No files will be held up for more than seven days, and not more than 15 days in cases where the Mayor’s involvement in decision-making is required, Kochi Mayor V.K. Minimol has said.
She was responding to questions about bureaucratic and political corruption that had allegedly plagued the Kochi Corporation over the years during a ‘meet-the-press’ organised in Kochi on Monday (December 29, 2025).
She further stated that the Mayor need not necessarily be informed of every instance of corruption unless the matter was brought to her notice through a complaint. A monitoring system to check corruption, complete with public hearings attended by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, would be introduced. The frequency of these hearings was yet to be decided, she said.
“Since governance is meant for the public, the governing class has the responsibility to listen to the people and the obligation to address their grievances. As both of us (Mayor and Deputy Mayor) are new to these posts, we may need some time to study matters. Nevertheless, files will not be held up for more than seven days unless the decision requires the Mayor’s involvement, in which case it will not exceed 15 days,” Ms. Minimol said.
When asked how she planned to fund development projects since the term of the Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML), which had financed many projects, was set to expire, she acknowledged that the Kochi Corporation, like other Corporations and municipalities, faced financial constraints. She noted that the CSML projects had been completed, and now development projects for the next 15-20 years needed to be designed. A special drive would be conducted to collect tax dues without overburdening citizens, ensuring the Corporation’s financial stability.
Ms. Minimol said the concept of division funds, which were unique to Kochi Corporation and discontinued at the initiative of the former Mayor M. Anilkumar, would not be revived. Funds of up to ₹1 crore were previously assigned to divisions regardless of their size, which, she felt, was inadvisable and prone to corruption. Future projects would be executed using Plan funds or the general fund, with strict financial discipline.
Old office
She added that discussions about the fate of the Corporation’s old office were premature, as the new office had not yet become fully operational. Currently, only the council hall and the chambers of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor had been shifted there, while the engineering and revenue departments, along with the Janaseva Kendra, continued to operate from the old office. “We will listen to people’s opinions about how best to use the old office when the time comes,” she said.
Ms. Minimol said that vacating the post after two-and-a-half years would not disrupt development projects, as the continuity of the Mayor’s office ensured progress despite changes in leadership. “We will plan projects for the next five years and beyond, wherever necessary,” she said.
She concluded the meet-the-press with a request that visitors present her with books rather than bouquets or mementos.
Published – December 29, 2025 05:13 pm IST
