DOHA: Lulu Group, the Abu Dhabi-based international retailer, has announced to invest $300m (QR1.09bn) in developing its second shopping mall, a hotel and international convention centre in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the southern Indian state Kerala.
Spread over 19 acres of land located at the National Highway in Akkulam, this will be the second biggest shopping mall in the country after the Lulu mall in Kochi.
Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, yesterday laid the foundation stone for the mixed use project at a function presided over by the Leader of Opposition (Kerala state assembly), Ramesh Chennithala and other prominent personalities including ministers, members of Indian parliament (MPs), members of legislative assembly (MLAs), and Yusuff Ali MA, Managing Director of Lulu Group.
Slated to open by early 2019, the facility will house Lulu Hypermarket as anchor store and will include some of the best brands in fashion, cosmetics, home furnishing, jewellery and will also feature an amusement centre, multiplex, and one of the biggest food courts in the country.
Being built at an estimated cost of Rs2,000 Crores ($300m), Lulu Mall has built up area of more than two million square feet in four floors along with hotel and convention centre. The project is the largest private investment in Kerala in recent times.
In his speech the Chief Minister Pinarayi assured all his support in making this project a grand success and provide jobs to the educated youth of Kerala.
Other attractions include a family amusement centre, a food court with a capacity of 3,500 guests, restaurants, coffee shops and a nine-screen multiplex.
The mall, designed by UK-based ‘Design International’ consultants, will have parking capacity to accommodate 3,000 cars with easy access from all main roads and will adopt latest traffic management system. The shopping mall will be environmental friendly and will adopt LEED certificate specification for echo friendly.
The project also includes a 150-room luxury hotel which will be located adjacent to the mall and an international convention centre.
The Peninsula
