Blog on Kochi

Kochi’s waterfront is expected to regain one of its popular evening destinations as Queen’s Walkway undergoes a major revamp. The Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) has restarted work on Queen’s Walkway 2.0, targeting January 1, 2027, for its reopening. The project aims to revive the promenade’s food and leisure activities while addressing pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and waste management concerns.

What Is Queen’s Walkway 2.0?

Queen’s Walkway 2.0 is a redevelopment project intended to restore the promenade as an organised public recreation space. Following the Kerala High Court’s decision to lift restrictions on commercial activities along Chathiath Road, GIDA has resumed construction after months of delay.

The plan involves rebuilding 20 kiosks and distributing them across the 1.8 km stretch instead of concentrating them at both ends. Other improvements include upgraded walking paths, protective handrails, new lamp posts, central median greenery, and designated selfie points.

A new contractor has taken up the work, with GIDA aiming to complete the redevelopment within two months.

Why Is the Upgrade Needed?

Queen’s Walkway previously attracted visitors with its waterfront views and food stalls. However, increasing commercial activity also created difficulties for pedestrians and residents of nearby apartment buildings.

The 20 kiosks closed in January 2026 after the previous contractor’s agreement expired. Work under a new agency was subsequently halted following a petition from an apartment owners’ association.

The concerns included:

• Pedestrian safety: Crowds around food stalls restricted walking space and obstructed movement.
• Traffic and parking: Increased visitor numbers and poorly managed parking caused congestion along the adjoining road, raising concerns about access to residential buildings.
• Waste management: Food waste and litter created sanitation concerns and potential environmental problems for the surrounding backwaters.
• Residential disturbances: Nearby residents raised concerns about safety, hygiene, noise, and pressure on local infrastructure.

The Kerala High Court accepted GIDA’s argument that the footpath could accommodate regulated activities under the Kerala Town and Country Planning Act. It also considered the authority’s Happiness Zone Project, which aims to improve public recreation facilities and support Kochi’s tourism potential.

What Benefits Will Queen’s Walkway 2.0 Bring?

The redevelopment aims to balance commercial activity with the needs of pedestrians and nearby residents.

• Better pedestrian access: Handrails along sections with kiosks and improved walking paths are intended to help keep public movement clear.
• Reduced crowding: Spreading the 20 kiosks across the promenade should distribute visitors more evenly and reduce bottlenecks.
• Improved appearance: New lighting, central median plants, and selfie points will enhance the waterfront setting.
• Cleaner surroundings: The contractor will manage kiosk-generated waste, separate wet and dry waste, and ensure disposal according to official requirements.
• Better traffic management: Parking and traffic concerns are expected to be addressed before completion. Eateries’ operating hours will depend on instructions from the district collector.

These changes could benefit walkers, joggers, cyclists, families, and tourists seeking a more accessible waterfront destination. Food kiosk operators could also resume business within a more organised commercial setup. For nearby residents, better waste management and crowd control could help address previous concerns, while the revival may support Kochi’s tourism and local food businesses.

From Waterfront Footpath to Kochi’s Happiness Zone

Queen’s Walkway opened to the public on December 21, 2015, transforming a basic footpath along Goshree-Chathiyath Road into a scenic waterfront promenade. Developed with ₹5 crore in funding from the Kerala Tourism Department, the project created space for walking and leisure while preserving the existing mangroves and shoreline ecology through a cantilever-based extension.

The promenade became a popular place to exercise, watch sunsets, and enjoy views of the backwaters, Chinese fishing nets, and anchored ships. Queen’s Walkway 2.0 aims to restore that appeal while improving the management of commercial activities.

If construction stays on schedule, the revamped promenade could welcome visitors from January 1, 2027, offering Kochi a renewed public space that brings together waterfront recreation, local businesses, and more organised pedestrian access.

FAQs

1. Where is Queen’s Walkway located in Kochi?
Queen’s Walkway, also known as Queen’s Way, is a 1.8 km waterfront promenade along Goshree-Chathiyath Road in Kochi, Kerala. It offers views of the backwaters, Chinese fishing nets, and anchored ships.

2. When will Queen’s Walkway 2.0 open in Kochi?
Queen’s Walkway 2.0 is targeted to reopen on January 1, 2027. The Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) has resumed construction and aims to complete the redevelopment within two months.

3. What are the new features of Queen’s Walkway 2.0?
Queen’s Walkway 2.0 will feature 20 redesigned kiosks distributed across the 1.8 km stretch, improved walking paths, protective handrails, new lamp posts, central median greenery, and designated selfie points.

4. Why was Queen’s Walkway in Kochi temporarily shut down?
The 20 commercial kiosks at Queen’s Walkway closed in January 2026 after the previous contractor’s agreement expired. Subsequent construction was halted following residents’ concerns about pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, parking, and waste management.

5. Who will benefit from the Queen’s Walkway 2.0 redevelopment?
Queen’s Walkway 2.0 is expected to benefit local residents, walkers, joggers, cyclists, tourists, families, and food kiosk operators. Improved pedestrian access, organised commercial spaces, and better waste management are among its expected benefits.

6. When was Queen’s Walkway in Kochi originally inaugurated?
Queen’s Walkway was opened to the public on December 21, 2015. Developed with ₹5 crore in Kerala Tourism Department funding, it transformed a basic footpath along Goshree-Chathiyath Road into a waterfront recreation space while preserving existing mangroves.