New Mayor V.K. Minimol vows crackdown on corruption, focus on mobility

V.K. Minimol, 48, is no stranger to city administration. Having served as chairperson of the health and works standing committees during her three previous terms since 2010, her fourth consecutive victory has now elevated her to the Mayor’s chamber. She was at work within hours of being sworn in, donning the ceremonial black gown reserved for the city’s first citizen on Friday (December 26, 2025) afternoon. Ms. Minimol outlined her priorities and vision for Kochi, which, she said, were aligned with the broader agenda of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and would be reflected in the maiden Budget to be presented by the new governing committee in the coming months. Excerpts from an interview: What will be your immediate priorities for Kochi? As I said immediately after taking the oath, Kochi is rapidly developing into a metropolitan city, requiring a multi-pronged approach to match its rising status. To begin with, a mobility plan will be designed for the city. Among other things, it will include an urban policy and solutions to waterlogging, waste management issues, and stray dog menace. Corruption was one of the major allegations raised by the UDF against the previous Left Democratic Front [LDF] governing committee, citing how many Corporation officials were arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. What are your plans to tackle corruption? Tackling corruption remains one of the main focusses of our administration. Immediately after swearing in, the deputy mayor and I convened a meeting of department heads. The message was loud and clear, leaving no room for ambiguity: corruption will not be tolerated. We have issued firm instructions to officials to carry this message down to the grassroots level. The UDF has also been critical of the restoration and desilting of canals. What are your plans to make this more efficient? I have called for updates on the canal rejuvenation project and files related to canal desilting. A clearer picture will emerge after reviewing them. Canals are indeed the lifeline of the city. What about waste management, which the previous LDF committee claimed to have improved significantly? I will be visiting Brahmapuram, where a compressed biogas plant for waste treatment is being set up. After inspecting the facility, we will provide a detailed update. Can you elaborate on the proposed mobility plan? The city grinds to a halt even with minor waterlogging. Kochi has ample scope for improved mobility by discouraging the entry of private vehicles. However, this requires strengthening public transport through well-planned bus routes, which calls for close coordination with the government. The plan also proposes to fully tap into the potential of water transport and address waterlogging. Published - December 26, 2025 09:35 pm IST

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