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14 May 2026
• Brigade Hotel Ventures plans to invest around INR 1,000 crore in Karnataka over the next five years towards new hospitality projects and modernisation of existing hotel assets.
• The company has also outlined a broader expansion strategy targeting addition of nearly 1,700 hotel keys with a planned capital outlay of approximately INR 3,600 crore under its “Vision 2031” roadmap.
• Separately, the company and Marriott International have launched the rebranded Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Infopark, formerly operating as Four Points by Sheraton Kochi Infopark.
• The 218-room hotel in Kakkanad, Kochi, is positioned to cater to business, MICE, and leisure travellers and includes over 8,000 sq ft of meeting and event space.
• The investment push reflects growing hospitality demand across Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kochi, and other South Indian urban and tourism markets amid expanding business travel and infrastructure-led regional growth.Read more
03 May 2026
Kochi Corporation has started a large-scale desilting drive across major canals as part of its pre-monsoon preparation. While most minor drains have already been cleared, the focus has now shifted to key canals that carry stormwater across the city. The work includes removal of silt, waste and water hyacinth, with coordination across multiple agencies. Authorities aim to complete the work before heavy rains begin, as delays could increase waterlogging risks. The exercise also builds on earlier flood management efforts such as Operation Breakthrough.Read more
28 Apr 2026
Kalamassery municipality has released a draft notification proposing amendments to its 1991 structural plan, aimed at aligning land-use regulations with current urban development needs in the Kochi region. The draft, published recently, introduces relaxed zoning norms, higher construction limits, and expanded mixed-use provisions to support residential, commercial, and industrial integration. It also reclassifies agricultural zones based on flood risk and permits broader development in low-risk areas. The changes are intended to facilitate key projects such as Judicial City, logistics parks, and Infopark expansion while addressing long-standing land-use constraints. Citizens have been given a 60-day window to submit objections or suggestions, following which the revised plan may be finalised.Read more
24 Apr 2026
NDR InvIT Trust has acquired two Grade-A warehousing assets in Kochi and Coimbatore for around INR 260 crore, adding nearly 0.79 million sq ft of leasable space to its portfolio. The fully operational assets are 100% occupied and come with a weighted average lease expiry of over five years, ensuring stable rental income. The acquisition strengthens the trust’s presence in high-growth South Indian logistics hubs, supported by rising demand from e-commerce, manufacturing, and third-party logistics players. With this transaction, the platform’s total operating area has expanded to nearly 23 million sq ft across multiple cities, reflecting continued institutional interest in India’s warehousing and logistics segment as a long-term yield-generating asset class.Read more
18 Mar 2026
The Bliss City project in Kakkanad, Kochi, is moving closer to development as Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has started leasing portions of land to investors to accelerate the long-planned mixed-use township. Spread across about 31.43 acres near the district collectorate at Kunnumpuram, the project is designed to include commercial, retail, hospitality and institutional spaces. Authorities have already leased around 3.41 acres and expect construction to begin soon. The development is also planned as a non-fare revenue initiative for the Kochi Metro system while supporting Kakkanad's fast-growing role as an IT and administrative hub.Read more
18 Mar 2026
The Kerala State Housing Board has moved forward with the Marine Eco City project planned along Kochi's Marine Drive, appointing NBCC (India) Limited as the project management consultant for the first phase of the development. The initial phase, estimated to cost about INR 480 crore, will include a mixed-use residential and commercial tower on a 3.16-acre site within a larger 17.9-acre waterfront project area. The development will feature residential apartments, retail spaces, office floors and recreational facilities. The larger multi-phase project will also include hospitality infrastructure, convention facilities and additional residential towers.Read more
15 Mar 2026
Highway expansion and new road infrastructure around Kochi are gradually reshaping the city's real estate landscape. Better connectivity is pushing residential and commercial demand toward emerging suburban locations such as Maradu, Koonammavu, Kundanoor and Madavana. These areas are seeing rising interest from homebuyers and investors due to relatively lower land prices and easier access to key parts of the city. Mid-range housing priced below INR 1 crore is driving most of the demand. At the same time, land values near highway junctions have increased, while the city's property price growth has shown slight moderation as demand spreads to newer corridors.Read more
09 Mar 2026
The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has opened the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi to treat sewage from external sources, in response to the city's growing waste management crisis. Originally built to process only stadium waste, the plant has been upgraded to handle 750 kilolitres per day (KLD) of sewage. The decision follows directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) urging authorities to address the city's severe sewage treatment gap. Kochi generates about 82 million litres of sewage daily, but existing infrastructure treats only 3-6%, leaving the majority untreated. By opening the facility to outside sewage, GCDA aims to utilize the previously underused plant, reduce environmental pollution and generate revenue to support additional sewage treatment infrastructure.Read more
07 Mar 2026
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has introduced Braille-enabled navigation facilities at Changampuzha Park metro station to improve accessibility for visually impaired commuters. Implemented with the support of the Confederation of Indian Industry Young Indians under Project Disha, the initiative includes tactile Braille station maps, Braille markings on handrails and Braille signboards identifying key facilities such as lifts, restrooms and exits. The system helps passengers understand the station layout through touch and move independently. Officials said the initiative is aimed at promoting inclusive public transport and enabling visually impaired commuters to travel with greater confidence.Read more
21 Feb 2026
France's CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping company, is set to formalise a shipbuilding contract with India's Cochin Shipyard Ltd for six liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container vessels worth about USD 300 million, marking the first time a global liner has placed such an order in India. Each vessel will have a capacity of about 1,700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and be built with technical cooperation from a Korean partner. The deal follows an earlier Letter of Intent and comes amid government support for specialised shipbuilding.Read more
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18 Feb 2026
Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) on Tuesday said its Security Solutions business has secured a contract from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to deploy next-generation gates and an integrated perimeter security system at the airport. The mandate includes installation of Under Vehicle Scanning Systems (UVSS) integrated with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology and high-performance tyre killers across key access points. The deployment will cover entry and exit gates of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, enabling end-to-end monitoring of vehicular movement. The project marks CIAL's first large-scale implementation of a comprehensive vehicular access control system. GEG said the order strengthens its footprint in the aviation security segment, particularly in southern India, amid rising demand for advanced, regulation-ready airport security infrastructure.Read more
15 Feb 2026
Cochin International Airport Ltd has commissioned the first phase of its Aero Park at Nedumbassery, marking a shift towards building an integrated aviation services hub alongside passenger operations. Spread across 36 acres, the initial development involves infrastructure investment of about INR 101 crore and is expected to generate nearly 5,000 jobs through direct and indirect employment. The phase brings together aircraft maintenance, training, business facilities and specialised safety infrastructure, with further expansion planned through an IT Park and an Aero City in the coming phases.Read more
12 Feb 2026
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to undertake collaborative research and pilot projects aimed at enhancing sustainable urban mobility and public transport systems. The partnership will combine Kochi Metro's operational experience in multimodal transport including Metro, Water Metro and canal-based services with IISc's advanced, data-driven research capabilities. Focus areas will include sustainable mobility planning, transport operations and the application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, blockchain, simulation modelling and intelligent decision-support systems to solve real-world urban challenges. Officials highlighted that the research will promote evidence-based transport solutions to improve public health, accessibility, congestion management, emissions reduction and climate resilience, with Kochi envisaged as a testbed for developing scalable urban mobility models.Read more
08 Feb 2026
Cochin Shipyard Limited has formalised contracts for two battery-electric green harbour tugs with Polestar Maritime after the tug operator secured a long-term charter from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority under the Green Tug Transition Programme. The vessels, which were earlier under construction without confirmed buyers, will now be built jointly by Cochin Shipyard and its subsidiary Udupi-CSL at Kochi. Designed for zero direct emissions during harbour operations, the tugs will support India's push toward cleaner port infrastructure.Read more
06 Feb 2026
Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is set to introduce India's first hydrogen-powered buses for passenger movement after entering into an agreement with the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster Foundation under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The project involves the deployment of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, with financial support capped at INR 2.90 crore per bus and a total project cost of INR 8.7 crore. The buses are expected to be delivered within a year and will be owned and operated by CIAL, supported by a green hydrogen supply facility being developed at the airport.Read more
05 Feb 2026
Cochin Shipyard Ltd has approved the acquisition of a 23% equity stake in Netherlands-based Conoship International Holding B.V. as part of its plan to strengthen its footprint in the European shipping market. The investment will support collaboration in ship design and engineering, especially for vessels using alternative fuels and serving coastal and inland transport segments. The board also cleared the formation of a joint venture with HBL Engineering to develop electric mobility and energy storage solutions for marine use, marking a broader push into future-ready maritime technologies.Read more
31 Jan 2026
Kochi Municipal Corporation is evaluating the future of the RoRo ferry service between Fort Kochi and Vypeen after sustained financial losses and operational issues. The civic body is considering ending its agreement with Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd (KSINC) and exploring alternatives such as transferring operations to Kochi Water Metro or inviting new tenders. Audit findings revealed discrepancies in revenue and expenditure reporting, while high maintenance costs and vessel downtime added pressure. Safety concerns, infrastructure decay, and commuter challenges have also intensified the need for a sustainable solution.Read more
26 Jan 2026
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd's all electric Metro Connect feeder bus service has completed its first year, carrying around 14 lakh passengers. The service runs 15 electric buses across six major routes, connecting residential areas with Metro Rail and Water Metro stations, strengthening last mile connectivity. Supported by seven charging stations and a dedicated depot, the initiative has increased ridership and revenue by about 15%. Key routes like Aluva CIAL, Medical College, and Kadavanthra-Panampilly Nagar have seen strong usage, reflecting the growing demand for integrated and sustainable public transport in Kochi.Read more
19 Jan 2026
Cochin Shipyard Limited recently handed over MS Heinz, the first vessel in the HS EcoFreighter series, to German shipping company HS Schiffahrts UG and Co KG. Designed by Groot Ship Design, Netherlands, and built according to DNV standards, the 7,000 DWT ice-class vessel can transport project cargo, steel coils, containers, timber, paper, coal, grain, and dangerous goods. Featuring the Groot Cross-Bow design for fuel efficiency and a single adaptable cargo hold, the vessel's delivery underscores CSL's expanding capabilities in constructing technologically advanced merchant ships for international clients.Read more
13 Jan 2026
The Phase II extension of Kochi Metro's Pink Line from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark is facing delays that may push it beyond the targeted June 30, 2026 date for partial operations. While piling work for the elevated corridor is nearly 80 per cent complete, key civil works such as viaducts and piers are progressing slowly. Delays in securing foreign funding have affected construction pace and financial planning. The Infopark stretch is crucial for improving access to Kochi's growing IT hubs and reducing road congestion. Authorities are working to speed up execution, but timely funding and coordination remain critical.Read more
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