After a 17-year hiatus, the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation is preparing to revive the long-stalled Poonkulam housing project, originally launched under the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) scheme. The project, which was initiated in 2008 to provide affordable housing to underprivileged families, had come to a standstill due to financial and administrative hurdles.
The Poonkulam project was initially designed to build 120 housing units spread across six blocks at a cost of ₹2.96 crore. However, construction was halted after only two floors were completed, and cost estimates later escalated to nearly ₹9 crore. Now, the corporation has decided to revive and scale down the project, aiming to provide new homes for 32 beneficiary families using its own municipal funds.
The College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET) has completed a detailed stability audit to assess whether the existing structures are safe for reuse. Officials said the audit findings would guide whether parts of the old construction can be retained or if a new structure needs to be built entirely from scratch.
Once the audit report is formally received, the corporation plans to float a fresh tender to resume construction. “We are committed to moving ahead with the Poonkulam housing scheme at the earliest. After receiving the necessary approvals, we will call the tender without delay,” said Jahamgeer S, Secretary of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
As part of the revived plan, the project will include basic civic amenities such as internal roads, drinking water connections, street lighting, and drainage networks, ensuring a livable environment for all beneficiaries. Officials added that the project’s design will follow modern safety and sustainability norms, reflecting the lessons learned from earlier delays.
Poonkulam ward councillor V. Prameela said that the project proposal will be placed before the next council meeting for approval. “Once the council accords approval, the tender will be floated immediately,” she noted, adding that the existing structure will be demolished, and new flats will be constructed to provide better living conditions. Currently, 12 displaced families are residing temporarily in nearby accommodation.
For the families who have waited for nearly two decades, the announcement has revived long-lost hope. “When construction began, we believed it would change our lives. But it stopped halfway and never resumed. We just want it completed this time,” said Rajendran V, a resident awaiting rehabilitation as per ET.
The project is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete once work restarts. Officials confirmed that the cost estimate would be revised again to reflect current market prices and updated building standards.
The Poonkulam project is one among several BSUP housing schemes in Thiruvananthapuram that faced long delays or abandonment. The city reportedly lost nearly ₹75 crore worth of housing projects over the years due to procedural lapses, funding issues, and slow execution.
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