Tag: Kerala

Latest StoriesRera

Landowners Share Liability with Builders for Incomplete Projects: Kerala-RERA

KOCHI: In a significant ruling, the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-RERA) has determined that landowners cannot avoid accountability if a housing project fails, assuming they were involved in its financing or profit-sharing. They will be regarded as “joint promoters” and held jointly accountable with the builder to fulfill the promise of delivering homes. The case centers around a housing development by Nest Realties on land owned by Marickar Plantations, where homebuyers booked apartments between 2011 and 2022, paying nearly 95% of the total price. However, after accepting their payments, the builder left the project incomplete, failing to provide essential…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Kerala collects ₹2,178.28 crore in building cess over five years

IDUKKI: The Kerala government has gathered Rs 2,178.28 crore from the building and other construction workers’ welfare cess over the past five years. However, pension arrears nearing Rs 840 crore remain unpaid to construction workers statewide. As per information obtained via the RTI Act by Kasaragod resident A S Mohammed Ashraf, approximately 20.59 lakh workers were registered with the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board as of April 30, 2026. The welfare benefits, including pensions, are derived from the cess collected by the board. In spite of the significant revenue generated, nearly 4.15 lakh pensioners have not received their…

CommercialLatest Stories

Kochi’s Real Estate Thrives with Rising Office and Retail Demand

KOCHI: The commercial capital of Kerala is currently experiencing a real estate surge, driven by increasing demand for office and retail spaces. According to the latest Q1 2026 (January-March) report from a global property consultancy, Kochi has seen a significant 18% quarter-on-quarter increase in office leasing activity. In the first three months of 2026, Kochi recorded a net absorption of 0.11 million (1.1 lakh) square feet of office space, indicating a shift in business preferences toward decentralized, cost-effective hubs outside saturated tier-1 metros. The momentum is particularly strong in the city’s peripheral IT corridors, especially Kakkanad and surrounding areas, which…

Latest StoriesResidential

Kerala’s LSG Minister: No Plans to Dismantle LIFE Mission Housing

KOZHIKODE: K M Shaji, the local self-government minister, stated that the UDF government has not decided to abolish the LIFE Mission housing scheme. Shaji informed reporters in Malappuram that various powers assigned to grama sabhas in panchayats—seen as a true representation of Gandhian gram swaraj—have been curtailed over the last decade. “Restoring these powers does not equate to dismantling the LIFE Mission. We have never suggested such an action,” he clarified. Shaji emphasized that the new government does not intend to dismantle initiatives established by the previous administration. “Government is a continuum. When a new government takes office, it cannot…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Private Firms to Develop IT Infrastructure in Technocity

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Technopark is actively seeking infrastructure developers and co-developers to partner in the construction of premium IT and ITeS infrastructure at Technopark Phase IV, also referred to as Technocity. This initiative is part of the efforts to draw private investment into the rapidly growing technology sector of the capital. The proposal includes long-term leases for government-owned, encumbrance-free land parcels designated for IT buildings and integrated technology spaces. A total of 11 plots have been earmarked for this purpose, ranging in size from 69 cents to 4 acres, with some parcels already reserved. This initiative responds to the increasing demand for…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Kerala’s Luxury Tax on Big Homes Yields ₹157 Crore in 5 Years

IDUKKI: The luxury tax on residential buildings has generated ₹157.62 crore for the state over the past five years, with the highest revenue recorded in the 2025-26 financial year (FY). According to data obtained through the Right to Information Act, the state collected ₹67.66 crore in FY2025-26 alone, with Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram reported as the highest contributors. The luxury tax revenue for the preceding years was ₹58.46 crore in FY2024-25, ₹7.39 crore in FY2023-24, ₹11.18 crore in FY2022-23, and ₹12.91 crore in FY2021-22. Land revenue department officials attribute the increase in FY2025-26 to a growing number of larger homes and…

IndustryLatest Stories

Kalamassery Drafts Changes to City Structural Plan

KOCHI: To align urban planning with contemporary development needs, the Kalamassery municipality has released a draft notification proposing alterations to its structural plan established in 1991. The amendment, issued by the state government on March 15, 2026, aims to provide immediate relief for residents and developers in municipalities and panchayats surrounding the Kochi corporation while awaiting the full implementation of the comprehensive 2040 Amrut Master Plan. Though the Kochi corporation is already implementing the 2040 master plan regulations, nearby local bodies have remained constrained by the outdated 1991 framework. “Many older proposals have become impractical due to changes in traffic…

IndustryLatest Stories

Vedaanta Senior Living to invest ₹200 crore in Kerala soon

Representative AI image NEW DELHI: Vedaanta Senior Living has announced plans to invest approximately ₹200 crore in Kerala over the next three years. As a part of this initiative, the company has introduced a senior living project named Eden Gardens in Ettumanoor, near Kottayam, with an initial investment of ₹50 crore. The project, spanning four acres, will feature 48 villas and around 30 apartments, with prices commencing at ₹76 lakh. This development signifies the company’s expansion in Kerala, where it already operates in Guruvayur and Kochi, with another project anticipated in Thrissur. The completion timeline for the project has not…

CommercialLatest Stories

Thiruvananthapuram: Neopolis IT Project Delayed by Expansion Plans

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Neopolis IT township project proposed by the Union government in the capital is expected to face delays, as the Centre plans to revise the scheme significantly by increasing its scope from 10 to nearly 100 cities nationwide. This expansion, aimed at enhancing next-generation IT infrastructure, casts uncertainty over the timeline of the Thiruvananthapuram project. The Neopolis project received preliminary approval from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in December 2024 and is intended for development at Technopark Phase IV. It represents the initial phase of the ambitious Outer Area Growth Corridor (OAGC) project, which aims to…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Varkala Curbing Illegal Cliffside Constructions

Significant Enforcement Drive in Varkala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: During the ongoing election period, Varkala municipality has amplified efforts against unauthorized constructions along the ecologically sensitive North Cliff, spanning from Varkala Cliff to Aliyirakkam. Civic authorities report numerous resorts, homestays, and private operators have breached the Kerala Municipality Building Rules (KMBR), 2019, often taking advantage of diminished oversight during elections. The municipality has recently issued a stop memo for an illegal structure in Al Ameen Nagar. The notice, issued by an assistant engineer, identifies a resident named Adinan, who allegedly constructed a room (4.50m x 4.60m x 3.10m), two sets of steps, and…