Housing policy
Thiruvananthapuram committee approves Karimadom housing for 128 families
Thiruvananthapuram’s district-level planning committee approved a long-pending Karimadom Colony rehabilitation housing project on October 12, 2026. The city corporation plans to provide initial funding to COSTFORD for four buildings with 128 flats, while considering concerns about access for residents with limited mobility.
| Approval | October 12, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Intended beneficiaries | 128 families |
| Proposed homes | 128 flats in four buildings, with 32 flats each |
| Estimated project cost | Approximately ₹22.05 crore |
| Estimated cost per unit | Around ₹21 lakh |
| Construction agency | COSTFORD |
| Reported completion target | Within one year of construction starting, subject to the agreement and project schedule |
Approval follows a prolonged delay
The Thiruvananthapuram district-level planning committee approved the Karimadom Colony rehabilitation housing proposal on October 12, 2026. The phase had remained stalled for nearly three years. According to the reported account, the committee had rejected it at a September 2026 review, treating it as a new housing project. The corporation clarified that it was an existing project pending for years, and the proposal was reconsidered.
Corporation secretary J Mohammed Shafi said the committee had approved the project and construction could move forward, with outstanding issues to be addressed. As of October 2026, approval has been given, but construction is expected to follow the required agreement and initial funding arrangements.
Four buildings planned for 128 families
The proposal is for four buildings with 32 flats each, serving 128 families. Its estimated cost is approximately ₹22.05 crore, or around ₹21 lakh per unit. The corporation plans to release the initial 20% of the project cost to COSTFORD, the construction agency entrusted through a tender process.
The project is part of the corporation’s Basic Services for Urban Poor rehabilitation effort, launched in 2008. It is municipal rehabilitation housing, not an Anant Raj development; Anant Raj is not identified as a party to the project.
Accessibility remains a design question
The proposed design is four storeys and has no lift. Concerns have been raised about access for elderly residents and people with mobility difficulties. The corporation is considering possible design modifications, but no change or decision date has been reported.
For the intended families, approval advances a project aimed at providing permanent accommodation after a prolonged delay. The reported impact is focused on rehabilitation and housing access; no broader market effect was identified.
Funding and agreement are the next steps
The corporation plans to release 20% of the project cost to COSTFORD to enable work to begin. Construction is expected to start after the required agreement and initial funding arrangements; no firm start date has been reported. The stated target is completion within one year of commencement, subject to the agreement and adherence to the project schedule.
Earlier reports described other Karimadom housing work: a 128-flat complex inaugurated in September 2025 and a rehabilitation phase for 105 families that received technical sanction in August 2025. Those reports do not establish that either project is the same phase as the 128-family proposal approved in October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What did the planning committee approve?
On October 12, 2026, Thiruvananthapuram’s district-level planning committee approved a long-pending Karimadom Colony rehabilitation housing project for 128 families.
How many homes are proposed and what is the estimated cost?
The plan is for 128 flats in four buildings, with 32 flats per building. The estimated project cost is approximately ₹22.05 crore, or around ₹21 lakh per unit.
Who is responsible for construction?
Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation is the project authority. COSTFORD was entrusted with construction through a tender process.
When will construction begin and finish?
Construction is expected to begin after the required agreement and initial funding arrangements. The reported completion target is within one year of construction starting, subject to the agreement and project schedule.
Will the buildings have lifts?
The proposed four-floor design has no lift. The corporation is considering possible design modifications following concerns about access for elderly residents and people with mobility difficulties.
Is this an Anant Raj project?
No. The project is a Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation rehabilitation effort, with COSTFORD entrusted as the construction agency. Anant Raj is not identified as a party.