Renovation of open-air auditorium begins at Cusat

The work on resolving design flaws at the open-air auditorium on the main campus of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has begun almost two years after the tragic stampede that resulted in the death of four persons, including three students, ahead of a music nite at the venue.

The structural changes will be implemented as per the recommendations made by a four-member technical committee appointed by the Syndicate after the incident that occurred on November 25, 2023. “Once the works are completed, the facility will be made available for holding various programmes approved by the varsity. The works were initiated after getting necessary clearance from the Kochi City police,” said Arun A.U, Registrar of the varsity.

As per the renovation plan, the road passing in front of the open-air auditorium will be out of bounds for vehicular movement. This space will remain enclosed within the renovated open-air auditorium and, hence, will not be available for vehicular movement. The congestion at the junction would be resolved by reducing the extent of the triangular park to ensure better access.

The technical panel comprising civil engineers and an architect recommended improvements to the entrance conditions to ensure proper crowd control. On structural modifications, the panel recommended that the rise and tread of the steps in the middle should be modified to 15 cm and 40 cm respectively.

Handrails should be provided on either side as well as in the middle. There must be a landing of width not less than 1.2 metres in the middle of the flight. Similarly, there must be a flat portion of width not less than 2 metres between the steps and the gate.

The panel suggested that the existing steps on the side entrances be replaced with ramps of the same width and standard slope. The ramps should extend up to the stage so as to make the auditorium disabled-friendly. The emergency exits on the sides are to be made fully functional and pathways or road access up to these entrances as well as the road should be cleared to facilitate ambulance movement, it said.