Tag: Kerala

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…

IndustryLatest Stories

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…

IndustryLatest Stories

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,…

IndustryLatest Stories

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…

IndustryLatest Stories

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…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Infopark, Cochin to Build Integrated AI Town by 2030

Representative AI image KOCHI: Authorities announced that the planned Infopark Phase III campus, anticipated to draw Rs 25,000 crore in investment, will be completed by 2030. During a joint press conference on Tuesday, Infopark CEO Susanth Kurunthil and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) chairman K Chandran Pillai stated that a notification regarding the pooling of 300 acres in Kizhakkambalam panchayat would be issued soon, with the project’s master plan expected within a year. The new campus, envisioned as a world-class ‘Integrated AI Township,’ is projected to create 200,000 direct jobs and over 400,000 indirect jobs, driving Kerala’s development and transitioning…

Latest StoriesResidential

RAY Towers: Kerala CM Highlights Model Resettlement Project

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content: — File Photo KOCHI: The newly built twin housing complex in Thuruthy, developed by the Kochi municipal corporation under the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) scheme, has been hailed as a national model for resettlement projects by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Inaugurating the towers on Saturday, Vijayan emphasized that the Thuruthy apartment complex exemplifies cooperative federalism, showcasing successful collaboration between the Union and state governments, as well as local self-governing bodies. The state government has launched several initiatives for the enhancement of Kochi and its surrounding regions, including the development of Kochi Metro,…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Palakkad Smart City: Kerala Finalizes Tender Processes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has successfully completed the tender process for infrastructure development at Palakkad Smart City, the initial node of the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. According to a statement from the CMO, the construction contract has been awarded to a joint venture between Dileep Buildcon Limited (DBL) and PSP Projects Limited. This accomplishment makes Kerala the first state to finalize procedures for infrastructure development among the 12 industrial corridor-smart city projects approved in the country last year. The contract, valued at Rs 1,316.13 crore (including GST), was awarded after a competitive national tender process, with four companies participating, as per KINFRA (Kerala…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Thiruvananthapuram Metro Hit by New Route Alignment Delays

Representative image THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project faces another setback as a high-level meeting led by Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak did not reach an agreement on the route alignment. Stakeholders, including elected officials and senior administrators, emphasized the need for underground lines to protect the heritage sites and green spaces of the city. Currently, the proposed Metro line is set to stretch from Kazhakkoottam to Pappanamcode, passing through Karyavattom, Sreekaryam, Ulloor, Medical College, Pattom, PMG, Palayam, Statue, Overbridge, Thampanoor, Killipalam, Karamana, and Pappanamcode, covering a distance of 21 kilometers. During the latest meeting, various alternative alignments were proposed, with…