The Hindu Business Line : Lulu’s Kochi project on track

The Rs 1,200-crore Lulu hypermarket/multiplex complex is fast coming up on an 18-acre plot in Kochi with a total built-up area of 16 lakh sq.ft. A unique feature of the project, that is nearly half completed, is that it is designed by the world famous Mr Mark Boothway, who specialises in mall-design. And the architect for the project is the UK-based W S Atkins, who designed the one of a kind, seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, says Mr Mohan Plakkot, Regional Director for Indian Operations, the Lulu Group.

The mall would have two anchor tenants, each occupying large shopping space. Lulu would be the principal driver behind the project and would occupy two lakh sq.ft of shopping space including a one lakh sq.ft food mall. The multiplex is set to house 7-9 screens within an area of around 70,000 sq.ft. The multiplex owner would decide their own business model and the number of theatre complexes that they want to run, Mr Mohan added.

The food court would have a common seating capacity of 3,500 customers at a time within an expanse of 41,000 sq.ft with 18 multi-cuisine restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream parlours and cafes a 10,000 sq.ft children’s amusement area and a bowling alley. A unique feature of this project would be the 20-storey hotel tower with 300 rooms and an airlines tower bringing airline offices, travel agencies and others involved in the travel industry under one roof. This direct access to various facets of the travel industry would enhance customer choice greatly, Mr M A Nishad, Director of Lulu, said.

Major investments like these are propping up the real-estate prices in places like Kochi.

Malls like Lulu target NRIs for customers. The project is located beside two National Highways, one of which leads to the Cochin International Airport. The bulk of the NRI clientele would be our customers in the Gulf, Mr Mohan pointed out. For them it would be just like extending their shopping experience in the Gulf to their home soil in Kerala.

C. J. PUNNATHARA

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