off received by the AIU deputy commissioner, officers of the AIU C Batch intercepted the suspect and conducted a detailed inspection, leading to the seizure. Preliminary investigations suggest that the contraband was sourced from Bangkok, though further details will emerge after a detailed probe, said the official. Meanwhile, this seizure comes nearly a month after a similar bust at CIAL, where a hybrid ganja worth Rs 4 crore was seized from Seby Shaju of Karuvannur, Irinjalakuda, who had arrived from Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur.

INTERVIEW | I dont mind activist tag, but I am an artist first: Rima Kallingal

Rima Kallingal, one of the anchors of the Women in Cinema Collective, is now trying her best to balance the artist and activist modes in her personality. The actor, also an acclaimed dancer, reflects on her journey from stage to screen, the evolving space for women in Malayalam cinema, and her hopes for meaningful change, in a freewheeling conversation with TNIE . She opens up about the Me Too movement, the impact of the Hema Committee report, and why more women behind the camera can truly reshape the industry. Excerpts Your next project, Theatre, is ready for release. What can you tell us about it? The film follows a mother and daughter living on an isolated island, whose lives suddenly go viral on the internet. Their story spreads across the world, opening up questions about truth, perception, and social media. In this post-truth era, we wanted to explore how narratives form and spreadwithout judging, but by observing. The film invites discussion, not conclusions. What made you want to be part of this movie? Mainly, my character. The story resonated with my own experience of living both before and within the social media era. Weve all seen how blurred reality has becomewhats real, whats myth. Thats also the films tagline. You have taken a strong position against perpetrators. How did you decide to work with Sajin Baabu who was once accused in the Me Too movement? Honestly, Im selfish... I needed this film. As an artist, I need work even while fighting other battles. Another reason was that Sajin was the only person who publicly admitted wrongdoing and apologised during the Me Too movement. Thats a step forward, even if it isnt the end of the problem. I wasnt directly affected, so its not for me to forgive. But I saw his acceptance as significant. I cant create my own industry; I need to keep working. Actors, especially women, are often powerless in such choices. Still, I do feel guilty... but also pragmatic. Was this a lesson learnt? Definitely. By 2020, I became more pragmatic. I realised I simply need work to survive. In this industry, people with serious charges continue to win awards. The system protects them, not us. Its easy to sideline women who raise questionswere seen as difficult. But as creators, we have to keep imagining new spaces and keep going, even from the margins. Are you concerned about backlash for your choice? Yes. Its ironic that those who speak up are the only ones held accountable. Everyone else carries on. We become the problem, the ones under the scanner. But I know where my real responsibility lies and Ill continue doing what I believe in. You lost many opportunities in recent years. How did you deal with that? I was lucky to have Mamangam, my own space where I made all the decisions. My team of over a decade held me together. After the pandemic, we revived our creative energy through Neythe, a contemporary dance tribute to Chendamangalam weavers. Still, it was a difficult timemany of us faced severe lows and depression. Artists are always insecure but this silence was painful, especially when colleagues drifted away. Did this distancing start after your marriage or your association with WCC? Both (laughs). Many producers openly said they wouldnt work with WCC members. Directors discussed scripts with me. But once producers came in, Id be replaced. Even today, people deny that such discrimination exists. Denial is easyit keeps you likeable. I could do that too, but I chose otherwise. The struggle was real. I was once carefree and full of dreams, but the stress was immense. Thankfully, therapy, medication, and supportive circles helped us cope. Every new woman entering cinema today knows her rights. Was there ever a point when you decided to quit all this fighting? Never. Not once. Im proud of all of us for standing our ground. Weve no regrets only gratitude. Today, Im in a much better space, with clarity and far less chaos. Do you think you succeeded in bringing change to the industry? Yes. Every new woman entering cinema today knows her rights. We created a handbook explaining how to raise concernssomething I never had. Back then, we normalised everything, even double-meaning jokes that made us uncomfortable. Someone had to start the conversation, and we did. Now, women know theres someone to talk to. I wish Id had that support when I began. Its true that youve created awareness, but the mindset of isolating vocal women still exists... Yes, but only for now. The next generation will question everything. Change is slow but certain... definitely within my lifetime (laughs). As Arundhati Roy says, On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. Though Ritu is celebrated today, it wasnt fully accepted then. How significant is that film in your career? Everything about Ritu is precious to me. The way Shyam (Shyamaprasad) sir hand-held all of us newcomers is priceless. Before all that, how did your interest in cinema begin and what kind of films were you exposed to early on? I grew up in Ooty and Salem, so I watched a lot of Tamil films... Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth. Later, in Thrissur, I discovered Malayalam cinema. But I was mainly a stage performer; dance was always my dream. Cinema happened by chance. I was part of Thaka Dhimi and was a Miss Kerala runner-up. Abrid Shine, then with Vanitha (Malayalam magazine), saw me and offered a photoshoot, which led to (director) Lal Jose calling me for a look test. That film didnt take off but the same night Syamaprasad sir called me for Ritu. I auditioned and signed the contract the same day. It all felt unreal. Nothing was planned, everything was a happy accident. How did your passion for dance begin? My parents enrolled me for dance probably to tire me out (laughs). I had too much energy. I loved both dance and sports. I was even sports captain, but had to choose. I trained in bharatanatyam from childhood but couldnt pursue a solo career because its expensive. I discovered my love for group performances... kaikottikali, oppana... and the thrill of creating something together. Since you have always enjoyed being part of groups, how has an organisation like WCC influenced or changed your life? WCC changed me more as a person than as an artist. The women there are my strength. Im standing on their shoulders. They taught us how to find words for our experiences. That sisterhood, that assurance that someone will answer your call, means everything. It gave me belonging, hope, and faith that well find our way forward. What inspired the creation of the new space, the Progressive Filmmakers Association? Frankly, it happened by accident (laughs). We were just discussing the idea of creating a new, inclusive space and made a draft document. Then (director) Anurag Kashyap shared it online by mistake, and it went viral! It wasnt meant as a reaction or a union... just a fresh space for collaboration. It simply got out of hand. A perception is created of Rima as an activist rather than an artist. How do you deal with that? Its natural. There are many artists but very few who are both artists and activists, so all questions come to us. If everyone had spoken up, we wouldnt stand out. Not everyone feels safe to speak, and I dont blame them. The world isnt built for us. Every day is a struggle, especially for women. Im privileged to have a voice and I dont mind the activist tag, but I dont want that alone to define me. I work hard for my art and give it my soul. Even if its overlooked, Ill keep reminding everyoneIm an artist first. You once won a state award, yet people forgot you... It isnt the audience, its the industry that forgets. Wherever I go, I only feel love. Trolls existed, but they dont affect me now. I dont even need to respond anymore. Trolls existed, but they dont affect me now. I dont even need to respond anymore. After Lokahs success, Nyla Usha said the female superhero emerged from the efforts of Rima, Parvathy, and others The credit goes to the whole Lokah team... Dominic, Nimish, Santhy... and Dulquer for producing it on a big scale. Weve collectively created a space where such films can exist. The audience here values good cinema, regardless of gender. The real bias lies within the industryfemale-led films face smaller budgets though audiences pay the same. If the craft suffers, it isnt the viewers fault. We need equal financial and distribution support. Cinema itself is powerful... Im powerful only because of it. When did you realise this was your true passion? When I lost it. When film offers stopped, I felt a deep void. Earlier, I was moving from one character to another, always surrounded by creative people. Suddenly, it all ended... I cried myself to sleep, not knowing what hit me. Thats when I realised how much I needed this. Neythe made me see that it isnt just about films. I need a creative outlet. I simply cant stay still. You once said marriage didnt change Aashiqs life but completely changed yours Yes. Much of it comes from invisible conditioning passed down through generations. I realised I was role-playing... seeking validation for keeping a perfect home. It took time to see that the institution itself doesnt work for me. Its built by men, for men. I regret signing that paper. Love doesnt need official approval... Ill still love wholeheartedly, with or without it. Is it a problem between two liberal-minded people like you? (Laughs out) No, not between us. The problem is with marriage as an institution... it adds nothing and brings pressure instead. We love each other more now. We only signed because our parents wanted it, but its a trap of conditioning. Will Aashiq say the same about being married? No, hell have his own take. But we understand each other. Both of us are strong-headed, yet love holds us... not the certificate. Aashiq and I are very different. Hes into tech and AI while Im old school. I still write by hand and dont even know how AI works (laughs). We disagree creatively at times, and thats fine. Marriage hasnt erased our individuality. Were two people who just happen to share one signature (laughs). You once said Malayali audiences are very knowledgeable about cinema. Does that benefit artists and filmmakers? Absolutely. That awareness keeps us alert, its a healthy kind of fear. Our viewers can forgive technical flaws but never dishonesty in writing or performance. Theyll call it out, and that honesty is precious. Some say you continue to be successful only because of filmmaker Aashiq Abu... (Laughs) I dont need to. My journey speaks for itself. I arrived in Thiruvananthapuram with one suitcase, then to Kochi for Miss Kerala with the same one. I auditioned, worked, and built everything on my own. I met Aashiq in 2014, but Ive been in films since 2008. I never had a manager... I handled everything myself. When M T Vasudevan Nair offered me Sharathe Ammini (character in Neelathamara), my father told me to do it for free (laughs). Thats the kind of start I had. You were trolled for your fish fry comment, though everyone knew you were speaking about the system. Have peoples mindsets changed, especially online? Many girls told me, Thank you for the fish fry statement. Now we use it at home too! (laughs). It gave them a language to express something. Thats enough for me. You cant change the world, but you can communicate. I just used the space I have to speak my mind. Trolls dont matter. I said what I wanted to say. A role you aspire to do? I want to do mad, physical comedy. I saw Shobhana chechis performance recently... her comic timing was brilliant! We havent seen women get such space in cinema, except maybe Urvashi chechi. Id love to do full-fledged comedy. How do you choose your films? I go by instinct. If something instantly excites me, I do it. I cant approach cinema with pros and cons; it has to spark something inside. Most of your characters have been strong women. Do you feel typecast? Yes, thats the sad part. Even when I try something light, people cant see me that way. Those who meet me in person find me very different. Some even tremble while doing my makeup! (laughs) Strength and opinion are often mistaken for intimidation. Thats how the world sees women. You also said youd like to play a romantic role Yes, Im a very romantic person... but I cant say that openly (laughs)! I have many sides, but people love putting you in boxes like calling you an activist. Does the activist label feel like a burden? Not at all. Im proud of what I stood for, though it cost me a lot emotionally. Ive felt lonely and struggled, but I dont regret it. If wanting change and believing things can get better make me an activist, then yes, I am one. You once said you want to write and direct because only when you stand behind a project can you make changes. Could you explain that? True change happens only when you step into the creative space. When women start writing and directing from lived experiences, cinema transforms. Like when Shanti, Revathi chechi, or Ratheena made Puzha... those layers came from truth. We need more women behind the camera. The issue isnt talent, its trust. Once the industry begins investing in women, everything will shift. Are you exploring writing yourself? Yes. Cinema still feels magical to me, and I want to write and direct some day. But I often struggle with imposter syndrome. The Hema Committee report gave the Malayalam film industry a bad name. How do you see that? Its like how Kerala was reported on most during Nipah or Covid outbreaks... because were aware and vocal. Problems exist everywhere but we discuss them openly. That isnt shameful... thats progress. The question is, where do we go from here? Theres talk of a before and after Hema Committee. Do you see it that way? Definitely. Earlier, we didnt even know whom to approach if something went wrong. Now, every film set has an Internal Committee. Whether people use it or not is another matter. I expected more, but change takes time. Were dismantling centuries of patriarchy and that wont happen overnight. Still, things are shifting. Theres a growing demand for women leaders in the industry. Whats your expectation? I dont expect instant change. But for the first time, were seeing things through a new lens not just a male one. That itself is progress. I admire Shwetha (AMMA president)... shes bold and fearless. Im excited to see what she brings. 22 Female Kottayam (2012) made a strong impact. But back then, you werent seen as an activist. What are your memories of the film? After its release, I was branded a feminist. I seem to get a tag after every film! 22FK upset a lot of men... that showed its impact. It started a conversation I deeply believed in. Around that time, my TED Talk also happened, and together, they shaped how people saw me. But I dont mind such labels... they come from standing by what I believe in. I want to explore comedyand romancefrom a womans perspective. Youve also done lighter, conventional roles Nidra, Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal, August Club, Happy Husbands... Those roles were equally enriching. They reflected real women I see around me. Playing characters unlike myself helped me understand people better and develop empathy. Its a challenge, but one I enjoy. How do you see male gaze as a creator? It depends on the directors intent. If I were shooting an intimate scene, Id want to see how I view it as a woman. Like Anjalis scenestheyre intimate yet human. Its about context, not exposure. The audiences reading matters as much as the creators intent. We often discuss the male gaze. But doesnt the female gaze exist too? Of course. Were all sexual beings, women included. We have light and dark sides and I want to own both. We shouldnt be bound by the kulasthree image. Men must also learn to see women as we truly are. Social media has helpedwomen like Mathimol are unapologetic and bold, creating amazing work with just their phones. Its liberating to watch. When women turn directors or writers, people assume their films will be serious or about empowerment. What kind of stories would you like to tell? I want to explore comedyand romancefrom a womans perspective. Theres so much humour and tenderness in our stories that we havent shown enough. TNIE team: Cithara Paul, Supriya Sukumaran, Vignesh Madhu, Vivek Santhosh, Anna Jose, Manisha V C S, Harikrishna B, A Sanesh (photos) Pranav V P (video)

Five more roads in Kerala soon to be developed into national highways

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what could boost Kerala's infrastructure development, five more roads in the state will soon be developed into national highways. The National Highways Authority of India has informed the state government that proceedings have begun to develop five more national highway projects in the state. The roads to be upgraded to national highway status include Ramanattukara - Kozhikode Airport road, Kannur Airport Road (Chovva-Mattannur), Kodungallur-Angamaly stretch and Vypeen-Matsyafed Tourist Office Road. In addition to this, a project is being prepared to construct Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha bypasses on the Kochi - Madurai national highway. Welcoming the decision, Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas said NHAI has informed that steps have already begun to prepare the project plans for the new national highways. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the minister said the development marks a major step forward in strengthening the state's road infrastructure. He added that the NHAI has initiated the tender process to select an agency to prepare the detailed project documents. The minister noted that the proposal for upgrading additional roads to national highway standards was raised during a recent meeting between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi. Based on this, the state government submitted a detailed proposal, which has now led to the initiation of project documentation for the five new highways. The development of these roads is a long-standing dream of the people, he said. The state government will constantly intervene to ensure that the projects are completed in a time-bound manner, said the minister. The new highways are expected to improve connectivity to airports, ease traffic congestion, and boost regional trade and tourism. According to reports, the 12-km-long stretch from Ramanattukara to Kozhikode airport and the 20 km road from Kodungallur to Angamaly would be developed into four-lane roads.

Kerala leaders across political divide to unite against Centres black laws

KOCHI: In a rare show of unity, leaders from rival political fronts including the Congress, CPI, CPM and Indian Union Muslim League will share the stage in Kochi on Sunday to protest what they term the Modi governments black laws undermining democracy. The convention, organised by the Indian Human Rights Movement (IHRM), will be held at Sahodara Soudham, MG Road. Organisers said the meeting is being convened to oppose the Central governments growing control over democratic institutions, particularly the Election Commission, which they allege has been reduced to a puppet of the ruling dispensation. They alleged that the Election Commissions ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters lists is being misused to manipulate electoral rolls and silence dissenting voices. Supreme Court advocate Kaleeswaram Raj will inaugurate the event, which will be presided over by veteran journalist N Madhavan Kutty. The convention will feature K Muraleedharan (Congress), V S Sunil Kumar (CPI), K Chandran Pillai (CPM), MP Jebi Mather, and Ahmed Kabeer (IUML), among others. Speakers such as Prof K Aravindakshan, Brahmachari Soorya Shankar (Sivagiri Mutt), and Seetha Lakshmi T P (Karnataka Jagratha) will address the gathering. Representatives from the CPM, CPI (ML), RMP, KCYM, RMP(I), AAP, RJD, Trinamool Congress, and Gandhi Peace Foundation, along with writers and social activists, are expected to attend. The event will also adopt a declaration of solidarity with Palestine and host an open-mic session for participants to voice their concerns on the erosion of democratic and constitutional values.

TinkerSpace Kochi: A free, 24/7 open-tech lab for young innovators, fostering community, self-learning and peer-mentoring in Kerala

TinkerSpace, a technology initiative for innovators and makers is the country first open tech lab . It is part of a non-profit, Tinker Hub, which has been working with colleges in Kerala for the past 10 years

Womens Blind Football World Cup to get under way in Kochi on October 5

Defending champions Argentina, host India, Brazil, England, Poland, Turkey, Canada, and Japan to participate in the championship

Chellanam in Kerala on edge again over delay in second-phase tetrapod seawall construction

Chellanam-Kochi Janakeeya Vedhi decides to mark its protest entering the seventh year by holding a day-long dharna at Thoppumpady on October 28. Plans for further protests are also under way

EMPLOYMENT (04-10-2025)

F-NO. SP-1/18/2025-BIOACOU SECTION-CMLRE (E 737) CENTRE FOR MARINE LIVING RESOURCES AND ECOLOGY (CMLRE) MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (MOES) ATAL BHAVAN, LNG ROAD, PUTHUVYPE, OCHANTHURUTH P.O., KOCHI, INDIA WALK IN INTERVIEW WALK-IN-INTERVIEW TO FILL THE VACANCIES AGAINST PROJECT MANAGER (01 NOS.) AND PROJECT ASSISTANT/ TECHNICAL ASSISTANT (01 NOS) IN THE PRITHVI (2022-26) PROJECT OF CMLRE WILL BE HELD AT CMLRE, PUTHUVYPE CAMPUS. QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE ENGAGED AS THE RESPECTIVE POST FOR A PERIOD UPTO MARCH 2026 OR TILL THE TENURE [] The post EMPLOYMENT (04-10-2025) appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

PVL 2025: Chennai Blitz Seal Sensational Comeback Win Over Kochi Blue Spikers

Receiving passes from the setter Sameer, Chennai skipper Jerome started making an impact with the attacks. Kochi relied on Vinit Kumar to provide attacking prowess, while Amrinderpal Singh impressed early on with his blocks.

Over 30k Divorce cases in Kerala a year

KOCHI: They were in a relationship for years and even managed to overcome opposition from their families before finally getting married. But within a month, they decided to separate. This is the story of a couple -- the woman belonging to Kozhikode and the man from Thrissur -- who studied engineering together in college. His academic brilliance attracted her and what began as a friendship eventually blossomed into a marital relationship. Being a lone child, he was used to listening only to his mother. The woman, however, was quite possessive and small disagreements soon turned into arguments. Now over 27, they are living separately. Theirs is a pointer to a stark reality: divorce cases have been on the rise in Kerala for the past several years. According to an RTI reply obtained by TNIE from the Kerala High Court, 30,781 divorce petitions were filed in 2022. In 2023, the number rose to 33,535, while in 2024 the figure stood at 30,647. As of June 2025, as many as 9,199 cases have already been filed. And as of June 30, the number of divorce cases pending in family courts across the state is 38,067. Of that, the Thiruvananthapuram family court tops the list with 3,307 cases, followed by the Vadakara family court (2,322) and the Attingal family court (2,241). Experts note that nowadays even minor issues can escalate into major problems between couples. At the same time, some argue that it is better to walk away from a life filled with constant conflict. The increasing number of cases, they say, is also evidence that womens right to self-determination is being recognised. Advocate Shaniba Ali of Kerala High Court says, Over the years, we have focused on educating women to be independent but we forgot to educate men on how to live with an independent woman. Men remain dependent in many ways, largely because of their mothers and the family system. At the same time, women today are clear and confident about their equal status and capacity within a household. Only those who can find balance will thrive. Its a challenge. But we cant place all the blame on menthis is an era of change, and many divorces are collateral damage. Ancy Philip T, who served as a principal counsellor in several family courts, says in most modern divorce cases it is usually women who take the initiative. Their view is: Why suffer in a painful marriage when I can live independently with my job? This may make it seem like women are the problem, but when you understand the depth of their suffering, their decision feels justified. For example, a Kerala woman working in the UK married a man she met there. Within two months, she found he was a drug addict. She married seeking companionship but ended up hopeless; in counselling she even said, If Im forced to continue, Ill die by suicide. She cites another case, of a woman who married one of two twin brothers. Later, her husband insisted that his twin and family must live with them, backed by his parents. Unable to accept this, she chose separation, Ancy points out. Some women, though, do not pursue legal divorce but live separately, the counsellor says. One single mother told me she avoids court due to the stress and stigma, choosing instead to quietly live apart. Todays young women make such decisions after much thought, and increasingly, parents support themespecially as families are smaller, with one or two children. Parents feel theres no reason for their son or daughter to suffer endlessly, Ancy adds.

Kerala cautiously prepares for Messi date to prevent Karur tragedy repeat

KOCHI: The visit by La Albiceleste, including star footballer Lionel Messi, to Kochi next month promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, a massive crowd-puller. For this same reason, the iconic event scheduled to happen between November 14 and 18 has also triggered concerns surrounding crowd management, concerns exacerbated by the recent stampede during actor Vijays political rally at Karur in Tamil Nadu that left 41 dead. According to reports, the organisers are planning to hold mass events like road show and fan meets apart from the international friendly event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor. For the match alone, about 60,000 spectators will be in the stadium, while more are expected on its premises during the day. However, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) is optimistic the crowd can be managed with meticulous planning. The authority plans to follow the steps taken during the FIFA U-17 World Cup held at the stadium in 2017 and adhere to the norms followed during Indian Super League matches to ensure safety inside and outside the ground. The entire region from the Kochi airport, the hotel where the team will be staying to the stadium will be full of people. The authority is making careful preparation. We have hosted huge events in the city before. So, though this is a huge task, it will not be very difficult (to manage), said a KSDMA official. Governmental-level discussions are expected to be over within a week, giving us enough time to prepare, he said. The state is no stranger to disasters caused by crowd mania. There is the stampede during the makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala in 1999, the Pullumedu stampede of 2011, the Puttingal fireworks tragedy in 2016 and, more recently, the stampede at Cusat during a music festival two years ago in which four people died. Generally, proper understanding of mob mania and mob psychology can help us (mitigate risks). Our plan for the event includes aspects where there can be no compromises like the maximum number of people that can be allowed in a space, emergency measures to be considered during the visit of VVIPs, ensuring enough entry and exit points as well as weather conditions, says Dr Shekhar Lukose Kuriakose, member-secretary, KSDMA, while stressing on public participation in ensuring the efforts pay off. At the end of the day, in addition to the efforts put in by authorities, people too should realise the dangers of mob mania, he said.

Malayali founder proves failure is stepping stone in blazing AI trail

KOCHI: Artificial intelligence (AI) today looks like a ring dominated by giants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude each armed with billions and global reach. Yet in Bengaluru, a lean startup is preparing to pull its weight. Introducing Webenoid: founded by 36-year-old Joel Immanuel, born and raised in Bengaluru but with roots in Alappuzha, Kerala. Joel, who is fluent in Malayalam, has spent nearly a decade betting on India building AI models of its own to solve problems global giants overlook. Joels last corporate role was with IBM, which he left in 2010 to pursue his vision. Over the years, Webenoid folded seven times, each failure forcing him into contract work to keep it alive. His personal stake? Nearly Rs 10 crore in savings. Every collapse was a chance to rebuild smarter, he says. Now, with a 33-member team in place and a January 2026 launch in sight, Webenoid is ready to roll with the punches. At its core lies a deceptively simple idea: a single line of code that turns any website into an intelligent hub. Once embedded, the site can answer queries, qualify leads, schedule appointments, and offer 24/7 support. This isnt about sticking a chatbot on to your website, Joel explains. Its about creating AI staff, digital teammates that handle routine tasks and free up humans for strategy and creativity. Joels boldest bet is in education. He noticed students racing ahead with AI while teachers risked losing relevance. The problem wasnt knowledge, it was that educators werent trained to speak AI. Webenoid approaches this with AI-driven batches. Teachers upload curriculum and student lists; Webenoid creates batches, sends invites, and ensures curriculum-aligned answers. Students progress evenly, while higher-level insights are introduced when peers ask tougher questions. Its like a tutor that never tires, but with the teacher always in control, Joel says. And its priced for Indian classrooms: Rs 25-50 a month, compared to ChatGPTs Rs 300. The same model works for enterprises. Companies can create batches for employees linked to a shared knowledge base. Staff get consistent, company-aligned answers, while managers see knowledge gaps instantly. Unlike general-purpose large language models, Webenoid has chosen specialised excellence in business automation and intelligence. India is not that bad Can an Indian startup thrive in the crowded AI race? Joel answers with a smile: India is not that bad. Its not bravado, but conviction. He believes Indias edge lies in scaling at lower costs, solving practical problems, and proving innovation doesnt always need billion-dollar backing. Joel isnt claiming that Webenoid will topple OpenAI. Instead, hes carving a different path. The narrative that only billion-dollar funding wins in AI is wrong. Global players are great at general-purpose tasks. Were building AI that does business automation well. That focus powers Webenoids proprietary models Elara, tuned for conversational intelligence, and AetherMind, built for enterprise workflows. Together, they form what Joel calls a reliable digital teammate. Built in India, for the world Proudly homegrown and trained on Indian data, Webenoid is independent of foreign tech. As a Meta Business Partner, it integrates with WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Make in India isnt just a slogan its how weve built Webenoid, Joel says. The mobile app is ready but deliberately put on hold. Joel wants one big bang, not a slow rollout. By launching simultaneously for classrooms and businesses, he hopes to spark scale from day one. From seven shutdowns to a focused comeback, Webenoid is proof that Indias AI story is being written not just by large global players; but also in Bengaluru by a trailblazer from Alappuzha who just refused to quit. Edu solutions Teachers upload curriculum & student lists; Webenoid creates batches, sends invites, and ensures curriculum-aligned answers. Students progress evenly, while higher-level insights are introduced when peers ask tougher questions

TJS and the birth of 'Samakalika Malayalam Varika': How a master editor built a weekly from scratch

KOCHI: TJS George never believed in letting talent go to waste. When writer S Jayachandran Nair walked out of the then-popular literary and cultural weekly Kala Kaumudi , TJS saw an opening that would change the course of Malayalam journalism. At the urging of his close friend and writer M P Narayana Pillai known affectionately as 'Nanappan' TJS moved quickly. Pillai had written to him, insisting, We should not allow Jayachandran to lie idle. His calibre as editor and writer must be used. Together, the two men persuaded Jayachandran Nair to take charge of a brand-new weekly out of Thiruvananthapuram. Thus was born Samakalika Malayalam Varika on May 16, 1997, launched as a sister publication of The New Indian Express . Jayachandran came on board with a promise: he would bring to Varika the best voices of Kala Kaumudi . He delivered, persuading artist Namboothiri, literary critic M. Krishnan Nair, with his cult column Sahitya Varaphalam, and calligrapher Narayana Bhattathiri to cross over. With that single stroke, Varika arrived fully armed a cultural powerhouse under Jayachandrans stewardship from 1997 to 2012. TJS, who gave him a free hand to run the magazine, contributed his own unforgettable essay, Ghosha Yatra (Procession). That work, later included in his autobiography of the same name, won him the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2009. Legendary journalist and author TJS George passes away at 97 TJS himself was no stranger to launching publications. Years before, he had founded Asiaweek in Hong Kong, setting a benchmark for Asian journalism. In a telling gesture, all the issues of Asiaweek from his editorship have been donated to the EMS Cooperative Library in Ernakulam, preserving a slice of Asian media history for future generations. When Varika celebrated its 25th year, TJS recalled that the weeklys launch had coincided with another milestone: the start of his Point of View column in The New Indian Express . After contributing over 1,300 essays across a quarter-century, he bid farewell in June 2022 with a final piece titled Now is the Time to Say Goodbye. The readers may have gotten tired reading my piece, he quipped to editor Saji James, before quietly bowing out. TJS, who passed away in Bengaluru on Friday at 97, leaves behind more than books and columns. He leaves behind institutions publications like Samakalika Malayalam Varika that grew out of his instinct to spot talent and his belief in the power of editorial conviction. A chronicler of his times who never hesitated to call a spade a spade: Memories of TJS

Fourth Federal Bank Kochi Marathon having the Theme Move With Purpose: Grand Launch Inspires Runners

The Fourth Federal Bank Kochi Marathon, themed 'Move With Purpose', was launched for February 8, 2026, featuring four race categories.

Beach nourishment with dredged sludge mitigates coastal erosion in West Kochi within Kochi Corporation limits

However, Cochin Port Authority officially denies depositing dredged sludge along the coast, a long-standing demand of erosion-affected coastal population in Chellanam

Indias only calligraphy festival brings a flourish of strokes to Kochi

The third edition of the International Calligraphy Festival of Kerala (ICFK 2025), steered by KaChaTaThaPa Foundation in association with Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, began with much aplomb in Kochi on Thursday. The four-day event, held once again at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery, remains the only festival in the country dedicated exclusively to calligraphy, and hence boasts, like usual, the participation of big names from across India and abroad. TNIE paid a visit ahead of the exhibitions inauguration to check out the many works on display and learn about the history of this craft and Kerala's tightening embrace of it. The festival is a perfect avenue for the people here to learn about calligraphy, says Narayana Bhattathiri, the force behind ICFK, as he gave us a tour. A noted calligrapher with over four decades of experience, he splits his time between conducting workshops and classes, and the promotion of this craft by way of similar exhibitions. Narayana Bhattathiri, the force behind ICFK ICFK exhibition held at Durbar Hall Art Gallery Ive seen first hand the spike in interest. People are now more appreciative about calligraphy. Until only a few years ago, only a small clutch of people really paid attention to this craft or even knew about it. Thats changed significantly in the past half a decade, says Narayana, stopping short of heaping the credit entirely onto the festival. The festival was, no doubt, a big catalyst for this appreciation in interest and has, since its inception, grown to accommodate more than just an exhibition. Indeed, on its sidelines, theres workshops, discussions, demonstrations and lectures, with a throng of the young and the old, all in rapt attention. An ICFK lecture held on the sidelines of the exhibition This year is particularly interesting with the addition of a fashion show, a unique show blending calligraphy-inspired attire with stage presentation, and a pen show, offering collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to explore a variety of pens (and even buy a few). Prices fall between Rs 50 and Rs 5 lakh. Another highlight is the institution of the G Vivekanandan Memorial Award for excellence in script-based art displayed at the ICFK each year, says Narayana. It includes a cash prize and citation, before finding us a quiet corner to discuss the history of calligraphy. South Korean calligrapher Kim Jin-Young But what is calligraphy? Well, your dictionaries define it as the art of producing artistic, stylised or elegant handwriting or lettering. But of course, like it is in the case for all art forms, definitions dont define the practice. It is so much more, Narayana explains. Before the advent of the printing press, he continues, this was how people knew what was at play. Both around them and elsewhere in the world. So it was important that they be legible to read, thus introducing a skill aspect to what is otherwise just writing. As time passed, these writings transcended their function into the territory of art, and several names stood out. The arrival of the printing press and its subsequent evolutions pushed calligraphy into a niche for a long time. Later, it found a resurgence on social media, he adds. Works on display at ICFK 2025 But even when calligraphy was at its zenith, Kerala, and even South India, remained oblivious to it as a form of art, Narayana explains. Our scripts were mostly written on palm leaf manuscripts, which has an inherent limitation. I.e. you cant do certain strokes as it would tear the leaf. Which is in part why several of our Malayalam letters are round or oval in shape, he says. And by the time the craft made inroads in this region, the printing press had long found a foothold, thus relegating calligraphy to what Narayana describes as poster works. But according to the artist, calligraphy is so much more, and he is thankful that the craft is seeing a resurgence. I say this often, and much to the anger of several artists. Calligraphy has even a one up over painting, Narayana says. Elaborating further, he adds, Painting artworks have colour, a style and a message. Calligraphy has these three and another element: lettering. This, he says, holds the viewers attention for ever the slightly longer. Some lean on this aspect of calligraphy to make it political. And it has been used to such masterful effect in politics, especially in Kerala. Works on display at ICFK 2025 Interestingly, Narayanas youthhood is filled with several instances of him being called on to lend his calligraphy skills to make politics of that time lively. But of course, calligraphy accomplishes more than that It is, as is the case for any art, how we use it, and is shaped by (and shapes) religion and spirituality, culture, etc., he says. While heaps of praises came Narayanas way then, hardly anyone recognised this ability of his as an art. It was not until 2017, he recalls, that he found his way in calligraphy. I was attending a camp held in Pune which was attended by calligraphers from across India. That was indeed a turning point, recalls Narayana. It opened my eyes to the potential of this craft, and I began working to promote it. This festival is one vehicle to achieve that goal. Works on display at ICFK 2025 Works on display at ICFK 2025 Works on display at ICFK 2025 Like the printing press, the advent of AI has come as a prickly thorn, but Narayana is unfazed. I dont think it will affect calligraphy much. Especially given how the work infuses a lot of lettering, most of which are in regional languages, he says. By evening, the gallery was indeed buzzing as people thronged to the venue to behold the strokes, the colours and the letters that told, among many things, that art is what we make of it. The exhibition concludes on October 5. Pen Show @ ICFK 2025 Beyond the exhibition * Workshops, discussions, demonstrations and lectures on art, communication, cinema * Sculpture, painting and contemporary art forms will be on display * Calli-Fashion Show: a unique show blending calligraphy-inspired attire with stage presentation * The India Pen Show: an exhibition and sale of pens * Music and dance performances inspired by calligraphy Artists @ ICFK 2025 Guests include Michel DAnastasio (noted Hebrew calligrapher), Kim Jin-Young (South Korea), Brody Neuenschwander (UK), Dang Hoc (Vietnam), and Masoud Mohebbifar (Iran). Eminent Indian figures included Padma Shri awardee Achyut Palav, designer of the Indian Rupee symbol D Udaya Kumar, Sanskrit scholar Santosh Kshirsagar, former IIT Mumbai professor G V Sreekumar, Parameswaran Raju, NID faculty member Tarun Deep Girdher, and many others.

The call of calligraphy

The third edition of the International Calligraphy Festival of Kerala (ICFK 2025), steered by KaChaTaThaPa Foundation in association with Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, began with much aplomb in Kochi on Thursday. The four-day event, held once again at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery, remains the only festival in the country dedicated exclusively to calligraphy, and hence boasts, like usual, the participation of big names from across India and abroad. The festival is a perfect avenue for the people here to learn about calligraphy, says Narayana Bhattathiri, the force behind ICFK and the founder of KaChaTaThaPa Foundation, as he gave us a tour. A noted calligrapher with over four decades of experience, he splits his time between conducting workshops, classes and the promotion of this craft by way of similar exhibitions. Narayana Bhattathiri Ive seen first-hand the spike in interest. People are now more appreciative of calligraphy. Until only a few years ago, only a small clutch of people really paid attention to this craft or even knew about it. Thats changed significantly in the past half a decade, says Narayana. The festival was, no doubt, a big catalyst for this appreciation in interest and has, since its inception, grown to accommodate more than just an exhibition. Indeed, on its sidelines, there are workshops, discussions, demonstrations and lectures, with a throng of the young and the old, all in rapt attention. This year is particularly interesting with the addition of a fashion show, a unique show blending calligraphy-inspired attire with stage presentation, and a pen show, offering collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to explore a variety of pens (and even buy a few). Prices fall between `50 and `5 lakh. Another highlight is the institution of the G Vivekanandan Memorial Award for excellence in script-based art displayed at the ICFK each year, says Narayana. It includes a cash prize and citation, before finding us a quiet corner to discuss the history of calligraphy. But what is calligraphy? Well, your dictionaries define it as the art of producing artistic, stylised or elegant handwriting or lettering. But of course, like it is in the case for all art forms, definitions dont define the practice. It is so much more, Narayana explains. Before the advent of the printing press, he continues, this was how people knew what was at play. Both around them and elsewhere in the world. So it was important that they be legible to read, thus introducing a skill aspect to what is otherwise just writing. As time passed, these writings transcended their function into art, and several names stood out. The arrival of the printing press and its subsequent evolutions pushed calligraphy into a niche for a long time. Later, it found a resurgence on social media, he adds. But even when calligraphy was at its zenith, Kerala, and even south India, remained oblivious to it as a form of art, Narayana explains. Our scripts were mostly written on palm leaf manuscripts, which have an inherent limitation. This is in part why several of our Malayalam letters are round or oval in shape, he says. By the time calligraphy made inroads in this region, the printing press had long found a foothold, thus relegating it to what Narayana describes as poster works. But according to him, calligraphy is so much more, and he is thankful that the craft is seeing a resurgence. I say this often, and much to the anger of several artists. Calligraphy has even a one-up over painting, Narayana says. Elaborating further, he adds, Painting artworks have colour, a style and a message. Calligraphy has these three and another element: lettering. This, he says, holds the viewers attention slightly longer. Some lean on this aspect of calligraphy to make it political. And it has been used to such masterful effect in politics, especially in Kerala. Interestingly, Narayanas youth is filled with several instances of him being called on to lend his calligraphy skills to make politics of that time lively. But of course, calligraphy accomplishes more than that It is, as is the case for any art, how we use it, and it is shaped by (and shapes) religion and spirituality, culture, etc., he says. It was not until 2017, he recalls, that he found his way into calligraphy. I was attending a camp held in Pune, which was attended by calligraphers from across India.That was indeed a turning point, recalls Narayana. It opened my eyes to the potential of this craft, and I began working to promote it. This festival is one vehicle to achieve that goal. Like the printing press, the advent of AI has come as a prickly thorn, but Narayana is unfazed. I dont think it will affect calligraphy much. Especially given how the work infuses a lot of lettering, most of which is in regional languages, he smiles. The exhibition concludes on October 5.

Merchant vessel hits fishing boat, crew narrowly escapes shipwreck

KOCHI: The workers of the fishing boat Prathyasa, who had gone fishing from Fort Kochi, had a miraculous escape from getting shipwrecked after a merchant ship, MSC Silver 2, sailed very close to their vessel and hit the rear side on Wednesday evening. Though no casualties were reported, the crew suffered a huge loss after the ship tore into the net that was full of the days catch. The crew of Prathyasa said they lost the catch, mainly mackerel. The market value of the mackerel itself comes to around `10 lakh. Then there is the rest of the catch, apart from the damaged net, which is very costly, said the crew. Recounting the incident, they said: At 5 pm, when we were hauling in the nets at approximately 7.5 nautical miles off the Kannamaly coast, the merchant ship MSC Silver 2 sailed right into our vessel. Seeing the ship approaching, we sent a wireless signal to warn them. But the captain didnt seem to understand our signal and continued on a collision course, said the crew. According to them, numbering 45, the ship corrected its course only after other fishing boats in the vicinity raised an alarm. If the ship hadnt stopped when hearing the alarm raised by other boats, our vessel would have been crushed completely, leaving us all in the water. Many of us could have lost our lives, they said. The crew highlighted how the incident has financially set them back. Besides the loss of our net and catch, we also have to cough up `5 lakh to repair the damage wreaked on our boat. Also, with no net and a damaged boat, we wont be able to go out to sea anytime soon. This will severely affect our livelihoods, they added. The fishers allege such accidents are becoming common in the area. Jackson Pollayil, state president of Kerala Independent Fishermens Federation (KSMTF), said it has been only a few days since the MSC Elsa III sank in the fishing zone. The fishermen were already reeling from that tragedy. Now, yet another ship of the same company, Silver 2, has violated the shipping channel rules and come close to the shore, posing a threat to fishermen. Such tragedies occur because after entering Vizhinjam Port, MSC ships change their course, violating all rules and sailing as they please. If the Union Ministry of Shipping, port authorities, and coastal police do not act against such errant behaviour, fishermen will resort to blocking ships entering the port. The federation demanded compensation from the shipping company for the losses suffered by the fishermen. Ensure fishermens safety Ship collisions are increasing off the Kerala coast. Since the 2012 Enrica Lexie incident, there have been eight accidents involving ships that have claimed the lives of 15 fishermen, said Charles George, leader of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Ayikyavedi (TUCI). According to him, the ships that hit these boats continue to sail. These merchant ships do not follow the International Maritime Organizations Code of Conduct. In 2020, the Director General of Shipping had set a 50-km westward route for ships. Most ships now sail in violation of that. The merchant ship involved in Wednesdays incident was also in complete violation of the law. Our position that the shipping route should be changed to 50 nautical miles westward has not yet been accepted. The captain who violated the law must be arrested and subjected to legal action, and the fishermen must be provided with due compensation. In June, in another such incident, a ship tore into the net laid by a fishing boat.

Jacob Thomas becomes full-time RSS pracharak

KOCHI: RSS works with the aim of empowering individuals, and it has no religion or caste, former DGP Jacob Thomas said on Wednesday. He was speaking after inaugurating the RSS Pada Sanchalan held as part of Vijayadashami celebrations at Pallikkara in Ernakulam. Later, Jacob Thomas took part in the Pada Sanchalan dressed up in RSS traditional attire. Jacob told TNIE that RSS has attracted him. Basically, I was a civil servant. My goal and objective were to serve the larger public. I have been serving the nation and the public, and during my service, I came across a voluntary organisation that does the same with rules, regulations, and authority and makes the country better, stronger, and greater. Naturally, RSS attracted me, he said explaining why he joined the RSS as a full-time pracharak. Other people in civil service may have other goals. I dont have other goals. My objective is to serve the public, he said, emphasising that he has been fighting against corruption and people who dont work for the betterment of the nation. Jacob, who joined the police in 1987, retired from service in 2020. He is the third former DGP in Kerala to be part of the BJP-Sangh Parivar camp. Former state police chief T P Senkumar and former DGP R Sreelekha had joined the BJP after retirement. In 2021, Jacob joined the BJP.

Chargesheet filed against Vedan in sexual assault case

KOCHI: The Kochi City police on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against rapper Hirandas Murali aka Vedan in a sexual assault case. The chargesheet was submitted to the Kakkanad Magistrates Court based on the statements of the complainant and several witnesses, as well as chat evidence between Vedan and the complainant. The Thrikkakara police had registered a case against Vedan based on a complaint from a young doctor, alleging that he raped her under the pretext of marriage. The incident reportedly took place between 2021 and 2023. The case was registered in July, following which Vedan was arrested and released on station bail.

Route marches, public meetings mark RSS centenary fetein Kochi

Route marches taken out at 100 centres and public meetings in 122 places

How a college gang from Kerala evolved into agents of change with Maatam

In 2022, a clutch of young architects took over an abandoned colonial-era building in Fort Kochi and filled it with life. There were stalls selling upcycled homeware, workshops on climate change, conversations about waste, and music drifting through crumbling walls. For two days, the old house was transformed into a free market for ideas. That was the launch of Maatam, a collective dedicated to sustainability. It was spearheaded by a group of friends fresh out of college, with a stubborn sense of possibility. We were 22 then, full of energy, recalls co-founder Visakha G Raj. We just wanted to reach people with sustainability. The seed for Maatam, however, had been sown much earlier. In 2019, Visakha spent six months interning in Bali. Tourism had brought about the single-use plastic menace there. We could see how quickly such a beautiful place could be ruined. It was something we had already gone through in Kerala, she says. The trip was a catalyst. Back home, she and her friends all students of the College of Architecture in Thiruvananthapuram began experimenting with recycling. A snap of the first Maatam festival held in Fort Kochi Their first venture, SopStore, looked at ways to turn plastic waste into furniture and decor. Backed by the Kerala Startup Mission, the research continues even today. But the young architects quickly realised that their biggest challenge was not technical, but cultural. The need for a platform to spark conversations thus became clear. Maatam, which means change, seeks to become one. It is at once a festival, a collective, and an evolving tribe of about 20 collaborators with a common aim: to connect sustainable vendors with customers, to raise awareness about climate change, and to reuse existing resources, including buildings left to rot. Lila Art Cafe experiment For its first fest, the group zeroed in on a locked colonial house right in the heart of Fort Kochis heritage zone. The owner, they learned, had nearly given up on it. She had an emotional connection to the place and didnt want to open it again after an earlier event failed, Visakha remembers. We explained our idea about curating an exhibition with sustainable vendors, and finally, she agreed. Over 35 vendors signed up. Workshops, talks, and music filled the programme. The venue itself, cleaned and lightly restored by the team, became central to the storytelling. Visitors walked through the space, encountering everything from recycled trophies to sustainable gifting options. The buildings true potential was out there for everyone to see and experience. Not long after this exhibition, it was transformed into what is now the Lila Art Cafe. A snap of the first Maatam festival held in Fort Kochi From flea market to hub Currently, Maatam is planning its next fest for early 2026, likely at the old GCD building on Marine Drive Road, a site which Visakha describes as a really great space, architecture-wise, but forgotten. Using forgotten spaces reinforces the idea of reusing existing resources, and not building something new for the sake of it, she says. Maatam is also preparing to anchor itself in a permanent community centre. The idea is to create a hub where sustainability becomes an everyday practice, not an occasional festival theme. Say, for example, you bring a bag of clothes, Visakha explains. We will guide you on ways in which it can be repurposed. There will be a multidisciplinary team: architects, environmentalists, and designers. Even for things like setting up a garden, you will find help here. Such a hub, she hopes, can connect dots between government, institutions, companies and the public.

Former Kerala DGP Jacob Thomas Joins RSS As Full-time Pracharak

Dressed in the RSS traditional uniform, he attended the RSS programme at Pallikkara in Kochi on Mahanavami. The former DGP praised the RSS for creating individuals with cultural strength, stating that fostering more such individuals would strengthen society and ultimately empower the nation

Jonty Rhodes enjoys cricket with local players on Arthunkal beach

KOCHI: Be it a proper cricket pitch or the sandy shores of a beach, picking up the bat and knocking off a few boundaries and sixes is not a big thing for ace cricketers like former Test and one-day international South African middle-order batsman Jonty Rhodes. The cricketer, regarded as one of the greatest fielders of all time and the first South African cricketer to take 100 ODI catches, was in his element when he joined a group of local cricket players at Marari Beach in Alappuzha recently. The cricketer was here on a private visit along with his family. He arrived at Marari in Alappuzha on September 27 and went back after a stay of one week. He stayed with his family on a houseboat and visited many tourist places in the district, said Raju Marari, executive member of Kerala-HATS, an association of homestays in the state. Rhodes went on backwater cruises and visited several notable attractions, including the historic Alappuzha Lighthouse, Krishnapuram Palace, and famous temples like the Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple. According to Raju Marari, on one of his outings, Rhodes came across a group of local youth playing cricket and, after watching them for a while, decided to join them. It was a joyous occasion for the players and also the cricketer, who got to relive his cricketing days.

CPM invites Rini Ann George to join the party at Paravur event

KOCHI: In a move loaded with political significance, the CPM has openly invited Rini Ann George long considered close to Congress and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan into its fold at a public function held in Paravur, Satheesans home turf. The invitation came from CPM leader K J Shine at Womens Resistance, a programme inaugurated by senior leader K K Shailaja on Wednesday to protest cyberattacks targeting women. Shine, who herself faced a torrent of sexually explicit abuse online in recent months, urged Rini to cross over to the Left camp. I would urge women like Rini, who is capable of thinking independently, to join us in CPM. This is my personal wish, Shine declared, adding that Congress still clung to regressive practices akin to smarthavicharam, the discredited ritual trial of Namboothiri women accused of adultery in the early 20th century. Rini, who has been active in social issues and seen as close to Satheesan, who once described her as like a daughter, recently drew attention after she publicly spoke about an unpleasant encounter with a young politician. Though she refrained from naming the person or the organisation, her remarks triggered a major backlash online. My intention was never to malign anyone or weaken any organisation. I only wanted to raise the question of whether young men entering politics should behave like this. For that, I had to face a vicious cyberattack, she told the gathering. Following her disclosure, the Congress suspended its MLA, Rahul Mankootathil, after allegations surfaced against him. While the party moved swiftly to contain damage, the episode gave the CPM ammunition to attack its rival, with Shine arguing that CPM would stand by women who speak out rather than silence them. Shailaja too recalled the intense online harassment she endured during the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign in Vadakara, including the circulation of an abusive message against her in the fake letterhead of Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliar. By choosing Paravur the stronghold of Satheesan as the stage to woo Rini, CPMs move is being read as both a symbolic message and a direct challenge to Satheesan on his home ground.

Pan City LED Street Light project inaugurated in Kochi; Opposition challenges claims of better power efficiency

Under the project, conventional street lights have been replaced with over 40,000 smart and energy-efficient LED lights within Kochi Corporation limits

PWD readies Rs 2,388-crore plan to revive 167-km Buckingham Canal

CHENNAI: The public works department (PWD) has drawn up a preliminary estimate of Rs 2,388 crore to restore the Buckingham Canal, stretching 167km from Pazhaverkadu in Tiruvallur district to Marakkanam in Villupuram. The proposal includes desilting and dredging of the canal to a depth of 1.50m to 3m, for the length of 167km and an average width of 40m. Officials also said the government has requested an additional Rs 20 crore from the central government to fund a detailed project report (DPR) for the canals revival. The move follows Industries Minister T R B Rajaas appeal to Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during Indian Maritime Universitys convocation event last week, to clear Tamil Nadus proposal for the inland waterway. Reviving the canal is seen as key to easing congestion, spurring local commerce and bolstering climate-adaptation measures along the coast. This comes as Chennai is exploring the possibility of a water metro system, drawing inspiration from Kochis pioneering model, as part of a broader push to diversify urban transport options and help boost the citys tourism credentials. The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) had recommended a water-based transit corridor connecting East Coast Road with Napier Bridge, part of the citys Comprehensive Mobility Plan, which outlines long-term solutions to ease congestion and shift commuters towards low-emission alternatives. The vision is to create a 53-km stretch running through Chennais waterways that could eventually host electric or hybrid ferries. Sources indicated that the National Waterway proposal from TN, part of a country-wide initiative to improve its inland water transport network, include Mahabalipuram to Yediyur Bridge, Cooum River near Marina Beach, and Pulicat Lake and Ennore Port to ETPS. The Buckingham Canal had been a component of the National Waterway 4, but chronic pollution, encroachment and shallow channels have stymied progress. Shipping secretary T K Ramachandran, speaking to reporters at the Indian Maritime Universitys convocation event, had also acknowledged the hurdles but said they could be resolved. Factfile The Buckingham Canal is categorised as north, central and south, running for a length of 157.69km The stretch between Pulicat Lake to Cooum River Confluence Point, around 58km, is classified as North Buckingham Canal The 7.2-km stretch between the confluence of Cooum River and confluence of Adyar River is Central Buckingham Canal The stretch between Adyar River and Marakannam, around 102km, is classified as South Buckingham Canal The storm water drains of the Greater Chennai Corporation discharge the runoff in Central Buckingham Canal

RSS to celebrate centenary with 1,622 public events in Kerala

KOCHI: Kicking off its centenary celebrations, the RSS will organise 1,622 public events and 1,423 pathasanchalans in Kerala on the occasion of Vijayadashami, on Wednesday and Thursday. The national-level celebrations will be held in Nagpur on Thursday, with former President Ram Nath Kovind to be the chief guest. Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat will deliver the keynote address. Former DGP Jacob Thomas, oncology surgeon Dr Chitrathara, mural artist Rajendran Kartha, Vadakara St Johns Jacobite Syrian Church Vicar Fr Paul Thomas, actor Rupesh Peethambaran, Chinmaya Viswa Vidyapeedam deputy dean Manjula R Aiyer, assistant commandant Surendranath Menon, and former customs commissioner K N Raghavan are among the dignitaries set to attend the RSS centenary celebrations in Ernakulam district on Wednesday. The RSS will organise 122 programmes across the district on the occasion of Vijayadashami. The cadre, in RSS uniform, will take out pathasanchalans or marches at 100 places. The Sangh will launch its mass contact programme, Har Ghar Sampark, in the district on October 5. The south zone will hold 792 public functions and 613 pathasanchalans while the north zone will organise 830 public events and 810 pathasanchalans. The RSS had divided the Kerala state unit into two zones in 2024, considering an increase in the number of units. Districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam have been included in south zone while districts from Thrissur to Kasaragod are under north zone.

Nokkukooli dispute disrupts work at Thoppumpady fishing harbour

KOCHI: A wage dispute between owners of purse seine boats involved in single-day pelagic fishing and a section of workers affiliated to the CITU has been disrupting operations at Thoppumpady fishing harbour for the past one month. Purse Seine Boat Operators Association president Siby Punnoose alleged that the workers are demanding nokkukooli or gawking charges misusing the dominance of CITU which has more than 1,000 workers at the harbour. Supporting the boat owners, Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Union president Jackson Pollayil said the workers demand is unjustified. According to Siby, around 100 workers, who were initially engaged by the boat workers for mooring and cleaning of the boats and to load drinking water in the boats, are now demanding 2% of the auction amount, though they are not involved in any operations. However, CITU leader K M Riyad said that the workers duty includes unloading fish from boats and that their wage has been reduced from 3% to 2% of the total catch following disputes. The workers cannot accept any move to reduce their share further, he said. The only job of these workers is to help with the mooring of the boats and load water in the boats, Siby said. He said the catch brought by the boats are auctioned off immediately after reaching the harbour, with the workers engaged by the auctioneer unloading the fish. These workers are also affiliated to the CITU. Our boats go for fishing only on alternate days and the average catch per day will be around Rs 1 lakh. The operating cost of the boat including fuel, ice, and ration comes to around Rs 70,000 and the income is only Rs 30,000. We have to provide 47% of the income to the workers and the owner gets only around Rs 15,000. The protesting workers are demanding 2% of the auctioned amount, which is not feasible. We are ready to give 2% of the income after deducting the operating cost, which they are not accepting, Siby said. Earlier, there was a dispute between workers and owners on August 12. Siby alleged that he was manhandled by the workers. Protesting the attack on Siby, the boat owners observed a one-day strike on August 13. Following the standoff, fishing operations were disrupted for a week. A conciliation meeting held on August 17 decided to settle the issues amicably and the boat owners said the wages will be distributed after signing an agreement. However, the workers rejected the proposal to deduct Rs 60,000 from the auction amount and provide 2% of the remaining amount as wages. On Monday, the workers blocked auctioning of fish from purse seine boats at Kochi harbour and 16 boats had to depend on other harbours to sell the catch. There are around 47 purse seine boats operating from Thopumpady harbour, with each boat having 25 to 32 workers involved in fishing operations. The boat owners stressed that unloading the fish is the duty of the boat workers. We have been receiving 2% of the auction amount as wages for the past 14 years and there is no other benefit, like medical aid or allowances. The fishing season extends only for three months and these workers are surviving on the income from other work for the rest of the year. The 2% wage is fixed and there is no revision of wages like in other sectors. We are only demanding the existing wages. The claim that we are not involved in unloading fish is wrong, Riyad said.

Maldivian appoints AVIAREPS as general sales agent for south India

KOCHI: Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, has appointed AVIAREPS India as its official general sales agent (GSA) for south India, reinforcing its commitment to the Indian market and strengthening trade partnerships in a region that serves as a major gateway to the archipelagic country. We are greatly encouraged by the growing interest from the Indian market, which is a preferred destination for us. We plan to start operations to the cities of Bengaluru and New Delhi besides increasing the frequency of services to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, said Ibrahim Iyas, the managing director of Maldivian. Until August 2025, the Maldives welcomed 85,306 Indian visitors, a 4.7% increase year-on-year. India now ranks sixth among source markets with a 5.7% share of total arrivals, reaffirming its strategic significance. With projections indicating a further 20% growth in 2025, Maldivian is poised to capture a larger share of the outbound segment, particularly from south India where proximity and connectivitymake the Maldives one of the most convenient international getaways. Maldivian has been operating four weekly services (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) both in the Kochi-Male and the Thiruvananthapuram-Male sectors. Maldivian also offers seamless domestic inter-island connections, the largest in the Maldives, allowing visitors to access luxury resorts, adventure hubs, cultural experiences, and wellness retreats across the archipelago. We are proud to partner with Maldivian as their GSA in south India, one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the region. India is not only a key source market for the Maldives but also one with immense potential for sustained growth. With our strong local expertise and deep trade relationships, AVIAREPS will ensure Maldivian strengthens its visibility, expands its reach, and provides Indian travellers with seamless access to the Maldives, said Marcelo Kaiser, COO Aviation at AVIAREPS. Maldivian currently operates a fleet of 26 aircraft, connecting 17 domestic airports and international destinations. AVIAREPS is a leading international representation, marketing company for aviation, tourism, and food and beverage brands.

Ex-husband stabs, critically injures 35-yr-old woman in Kerala

KOCHI: A 35-year-old woman was grievously injured after being stabbed by her ex-husband in Angamaly on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Riya Xavier of Sreemoolanagaram, was assaulted near Mukkannur Forane Church, where she had gone in the morning to visit her children. The accused, Jinu of Angamaly, was traced soon after the incident and taken into custody, said a source with Ernakulam rural police. Riya and Jinu had been living separately following their divorce, during which Riya had moved abroad. The attack was reportedly triggered by Jinus objection to her visiting the children after their separation. She met the children at the church around 10 am, and was walking through a pocket road behind the church to catch an autorickshaw when the former husband confronted her, said an officer with Angamaly police station. He shouted at her, asking why she came to see the children despite settling the matter in the court. The accused then blocked her and stabbed her on the left side of the abdomen and on her neck. The woman, who lost a lot of blood, was rushed to a nearby private hospital and then to a specialist hospital in Karukutty, said the officer. The accused was booked for attempted murder, causing grievous hurt by a dangerous weapon, and wrongful restraint, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, added the officer. As per the womans statement, the divorce proceedings were over but there was a dispute over the children's custody. We will have to verify it by checking court records.

Family turns abandoned grove into public space in Kerala

KOCHI: An abandoned sacred grove by the roadside posed difficulties for the residents of Mukkottil Temple Road in Tripunithura for long with antisocial elements dumping waste in the cover of darkness and reptiles posing threat with overgrowth. Not anymore! The Arippil family, which owns the land, is now winning praises after they turned the land into a beautiful open space for the public with facilities such as colourful seating arrangements, solar light and CCTV camera all by spending money from their own pocket. Aptly titled Edam, the landscaped open space enhanced with natural and architectural elements like grass, flowers, and decorative stone works, and constructed by noted architect Koshy P Koshy will be thrown open to the public at 5.30 pm on October 2, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. There are few open spaces in the locality. Hence we thought of transforming it into a welcoming place for the local residents. We seek the support and involvement of all our neighbours in upkeeping and securing this open space. We are respectfully dedicating this open space to the memory of our forefather K Narayana Menon -- an educationist, novelist, critic, poet, orator, journalist and publisher, said a member of the family who doesnt want to be named. Post inauguration, the public can unwind at the open space from 5 am to 9 pm. The mini park has also been put under CCTV surveillance to ensure safety and prevent anti-social elements from dumping garbage.The abandoned land had become a dumping yard. But hats off to the family which turned it into a beautiful open space for the public. The family is also encouraging the public to conduct cultural and literature-related activities there, K S Sankaranarayanan, vice-president of the Mukkotil Temple Road Residents Association, told TNIE. The walls of the open space are decorated with writings praising prominent poets like Kunchan Nambiar. A memorial of K Narayana Menon, the forefather of the current generation of Arippil family has also been set up. Menon was an educationist, novelist, critic, poet, orator, journalist and publisher. His famous works include a novel, Pizhacha Unnam and a seminal critique of Kunchan Nambiars art form, Ottamthullal. In 1904, he launched the second womens magazine in Malayalam Sarada, which was also the first ever Malayalam publication edited by women. He also helmed another publication, Mahathi. We constantly lived in fear of reptiles with the overgrowth in the vacant land. But the family spent nearly Rs 5 to 8 lakh to first fill the plot and then turn it into a beautiful open space. The land price itself here comes to around Rs 15 lakh a cent. The facility has been set up in nearly two cents of land, said Govind Raj, a local resident.

All-India Tourist Permit bill to benefit private buses registered in Kerala

KOCHI: The proposed All-India Tourist Permit (AITP) Bill, which aims to curb the practice of registering buses in the north eastern states to take advantage of lower taxes there, is expected to benefit a majority of traditional private bus operators in Kerala. The bill proposes to make it mandatory for the vehicles registered in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to operate at least one trip every 45 days to or from their home state. The strict enforcement will make the practice of registering buses in the North East less viable. As a result, the traditional operators in Kerala who are currently at a disadvantage due to higher local taxes would be able to compete on a more equal footing. This could help them regain some of the market share lost to the outside operators, Dijo Kappen, transport expert and chairman of the State Public Transport Protection Committee, told TNIE. By forcing buses to register in the state where they primarily conduct operations, the bill would ensure that a larger portion of the road tax revenue goes to the Kerala government. This increased revenue could, in turn, be used to improve road infrastructure, bus terminals, and other transport-related facilities within the state, he pointed out. Currently, many big private bus operators register their vehicles in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to take advantage of the significantly lower road taxes there. They then operate these buses primarily in other parts of the country, including South India, without contributing proportionate tax revenue to the states. The current system has led to unhealthy competition where some operators can offer lower fares because of their tax advantage, even if they dont provide a superior service. The new bill will help end this unfair competition based on tax loopholes, and force operators to compete on the quality of their service. This could lead to an overall improvement in the quality of bus services, said an owner of a prominent inter-state luxury bus operating group. According to him, the difference in tax could be as high as Rs 8 to 9 lakh a year. For instance, for a 36-berth luxury private bus, the tax in Kerala is Rs 1,08,000 a quarter, and Rs 4,32,000 a year. At the same time, the registration fee in Nagaland for the same category bus is less than Rs 50,000. An operator needs a minimum of two buses to conduct a single service with AITP licence. So the tax here would be around Rs 9.64 lakh as against the below-Rs 1 lakh in the north east states, he said. Bill to rein in AITP buses plying as stage carriers The Bill also addresses issues like AITP buses operating as stage carriers (picking up and dropping off passengers along a particular route), which is a violation of the permit conditions. This practice, often seen in Kerala, leads to direct competition with local stage carriers and the state-run KSRTC. The new rules and the proposed monitoring using Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) devices would make it easier for authorities to crack down on such violations. This would protect the business of traditional private bus operators in Kerala who operate as stage carriers and adhere to their permitted routes and schedules. Another measure proposed by the bill is that the permits can be renewed only if the owner clears pending challans in 30 days, or he should approach the court, challenging the same.

Ensure cat trapped in loan defaulters house is returned to owner, Kerala HC tells bank

KOCHI: In an unusual turn of events, a loan default case has taken a feline twist. The Kerala High Court was informed that a pet cat belonging to Muhammed Nishad of Cherthala remains trapped inside his house, which was recently taken over by the State Bank of India after loan recovery proceedings. Taking note, the court directed the bank to verify the claim and, if true, ensure that the stranded pet is returned to its owner without delay. The court issued the order on a petition Nishad filed, seeking to stay all proceedings against his residence and give back its possession. The petitioner, along with his wife, had availed a loan from the bank. As security, the applicant mortgaged a property in his name. However, on default of repayment of the loan amount, the bank initiated proceedings against him under the SARFAESI Act. Though the petitioner requested the bank to provide a chance to repay the loan amount, the authorities concerned did not consider the request. Subsequently, the bank approached the magistrate court and it appointed an advocate commissioner to take possession of the property. Challenging this, Nishad approached the HC, which asked him to remit `7.5 lakh towards loan liability. The petitioners counsel, P T Sheejish, submitted that due to severe financial hardship, the petitioner was unable to fully comply with the directions. The petitioner contended that his children have not attained the age of majority and are going to school. Their study materials, other belongings, and their pet cat were inside the house being attached, he said. Though Nishad had requested the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ernakulam, to extend the stay on the coercive proceedings, the tribunal declined as he could not pay the full conditional amount on time. The court passed an interim order stating, On the submission that though the bank has taken possession of the securedasset, a cat belonging to the petitioner is trapped inside the house, andaccordingly, permission for urgent moving was granted. In view of the submission, there will be a direction to the bank to verify the correctness of the submission and, if true, ensure that the pet is handed over to the petitioner without delay. The court will hear the matter on October 6.

Congress functionary found dead in lodge in Kochi

Shashi Tharoor writes to Air India MD over flight cancellations from Kerala airports

KOCHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has shot off a letter to Air India MD Campbell Wilson, expressing displeasure over the reported large-scale cancellations of Air India Express (AIE) services from Kerala airports in the forthcoming winter schedule. The move is in the wake of reports of a significant number of AIE flights being withdrawn from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur in the winter schedule, which will be effective from October 26, 2025 till March 28, 2026. Kerala is one of the busiest aviation hubs in the country, with exceptionally high international passenger traffic, particularly to the Gulf region. Any curtailment of services at this stage will inevitably cause severe hardship to migrant workers, students, tourists and families, while also hampering trade and tourism. @airindia must stop treating Kerala as an afterthought: withdrawing business-class services on the longest single-sector flight in India (Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram) has already added insult to injury, the MP wrote on social media platform X. If @airIndia continues its disregard for Keralas interests, @IndiGo6E and @AkasaAir are waiting in the wings and many of us will have no compunction about switching our allegiance to those who give us the attention we deserve. I had publicly hailed @airindia as my favourite airline. But when facts change, opinions can change too. I hope all concerned will pay due attention. @TataCompanies, he wrote. I have written to @airindia MD Campbell Wilson to express my deep concern over reports of large-scale cancellations of @airindiaexpress services from Kerala's airports in the forthcoming winter schedule. According to widely-circulated media accounts, a significant number of Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 29, 2025

Protest brews at Neriamangalam as NH work remains suspended

KOCHI: With the impasse over suspended road widening works on Neriamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway 85 continuing, local residents and various socio-cultural organisations are threatening to launch a massive protest in the coming days, demanding immediate resumption of work. The High Court on July 11 suspended the road upgrading work on the 14.5-km stretch, citing issues with the forest land and lack of necessary approvals from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), based on a petition filed by Idukki-based environmentalist M N Jayachandran. However, the residents and the National Highway Protection Council, argue that the widening is crucial for improving connectivity of the hill ranges with the main land and also to ensure traffic safety on the accident-prone route. We are organising a massive convention on October 2, in which representatives of various communities, political and social organisations, will take part. The next hearing in the case is slated for October 7. We are planning to launch several protests if the authorities fail to resolve the impasse before that. The court has already made it clear that it will give the go ahead nod if the state submits an affidavit in signing. The MoEFCC too left it to the decision of the state government, P M Baby, chairman of the National Highway Protection Council told TNIE. As per its protest plans, the council plans to block the vehicles of forest officials plying through the stretch, conduct a march to the office of Minister Roshy Augustine, and also to hold a two-day hartal in the district, besides laying a siege to the forest office functioning at Neriamangalam. Meanwhile, residents charged that the roads are now in a dilapidated condition, resulting in increased mishaps. Also, one side of the stretch was trenched before the works got suspended. The paved shoulders or retention walls could not be constructed, the same increases the risk of landslides. Similarly, the work on the drainage tunnel could not be finished and the digging of the road for the same is now posing threat to vehicles. Only 10% work completed on the stretch: NHAI When contacted, the NHAI authorities said only 10 per cent work on the 14.5 km stretch could be completed. This is even as we have finished the work with regard to 95 kms out of the total 124-km corridor of NH 85 where the road upgrading works are progressing, a senior NHAI official said. The works have been suspended since July 11. The court said in its order that it will allow resumption of the work upon the government filing an affidavit towards the same. However, the government is yet to submit the report, he added. The NHAI authorities said they started the work, including cutting of trees, upon receiving the approval of the forest department, but now forced to suspend the work due to the court direction. We have got the approval of the forest department, and started the tree-cutting activities on the stretch. The work on the only major bridge in the corridor at Neriamangalam is progressing. The sub-structure on one side has been completed and the one on the forest side is pending, the official said. The Rs 910-crore project, sanctioned in December 2022, mainly involves the widening of the two-lane NH corridor from Kochi (Kundannoor) to Munnar. The work also includes paved shoulders and retention walls along the stretch to prevent landslides.

Biometric kiosks to make immigration processing a breeze at Kochi airport

KOCHI: After the fast-track immigration initiative of the Bureau of Immigration, Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) will soon set up biometric kiosks at arrival terminals for faster immigration processing of foreign nationals. Sources said CIAL will set up ten biometric kiosks just before the immigration counter at T-3 arrival terminal. The specially-designed kiosks are intended to expedite the immigration process for arriving foreign nationals. These will be self service kiosks with 15-inch screens. The kiosks will facilitate quick and easy automated identity verification using unique physical characteristics including facial and fingerprint scan. The same allows for faster data capture and comparison against secure government databases, reducing both passenger queues and officer workload, a senior CIAL official said. At present, passengers need to stand in queue at immigration counters for examinations, including scans of all 10 fingers, with an average wait time of four-five minutes per passenger. During peak hours, these queues could lead to even longer delays. A common issue faced at counters is the difficulty to read fingerprints of elderly people. A delay or repetition of the process will affect others in the queue. This can be eliminated with automated biometric kiosks. Once the system successfully enrols data and confirms identity, the passenger receives clearance to proceed to the counter. The passenger will need to provide just a single-finger scan to complete the process, he said. Besides the reduced wait time, the biometrics offer a more secure and accurate method of identity verification, minimising the risk of human error. CIAL has already floated the tenders to set up the kiosks. The successful bidder will need to complete the work in five months. Faster immigration The Bureau of Immigration launched its fast-track immigration facility to eliminate long queues and streamline the immigration process. As part of it, a Fast Track Immigration - Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) kiosk, installed in the departure waiting area of Terminal 3, allows passengers to complete their on-the-spot registration and biometric enrolment. The cutting-edge scheme is designed for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizenship of India cardholders. By enrolling in the programme, travellers can complete their immigration formalities in just 30 seconds using advanced biometric-enabled smart gates. The FTI-TTP facility is now available in 13 international airports, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

Kerala High Court appoints observer for selection of chief priest at Sabarimala temple

KOCHI: Kerala High Court on Monday appointed Justice T R Ramachandran Nair, former judge of the court, as the observer to oversee the proceedings for selection of melsanthis (chief priests) of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple, for 2025-2026. The division bench also requested him to be in Sabarimala at the time of the draw of lots. For the selection of melsanthis of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple, applications have been called for and 119 applications (70 for Sabarimala and 49 for Malikappuram) came up for consideration. After Vigilance inquiry, 53 applications were recommended for interview at Sabarimala and 36 applications for Malikappuram, which are scheduled to be held on October 3 and 4 at the Travancore Devaswom Board Head Office, Thiruvananthapuram. The court made it clear that the selection of melsanthis should be conducted in terms of the 2011 order of the Supreme Court and the guidelines issued by the High Court. The court ordered that the entries in the mark sheet shall be made only by using a ballpoint pen. The mark sheets shall be countersigned by the observer and should be kept in safe custody of the commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board. The entire proceedings scheduled to be held on October 3 and 4, shall be video-graphed. The entry of persons to the Sopanam enclosure of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, at the time of draw of lots, shall be in terms of the direction of the High Court issued in 2023. The court also requested the Observer to file a report after the culmination of the interview. The TDB commissioner should produce the CD of the selection proceedings, mark lists and also the short list before the court, in a sealed cover, through the standing counsel for the TDB on or before October 13.

Solace courses... from pain in her heart and song in her mouth

KOCHI: As the colourful kite soared, it caught the imagination of a five-year-old who had come to the park accompanied by her mother. Enraptured by the rainbow-hued objects vagaries and flight of fancy, she poured her emotions and feelings into verse. She sang the lines out aloud to her mesmerised mother, who recorded it. This marked the birth of Agna Yami as a poet. But, Agna is no mere dreamer. Besides being the youngest published female poet in the world, her compassion for fellow children suffering from life-threatening diseases drove her to launch Aksharakoottu an initiative that envisages making available reading material for children undergoing treatment for cancer in hospitals. I came to know about the plight of children suffering from cancer from my mother, says the second-standard student of Kozhikode Venappara Little Flower UP School. She works for an organisation called C For CCCI. From her, I came to know about the children who have been undergoing treatment for cancer. She told me how these children are unable to attend school. This made me think about donating my books. The first stop was Kozhikode Medical College Hospitals cancer ward. Besides her books, she went on to donate tomes that she bought with money from her piggy bank. And, that was just the start. Since then, she has been donating books to cancer wards. Agna has roped in friends and acquaintances for this initiative. Now seven, she also conducts online classes for children afflicted by cancer. I had been doing that since I was two. I have around 30 students from Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur. She was recently felicitated by General Education Minister V Sivankutty for her initiative. I received the title of youngest poet in the world for my anthology of thirty poems titled Varnappattam, which was published when I was studying in UKG, says Agna. She even illustrated the pages and cover of the book. Varnappattam was released on March 5, 2023 in Kozhikode. Soon, the accolades flowed. She was awarded the title of Grand Master by the Asia Books of Records on April 19, 2017. And in June of the same year, she was recognised with a certificate and medal by the International Book of Records. On July 3, 2023, she was recognised by the World Book of Records, London, as the worlds youngest poet author. Agna, who can read in 12 languages, wrote and published her second book Pencil and Jalaraani a collection of 20 short stories as a first grader. I can read in Malayalam, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Norwegian, Swedish, and Romanian.

Kerala High Court calls for full inventory of valuables at Sabarimala temple

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday appointed retired HC judge Justice K T Sankaran to oversee the preparation of a complete inventory of the valuables in the strongroom and those recorded in the Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments) register at Sabarimala, saying the lack of details on the same was a serious discrepancy. It requested the judge to appoint a highly-reputed and trustworthy jewel appraiser for the purpose and submit a report while ensuring that strict confidentiality is maintained. The HC bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar also directed the chief vigilance and security officer to conduct a diligent and independent probe into all lapses by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in connection with the dwarapalaka idols row, not limiting it to Unnikrishnan Potti who sponsored their gold plating. Only items offered to the deity by devotees are entered in the register, maintained physically. In the case of the kodimaram, dwarapalakas, peedams, etc, there are no details in the register regarding their installation, the quantity of gold used, or their value. This is a serious discrepancy, the court remarked. The bench recalled that in 1999 more than 30kg of gold was used for cladding, yet there is no proper record of the same. To correct these anomalies, a proper inventory and authentic valuation statement must be prepared and preserved for posterity, it observed. Regarding the missing gold, the court directed the TDB vigilance officer to pursue the investigation and bring out all discrepancies, including lapses by the officers themselves. The bench noted that the valuables were entrusted to Potti in a casual manner, with no registers maintained. The investigation, which must be conducted in strict confidence, must not be limited to one individual, it said. We want you to conduct the investigation flawlessly. Whoever is responsible for these scandals should be unearthed, it told the officer. Submission by chief vigilance officer The officer said he examined the strongroom to check for dwarapalaka idols and peedams, but found none. He said the gold jewellery is stored in chests, while gold coins and other items are kept in sacks. The records are not digitised, and the value of gold items has not been determined, as it fluctuates. A detailed investigation is therefore necessary, he said None of the registers revealed that the peedams (pedestals) seized were ever handed over to Unnikrishnan Potti, warranting continued probe, he said

Kerala schools put up stellar show in national education world rankings

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five schools from Kerala featured in the top 10 under various categories of the 19th edition of the EducationWorld India School Rankings (EWISR) released on Monday. Government VHSS for Girls, Nadakkavu, Kozhikode, retained its all-India second rank in the State Government Day Schools classification. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram was ranked ninth in the country among Central Government Day Schools. In the previous ranking, the school had bagged the seventh spot. Navy Children School, Kochi (ranked 12), Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2, Naval Base, Kochi (18) and Army Public School, Pangode, Thiruvananthapuram (29) were the other schools from the state that made the category. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chennithala, Alappuzha bagged the eighth spot in the Central Government Boarding Schools group. Last year, the school was ranked sixth. Pallikoodam, in Kottayam, was ranked fourth in the Co-ed Day-cum-Boarding Schools group. The school came third in the last two years. The other Co-ed Day-cum-Boarding Schools in Kerala that figured in the rankings are The Choice School, Kochi (17), Montfort School, Chinnakanal (36), and Delhi Public School Kollam and Kuriakose Elias English Medium School, Kottayam (37). Sadhbhavana World School, Kozhikode was ranked sixth among International Day-cum-Boarding Schools. The school improved its ranking from ninth last year. The other schools in the category from the state that figured in the rankings were: The White School International, Kozhikode (12), Trivandrum International School (19), and Dawn International School, Kochi (30). As per the EWISR city rankings, the top Co-ed Day Schools were Navajeevan Bethany Vidyalaya (Thiruvananthapuram); Viswajyothi Public School, Angamaly (Ernakulam), Lords Academy (Thrissur), and Face International School, Kalarikandy (Kozhikode). EWISR 2025-26 was conducted by EducationWorld magazine in association with AZ Research Partners Pvt Ltd. EWISR rates and ranks 4,500 schools from 518 cities and towns across India on 15 parameters of educational excellence.

New GIFT study frees Kerala from grip of debt-trap narrative

KOCHI: While Keralas high debt levels often draw criticism, a new study by the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (GIFT) says that the states debt trajectory is not a story of collapse, but one of recovery. According to the report, fresh data from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) paints a more nuanced picture: Keralas economy is stabilising faster than many other states. The pandemic shock temporarily inflated debt figures, but with economic revival and disciplined borrowing, sustainability is achievable without compromising welfare spending. P S Renjith, an assistant professor at GIFT, pointed out that the Reserve Banks 2022 report had categorised Kerala among the most fiscally unsustainable states. Before the pandemic, Keralas debt-to-gross state domestic product (GSDP) ratio hovered between 27% and 32% for nearly two decades, a range widely considered sustainable. In 2018-19, the ratio stood at 30.65%. The Covid crisis disrupted this balance. In 2020-21, Keralas GSDP shrank by nearly 9%, a contraction that was sharper than the national average. This denominator effect pushed the debt-GSDP ratio up to 39.96%. The RBI read this as a sign of fiscal mismanagement, projecting Keralas debt ratio would remain above 35% well into 2026-27, he said. But the post-pandemic years have proved otherwise. By 2023-24, Keralas debt ratio dropped to 34.2%, with the latest budget estimate placing it at 33.8% for 2025-26. This marks a steady downtrend, even after factoring in off-budget borrowing, which now invites increased scrutiny by the CAG. Comparative data strengthens Keralas case. While Punjab (44.5%), Himachal Pradesh (40.5%), and West Bengal (38%) continue to carry heavier debt loads, Kerala has achieved a sharper and more consistent reduction. In fact, it now ranks among the top ten states in terms of the pace of decline. The gap between pre-pandemic debt/GSDP ratio and current levels has narrowed to just 3.15 percentage points, placing Kerala 16th in terms of adjustment volume. These trends confirm earlier GIFT projections that Kerala could reach a sustainable threshold of 27.8% by 2030-31, provided economic growth continues and fiscal discipline is maintained, Renjith said. What was once flagged as a debt crisis in waiting is now shaping into a story of cautious recovery. If Kerala continues on this trajectory, it could provide a model for other states, demonstrating that fiscal consolidation and social commitment can coexist, even in a post-crisis economy, he added. The study points out that two factors could weigh on this trajectory: central restrictions that limit additional revenue mobilization and the growing challenge of an ageing population. M Suresh Babu, director of the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), said that according to the CAG report, Kerala is not in a significantly dangerous position regarding debt. The report shows that, despite facing revenue deficits, Kerala is making progress in addressing these challenges, he told TNIE. Borrowing itself isnt the problem what matters is how states use the money and whether they can repay it. From a national perspective, Indias states are sitting on a mountain of debt that has tripled in a decade, according to the CAG report. If states also have weak revenue-generation capacity, it becomes difficult to service debt without relying on Union government transfers or further borrowing. As debt servicing interest and principal repayments grows, fiscal space for capital expenditure essential for infrastructure, health, education, and even climate adaptation shrinks, Suresh added. Kerala economy grows, still has woes

Apartment owners association bats for centralised sewer network in Kochi instead of individual STP units

Panel set up by the Kerala High Court will consider the associations plea to resolve the issue by opting for a centralised network, especially in apartment complexes facing space constraints to install sewage treatment plants

Youth Congress workers take out march seeking resumption of road works

They demand govt. steps for resumption of works on the Neryamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway

India to roll out e-observer system for remote monitoring of fishing

KOCHI: India is set to introduce an electronic observer (e-observer) system that will remotely monitor fishing vessels and record catches with precision a move aimed at transforming how the country manages marine resources and defends its seafood exports in global markets. Unveiling the plan in Kochi, Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said the e-observer, developed by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI), will serve as an onboard electronic eye. It will provide accurate scientific data for stock assessment and management by observing fishing operations across various vessel types, he said at the opening of a five-day global workshop on species identification, jointly organised by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the FSI. Officials said the initiative will also help India comply with IOTC rules, which mandate observer coverage and electronic monitoring of tuna and allied fisheries. More importantly, it is expected to arm India with science-backed, verifiable data described as the countrys strongest defence against non-tariff barriers and allegations in export markets. India has already upgraded its monitoring framework, with nearly 36,000 fishing vessels fitted with transponders under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for real-time tracking. The e-observer will be the next big step in building a comprehensive fisheries data ecosystem. Since tuna, tuna-like species and pelagic sharks are highly migratory resources, Likhi stressed the need for regional and international cooperation to ensure sustainability, even while protecting the livelihoods of millions dependent on the sector. The workshop also highlighted concerns over the global quota allocation system for commercial tuna fishing. CMFRI Director Dr. Grinson George called for a revision to secure a fairer share for developing nations like India, while also underlining the need for robust cold chain infrastructure to improve the competitiveness of Indian tuna exports. Experts from 12 nations including Japan, France, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Africa, along with officials from Indian coastal states, are participating in the workshop.