Tag: Kochi

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…

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…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Kochi Metro Phase II Delayed: New Launch Set for August 2027

KOCHI: The ambitious Phase II project of Kochi Metro, which will connect Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad, is now expected to be completed by June 2027, over a year and a half later than the previously promised December 2025 commissioning. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) stated that the official commissioning and final testing of the project will occur in August 2027. A significant cause of this delay is the state government’s prolonged approval process for securing external funding of Rs 1,116 crore from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The agency noted, “The financing process required approvals…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Kochi Metro Phase II Delayed; New Rollout Set for April 2027

Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of the content: KOCHI: The launch of Phase II of the Kochi Metro corridor, initially set to commence operations between its first five stations from JLN Stadium to Padamughal by June 2026, has been delayed by nearly a year due to temporary funding issues. Now that the financial challenges have been addressed, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has updated its timeline, planning to complete the full 11.2km stretch from JLN Stadium to Infopark by April 2027. As previously reported, a funding shortfall had halted essential civil works, upsetting plans to launch services by mid-2026. In…

Latest StoriesResidential

Kerala Housing Board to Rebuild Uninhabitable Chottanikkara Flat

KOCHI: The Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) is set to reconstruct a flat built under the Saphalyam housing scheme in Chottanikkara, allocating ₹2.27 crore for the project. The existing flat has become uninhabitable due to significant structural issues that emerged within four years of its construction. KSHB officials, alongside panchayat authorities, assessed the flat before initiating plans for the new construction. The three-storeyed building was designed to house 24 families and was erected between 2015 and 2020 during the UDF local body administration. It was discovered that multiple organizations, including KSHB and the local body, failed to adequately oversee the…

IndustryLatest Stories

Kochi: Bliss City Project Finally Set to Launch

Representative AI image KOCHI: After years of planning and a strategic alliance with the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is set to launch its ambitious Bliss City project. This 31.43-acre mixed-use development in Kakkanad is transitioning from a mere concept to an active construction site, following the recent leasing of the first land parcels. “We have officially leased 3.41 acres of prime land to investors, with development work expected to begin soon. The initial phase will feature a unique design that integrates commercial spaces, shopping, and entertainment facilities. Additionally, a secondary parcel of 1.62 acres…

IndustryLatest Stories

Highway Expansion Reshapes Kochi’s Real Estate Landscape

Representative AI image KOCHI: The extensive development of the national highway is transforming Kochi’s growth trajectory, shifting real estate activities from the city center to the previously quiet suburbs like Maradu, Kundanoor, Madavana, and Koonammavu. The demand is fueled by comparatively lower land prices in these areas, ranging from Rs 7-10 lakh per cent, while Kochi city and the IT hub of Kakkanad command prices between Rs 25-40 lakh per cent. “Now, areas once viewed as outskirts are becoming attractive spots for investors and individuals seeking house plots. There’s a growing interest in mid-range properties, often 3-5 cents with small…

Latest StoriesResidential

Kerala CM to Hand Over Keys to 178 Houses on March 1

KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the model township project aimed at rehabilitating survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides in Wayanad on Sunday. In the first phase, 178 families who completely lost their homes in the disaster will receive new houses. They will start moving into these homes near Kalpetta once the Chief Minister hands over the keys. The single-storey houses, covering an area of 1,000 sq. ft., have been designed with foundations that allow for a potential second floor in the future. Each house features a master bedroom, two additional rooms, a sit-out area, a living room, a study,…

Latest StoriesResidential

Kochi: Delay in Allocating Apartment Units in Rajiv Awas Yojana

KOCHI: The allocation of apartment units for beneficiaries in the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) housing complex is facing further delays. Corporation authorities have announced that the trial run for the facility’s sewage treatment plant will take place on March 10. Selection procedures for beneficiaries are still ongoing. Mayor V K Minimol stated during a corporation council meeting on Tuesday that only 211 beneficiaries have submitted complete documentation, and the allotment process has been finalized for 198 of them. The total number of beneficiaries listed by the corporation is 398. Additionally, beneficiaries are required to contribute their share; this funding, along…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Kochi Metro Infopark Extension May Miss June 2026 Deadline

KOCHI: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is racing to finish the first stretch of Phase II (Pink Line) from Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium to Infopark by June 30. Although construction activities have increased with 80% of the piling work completed, there’s concern over the slow progress of essential civil works. Viaduct construction is at just 30%, and pier work is at 37%, leading to doubts about timely completion. “It’s a tough task, but we’re determined to open the first five stations by mid-year. We are already tendering key works, including a third rail traction system, but we need sufficient funding…