Kollam: The dilapidated Cheenakottaram (Chinese Palace) located on the Kollam railway station premises is likely to undergo renovation soon. The move follows a visit to the crumbling structure on Saturday by Central Minister Suresh Gopi, Kollam MP NK Premachandran and senior Railway officials.

"Measures will be taken to protect the historical building, which has been neglected for years. A proper evaluation has to be carried out and estimates prepared for the purpose," said the Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Tourism. "I have already taken up the matter with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. I will speak to him again," added Suresh Gopi.

The team visited the palace, considering its severely pathetic condition. Suresh Gopi said that the building should serve a public purpose after renovation. "We will examine how the old palace could be maintained with support from the Tourism Department, with the Railways retaining the ownership," he said.

Premachandran, MP, wanted the palace to be converted into a railway museum. "The ownership should rest with the government," he added.

Cheenakottaram was constructed in 1904 by Sree Moolam Thirunal, the then Maharaja of Travancore, as a resting place for members of the royal family travelling by road from Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam. Though the structure appears to be two-storeyed from the outside, it actually has only a single floor with seven rooms.

Despite its name, the palace has no historical connection with China. For several decades, there have been repeated demands for the conservation of the heritage structure.

At present, Cheenakottaram is visible from the Chinnakkada railway overbridge as a neglected building engulfed by wild vegetation. The roof has suffered extensive damage. However, the Railways are currently using the structure as a storage facility for paint and other materials, with all its rooms stacked with such items.

Suresh Gopi also said that he was deeply disturbed over the demolition of the century-old railway station building in Kollam. "I heard about the demolition only recently. We can now watch that building only in old movies," he said. "The Railways could have protected the old building and maintained it as a historical monument," the Central minister added.

Suresh Gopi also said that the inauguration of the multi-level car parking at Kollam railway station will be inaugurated on a date after January 15, following consultations with the Railway Minister.