Lulu Group, the Abu Dhabi-based international retailer, is developing its second Lulu Shopping Mall, a hotel and an international convention centre in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Indian state of Kerala.

Spread over 19 acres of land located on the National Highway in Akkulam, this will be the second biggest shopping mall in the country after the Lulu Mall in Kochi.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid the foundation stone for the mixed-use project in a glittering function presided over by the leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala and other prominent personalities including ministers, MPs, MLAs, said Yusuff Ali MA, managing director of Lulu Group.

Being built at an estimated cost of Rs2,000 crores ($300 million), Lulu Mall will have a built-up area of more than 2 million sq ft in four floors. The project is the largest private investment in Kerala in recent times, said a statement.

Slated to open by early 2019, it will house a Lulu hypermarket as anchor store and will include some of the best brands in fashion, cosmetics, home furnishing and jewellery.

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 project also includes a 150-room luxury hotel which will be adjacent to the mall and an international convention centre.

The mall, designed by UK-based Design International consultants, will have parking for 3,000 cars with easy access from all main roads and will adopt latest traffic management system. The shopping mall will be environment-friendly and will adopt Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) certificate specifications, the statement added. - TradeArabia News Service