A vast majority of food establishments in Kochi district remained closed on Wednesday as part of a 24-hour strike called by the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA). The shutdown left travelers, PG residents, and daily workers struggling to find food.
Complete Shutdown Across the District
The strike saw near-total participation from hotels, restaurants, and teashops across the state, with Kochi district showing full compliance. KHRA president G Jayapal stated, "The shutdown was complete across the state and the district in particular. Almost all hotel, restaurant and teashop owners cooperated fully. This strike was a desperate response to the escalating cost of commercial LPG, a primary overhead that is pushing the industry to a breaking point."
The closure affected a wide range of establishments, from high-end dining venues in central Kochi to the Indira Canteen and the corporation-run Samridhi@Kochi budget initiative, which serves the urban poor. Shibin Mani, KHRA's Ernakulam unit representative, noted, "Even these govt-supported outlets joined the shutdown, reflecting the severity of the financial strain. Nearly 5,000 hotels in the district were shut down. We regret the inconvenience caused to the public."
Impact on Commuters and Residents
Travelers, PG residents, and daily workers bore the brunt of the disruption. Muthukumar, who arrived at South Station from Chennai with his family, said, "We arrived from Chennai this morning and were caught off guard. No hotels near the station were open and we had to make do with snacks from small kiosks." PG residents, largely IT professionals and students who depend on nearby restaurants for daily meals, were severely affected, along with hundreds of daily-wage workers and office employees.
Protests and Upcoming Actions
Earlier, nearly 500 hotel owners marched to the regional IOC office at Panampilly Nagar and staged a dharna in protest. The All Kerala Caterers Association has announced a state-wide dharna and kitchen strike on Thursday, with a torchlight procession from Vanchi Square to Menaka Junction at 6.30pm. Catering units will remain closed on Friday, May 8.
