Tag: Thiruvananthapuram

Latest StoriesRera

Kerala RERA Grants 16.65% Interest for Delayed Flat Handover

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-RERA) has mandated a builder in the state capital to compensate two homebuyers with simple interest at a rate of 16.65% per annum for delays in delivering their flat in the Sparrow Paradise project located at Kudappanakunnu. Dr. Ullas Raghavan and Shakuntala Prabhakaran invested approximately ₹1.02 crore for their 1,765 sq ft flat. This interest will be calculated from December 1, 2018— the day after the agreed completion date—based on the ₹54.41 lakh advance they paid, along with subsequent payments from their respective payment dates until the flat’s delivery. K-RERA has directed Sparrow…

Latest StoriesResidential

Thiruvananthapuram: Stalled housing project leaves families waiting

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content: Representative AI image THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thanal Housing Project in Muttathara, aimed at rehabilitating families from the nearly 50-year-old Vikalanga Colony, remains on hold despite receiving technical approval from the local self-government department (LSGD) in August 2025. New technical and cost challenges have delayed the contractor from starting work, leaving around 100 families waiting for permanent housing for another year. The ongoing delay has also stalled the relocation of slaughterhouses across from the colony to a newly built modern abattoir in Kunnukuzhy, as the residents’ rehabilitation is seen as a requirement for moving…

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…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Green nod delay stalls Thiruvananthapuram airport expansion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The expansion of the international terminal (T2) at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has encountered a procedural setback due to delays in obtaining environmental clearance (EC) from the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA). Airport authorities submitted their application for environmental clearance last November, but it was not reviewed by the state environment impact assessment committee (SEIAC) until May 8, after necessary verification procedures were completed. Following SEIAC’s review, the proposal will return to SEIAA for a final decision. Additionally, with the new government possibly reconstituting SEIAA members, further delays are anticipated, according to sources. This has postponed the anticipated start…

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…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Water Crisis Worsens in Kazhakkoottam and Technopark

Representative image THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Residents and IT professionals in Kazhakkoottam and Technopark are currently facing a severe drinking water shortage. Many rely on tanker supplies as summer intensifies, with around 50 tanker lorries deployed to meet the demands of Technopark, which accommodates nearly 490 companies. Phases I and III of the park are particularly hard hit. The crisis is not limited to Technopark; approximately 20 wards in the Kazhakkoottam region are experiencing acute shortages. Residents report erratic and unreliable water supply, forcing them to seek alternatives. Priya George, an employee at a Technopark-based multinational company in Phase 1, described the situation…

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…

Latest StoriesResidential

Kerala Achieves 500,000 Homes via LIFE Mission: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Monday that the LDF government has successfully constructed five lakh houses under the LIFE Mission, a significant milestone towards eradicating homelessness in Kerala. In a Facebook update, Vijayan explained that the housing initiative was started in 2016 to provide secure homes for the homeless throughout the state. “The LIFE Mission, initiated by the LDF government in 2016 to make Kerala homelessness-free, has now seen the completion of five lakh homes,” he mentioned. The Chief Minister revealed that a state-level celebration to commemorate this achievement is scheduled for February 24 in Thiruvananthapuram. He also…

CommercialLatest Stories

Thiruvananthapuram: QUAD Project Construction Starts in Technopark IV

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The construction of the QUAD project—an integrated IT township in Technopark Phase-IV (Technocity)—has officially begun. The initial phase includes the development of an 800,000 sq ft IT building, managed directly by Technopark and constructed by Consolidated Construction Consortium Ltd (CCCL). Slated for completion in 36 months, it is projected to create around 26,000 direct jobs in its first phase, solidifying the city’s status as an IT hub in southern India. A senior official from Technopark stated, “This construction launch at the QUAD site marks a pivotal moment for Technocity. The project embodies our long-term vision to create a live-work-play…

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…