Traders operating their businesses around the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi, can finally breathe a little easier. What was initially slated to be a month-long shutdown, enforced for security during the highly anticipated friendly football match between Lionel Messi’s World Cup-winning Argentina team and Australia on November 17, has now been graciously shortened to just three weeks.
More than a hundred tenants renting spaces at the stadium were originally notified to close their shops for an entire month, starting October 25. However, after persistent discussions with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), the stadium’s owner, the closure has been pushed back to October 30 and is now expected to end with a potential reopening on November 20.
Seeking Support: Alternative Spaces and Compensation
In response to the initial notice, traders immediately raised concerns, stressing that a month-long closure would severely cripple their livelihoods. While their plea for a reduction to just one week wasn’t fully met, the GCDA has shown willingness to consider providing temporary alternative business spaces and compensation for the lost period, although more details are still awaited.
According to sources within the GCDA, temporary spots at the Kaloor Shopping Complex or other facilities could be arranged for affected businesses, though these would come with a rental fee.
Traders are holding onto hope for financial compensation for their losses. However, the GCDA has maintained that such decisions fall outside its jurisdiction, placing the responsibility squarely on the State government.
It’s worth noting that during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup held at the same stadium in 2017, traders did receive compensation for a 43-day closure, albeit after a court directive. At that time, a security deposit of ₹25 lakh was collected from sponsors specifically for compensation, but only a handful of traders received significant amounts, with the majority getting less than ₹1 lakh.
Adding to the uncertainty, the GCDA introduced a clause in 2021 explicitly stating that traders would not be entitled to compensation for shutdowns related to matches. This policy has been in effect for Indian Super League (ISL) matches at Kaloor stadium, where shops have closed on match days without any financial relief.