Pandemic curbs prove death knell for auditoriums

For practically 4 many years, AJ Hall has remained a landmark for the busy Kaloor Junction in Kochi.

A a lot sought-after facility throughout regular occasions for as numerous features as weddings to conventions, it’s now going through an unprecedented disaster since its inception in 1984 because of the pandemic-induced restrictions and lockdowns.

From clocking a median of 10 features a month and using eight staffers, the numbers have now dropped principally to zero for the reason that pandemic erupted final yr to a few salaried workers. While the month-to-month operational bills may need halved from the earlier ₹80,000, even that must be borne out of pocket leaving the state of affairs untenable.

“During the first lockdown, we were approached for taking the hall on lease, which we turned down hoping things would improve. Now, we rue it, and any such offer may have to be readily accepted considering the way things are,” stated Narayanan Namboodiri, supervisor of the corridor.

With the organisation of occasions involving large-scale meeting of individuals stays a distant risk as life alternates between lockdowns, auditorium operators are toying with conversion, lease, or perhaps a everlasting shutdown as potential alternate options.

Khadeeja, a small auditorium at Aluva in Ernakulam, is now being run assembly the annual upkeep expense of ₹1.50 lakh to ₹2 lakh out of pocket. “There had been countless cancellations since last year. Until vaccination is intensified making normal life possible, business is unlikely to improve. Eventually, we may have to convert it into lodgings or godowns,” stated M.D. Koyakutty, proprietor of the corridor.

It was two years in the past that the Kaliman Vyavasaya Sahakarana Sangham gave a facelift to part of its over 50-year-old dilapidated constructing at Thripunithura in Ernakulam district and transformed it right into a medium-size corridor for holding features at an affordable fee.

“That it entailed no massive investments and the maintenance cost is also relatively less is what keeps us going though the loss of income is a definite concern,” stated Reghu P.V. of the Sangham.

Then there are the likes of Pranavam Hall at Vennala in Kochi, which had a slender escape leasing out the house to an academic establishment simply within the nick of time. The final of its 755 marriages in its 21 years of existence was held on February 20 final yr, only a month earlier than Kerala reported its first COVID-19 case.

“We took the decision for want of parking space. But in hindsight, that proved prophetic, as we would have been forced into that decision anyway considering how things panned out since then,” stated Haridas K., supervisor of the corridor.