Lulu International Shopping Mall Group has announced the launch of its shopping mall in India at Kochi, Kerala. The project will be spread across more than 17 acres of land with a built up area of 20 lakh square feet and the total project investment is Rs.1,200 crores. This first of its kind shopping mall, hotel and commercial building project is slated to be completed by the end of 2010.
Yusuffali MA, managing director of the Shopping Mall and Emke Group, Gulf-based business group says, “This is our dream project and our plan is not to build just a shopping mall but a landmark destination for both residents and tourist alike. The facilities, brands, services, architecture, amenities etc will be comparable to the best in the world. The unique architectural features include majestic central atrium with translucent roofs, fountains, vertical circulation from the basement and huge elevators, easy access and exit, spacious indoor walkways and a vast parking space for more than 3,000 vehicles.”
This project is being built as per the best international specifications by WS Atkins of United Kingdom and will house more than 300 national and international brands of fashion, jewellery, electronics, lifestyle, home furnishing, furniture and accessories, book shops, footwear etc., a seven-theatre multiplex, family amusement centre with bowling alley, six fine dining restaurants, a 50,000 square feet food court with 18 outlets and coffee shops apart from other usual facilities.
The project also consists of a 300 room five-star Marriot Hotel and a commercial tower exclusively for the airline and aviation sector. “This is the first of its kind specialty commercial space in the region and is sure to complement the tremendous growth taking place in this sector” informs Yusuffali..
The group currently has over 70 shopping centres and malls in the Gulf and offices in 16 countries worldwide. “On completion, this project will generate a direct employment for 6000 plus and another 20000 will benefit indirectly,” opines Yusuffali.
The project will be a major tourist destination in Kerala and is expected to attract a flow of 25 lakh tourists every year. Shapoorji Pallonji, one of the leaders in the field of construction, has been given the contract of this project. To overcome the dearth of skilled manpower in this field, the group is also planning to start a Retail Management School attached to this project.
— IndiaRetailing Bureau
