Tag: Kerala

IndustryLatest Stories

Kerala’s Policy Shift Will Legalize Land-Use Violations

Representative Image THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Recent years have seen land-use violations in Idukki—previously considered serious enough for court action—shift to the focus of a significant policy change. What’s particularly notable is that these cases were investigated using public funds, with district officials, revenue personnel, and law enforcement dedicating years to identify violations, issue stop orders, and defend their actions in court. Now, those same violations face potential retroactive approval under a new standard operating procedure, effectively undermining years of administrative diligence. Documents submitted to the Kerala High Court by the Idukki district administration in 2023 indicate that these violations were neither isolated…

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Kerala to implement blockchain for secure land transactions: CM

Representative AI image KANNUR: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Sunday that the state government is planning numerous initiatives, including the application of blockchain technology, to enhance the security of land transactions. The chief minister emphasized the government’s goal to deliver comprehensive services directly to citizens’ homes, minimizing the need for office visits. “We have several initiatives in the pipeline, such as utilizing blockchain technology to secure land transactions further and employing scientific methods to eliminate fraudulent documents and duplicate registrations,” he stated. Vijayan shared these insights after inaugurating the annual Registration Department Day celebrations and recognizing the top-performing…

Latest StoriesResidential

300 Homes for Wayanad Landslide Victims to be Delivered in Feb

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Thursday that the state government plans to complete approximately 300 houses with necessary facilities to be handed over in February. This marks the first phase of rehabilitation for victims of the Wayanad landslide disaster. “Our aim is to finish around 300 houses along with essential amenities and provide them to beneficiaries as the initial phase in February,” the CM stated during a press conference. He mentioned that these houses are part of a larger township under development on Elston Estate land, located near the Kalpetta bypass, specifically for families affected by the…

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Veegaland Developers Files ₹250-Crore IPO with Sebi

NEW DELHI: Veegaland Developers, a real estate firm under the V-Guard group, has submitted draft papers to market regulator Sebi to raise ₹250 crore through an initial public offering (IPO) aimed at fueling its expansion efforts. This IPO is a completely new issue of shares, with no Offer-for-Sale (OFS) element, as detailed in the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) submitted on Tuesday. Funds from the IPO will be allocated to cover part of the ongoing and upcoming project costs, estimated at ₹111.60 crore, alongside ₹18.49 crore earmarked for purchasing specific land parcels for residential projects. The remainder will be utilized…

Latest StoriesResidential

Kochi Apartment Owners Request Relaxation on STP Installations

KOCHI: The Consortium of Flat and Villa Owners Association, Kerala (COFVOAK), has approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to request relaxed regulations for installing sewage treatment plants (STPs) in apartment complexes built before 2007. They are also seeking exemptions due to the planned centralized sewerage system in Kochi. The consortium is urging the government to provide appropriate directives to the pollution control board (PCB) and the Kochi corporation to prevent the cancellation of occupancy certificates (OCs) or disconnection of essential services to these buildings. Additionally, they are requesting that these complexes be exempt from retrospective PCB consent fees, suggesting the fees…

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Kerala’s land lease defaulters owe ₹665 crore to government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has identified 584 individuals and organizations occupying government-leased land without fulfilling lease obligations or paying dues, totaling arrears of Rs 665.30 crore. Government data offers a district-wise breakdown of these pending recoveries, though it admits a lack of compiled records on the extent of land held by violators. The data reveals a widespread pattern of violations, contrasting sharply with the value of unpaid dues. Notably, Thiruvananthapuram has 157 violators with debts of Rs 104.70 crore, while Ernakulam has 60 defaulters, the highest in the state at Rs 280 crore, highlighting the high market value of government land…

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Kerala Eases Building Rules for Simpler Permit Process

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has launched major amendments to the state’s building regulations to streamline the approval process, enhance transparency, and expedite construction permits. Local self-government and excise minister M B Rajesh announced these changes on Wednesday, stating that they were informed by feedback from district-level adalats and consultations with experts, town planners, and industry representatives. The most significant reform is the expansion of the self-certified permit category. Residential buildings up to 300 sq m are now eligible for instant approval without height restrictions, allowing almost 80% of homes to receive permits automatically when applications are submitted online. For commercial buildings,…

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Infopark Irumpanam: Mixed Township Model, Says Kerala CM

KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Saturday that the new Phase IV campus of Infopark in Irumpanam will adopt a mixed township model, featuring five million square feet of new IT space. The state government previously decided to allocate 33.5 acres from Traco Cable Company in Irumpanam to Infopark for ₹200 crore for the campus establishment. In a social media post, the Chief Minister stated that the Phase IV campus is expected to generate 50,000 direct IT jobs and attract ₹3,000 crore in investments. “This development is designed as a mixed township, incorporating modern IT complexes, world-class infrastructure, and…

CommercialLatest Stories

Kerala Fast-Tracks Land Finalization for IT Corridor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is set to finalize land parcels for several IT parks along the proposed Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam IT corridor within the next two months. The corridor, stretching from Technopark Phase III to Kollam alongside the under-construction NH 66, aims to become a new growth hub for the region’s technology ecosystem. Seeram Sambasiva Rao, the special secretary for electronics and IT, confirmed that verification of the identified land is underway and discussions are ongoing. “The process is moving quickly. We will soon finalize the land parcels for the project,” he stated to TOI, highlighting that land acquisition will commence immediately…

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Sobha Sees 61% Surge in Q2 FY26 Sales to ₹1,902.6 Crore

NEW DELHI: Real estate firm Sobha Ltd reported a 61% increase in sales bookings, reaching ₹1,902.6 crore in the second quarter of this fiscal year, fueled by strong demand for its residential properties. In the same period last year, the company achieved property sales worth ₹1,178.5 crore. According to a regulatory filing, Sobha Ltd sold 13.94 lakh square feet during the July-September quarter, with an average price of ₹13,648 per square foot. Bengaluru accounted for 69.7% of the quarterly sales, amounting to ₹1,326.4 crore, aided by increased momentum at the SOBHA Town Park project. Delhi-NCR contributed ₹309.7 crore, while the…