The Thanal housing project to rehabilitate residents of Thiruvananthapuram’s nearly five-decade-old Vikalanga Colony remains stalled, with the city corporation preparing an all-party meeting to settle the final list of eligible beneficiaries and resolve disagreements over the size of the proposed homes.
The project at Muttathara has received administrative and technical approvals, funds have been sanctioned and a construction agreement has been signed with the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS). However, work has not started because the corporation is still reviewing who remains eligible for rehabilitation.
Around 68 of the approximately 96 families initially identified for rehabilitation are understood to continue living in the colony, according to local sources cited in the report. Several other families have moved elsewhere over the years, creating uncertainty over the existing beneficiary list. The civic body plans to consult political parties, residents and beneficiaries before preparing a revised list.
Corporation secretary J Mohammad Shafi said the civic body was considering convening an all-party meeting to resolve the pending issues and finalise the list. The corporation intends to take the project forward after consultations with residents and other stakeholders, he said.
The beneficiary review is not the only unresolved issue. Residents have asked for larger and better-designed homes, arguing that the proposed apartments should provide more space and improved living conditions for families currently living in cramped circumstances. Some residents have demanded a minimum unit area of 600 square feet, while the present design provides apartments of around 550 square feet.
The proposed residential complex at Priyadarshini Nagar, Muttathara, is planned on two acres and includes 136 apartments in a two-storey structure. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 20 crore and was awarded to ULCCS. The number of planned apartments is higher than the number of families currently believed to remain in the colony, but the final allocation will depend on the revised eligibility list and the corporation’s consultations.
The project has faced repeated delays over the past two years. Construction was initially held up by objections from residents of the neighbouring Bangladesh Colony and the requirement for clearance from the Airports Authority of India. The original three-storey design was later reduced to two storeys to comply with airport-related height restrictions.
The cost estimate also required revision because it was based on the 2018 Delhi Schedule of Rates. The estimate was updated using the 2024 schedule before the local self-government department granted technical sanction in August 2025. The approval had raised expectations that construction would begin, but implementation remained pending.
Established nearly 48 years ago, Vikalanga Colony houses economically vulnerable families, including persons with disabilities. The Thanal project was conceived to provide permanent housing and address the inadequate living conditions in the existing settlement. The corporation’s next step is to convene consultations, establish the number of eligible families and finalise the beneficiary list before construction can proceed.
