Mangalvanam-an old train station and a bird sanctuary-India
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| Name | Mangalvanam-an old train station and a bird sanctuary | |
| Place | Kochi | |
| Country | India | |
| Author(s) | Giya Elizabeth George | |
| World Heritage | No | |
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Why is this case relevant?
- In this section you briefly explain why you have selected your site/are, why it is considered heritage and what is the cultural value (max 150 words)
Mangalvanam in Kochi is a 22 acres of green space with an old railway station and a 2.74 hectares of bird sanctuary with many varieties of mangroves. This area is considered to be the green lung of the city as it plays a major role in the air purification in the city. It also has a shallow lake connected to the Cochin backwaters. The lake is influenced by the tide and thus favors the growth of mangroves in the region. The mangroves in turn provides nesting places for a large variety of migratory and resident birds every year.
The railway station in Mangalvanam is the first railway station of Kochi and was constructed in 1902 by the Maharaja (The King), HH Rama Raja XV. During the time, there were no railway lines coming to the central Kerala. Hence the King tried to extend the existing railway connection in Malabar upto Kochi. The British were not interested in this project. Hence Raja invested royal money and the money obtained from selling property and gold for the project. He also seek for public-private partnership and received help from people. The British were not happy with this and they abdicated the King. The railway line was successful and many people used the service. There were 3 to 4 regular trains with a capacity to carry 200 people. The thrid class was cheaper and hence was always crowded.
The bird sanctuary is an ecologically sensitive mangrove wetland that lies next to the train station.
Which idea of ‘design with nature’ guides the design concept of this site?
- In this section you talk about the design concept of your area. Is it a highly maintained site, i.e. does the design with nature require intensive maintenance? Or does the site follow a more organic interpretation of nature? Which changes are expected if maintenance is missing?
Originally, Ernakulam railway terminus was constructed there due to its proximity to the Ernakulam market. There were also inland water canals that connected the market to other parts of the city. Thus it helped in the transportation of goods and trade flourished. There were also boat jetties and ferries close to the station to take people and goods to near by places. But now, the old train station is completely abandoned and not fit for public access. Also the canals turned into conveyor belts that carry waste from the city to the backwaters.
Which challenges is this landscape facing?
- Here you discuss the types of negative impact you are observing but you can also mention new functions that could give a development opportunity
What would be your strategy for improvement?
Finally, please share some ideas of how you would initiate positive change for your heritage area
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References
- Author Year: Title, publisher, edition, page, ...
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- Website Year: Link, keyword, ...
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- Surya Remesh 2012: Mangalavanam and old railway station ernakulam