Planning authority to lift height, coverage in Kovalam and Vizhinjam

To boost buildings and tourism in Thiruvananthapuram, the town and country planning department has proposed to lift the height and coverage restrictions under the Kovalam-Vizhinjam area development scheme.

The changes were presented in a special committee meeting of the city corporation. In 2010, the Kovalam-Vizhinjam area development scheme had been varied, with a total area of 1907.50 hectare. The development scheme was sanctioned in 1978 as a part of area developments in Kovalam and Vizhinjam to preserve its natural environment.

The height coverage restrictions, the plot size have been modified as per the new variations. The town and country planning department has also proposed to take away the architectural controls in the 2010 regulations.

As per the old plan, the buildings coverage under the public and semi-public use was 40%, and height below 9 m, height and coverage restrictions will be determined, as per the rules of the building. Multiplex complexes have been added to the zonal regulations under the chief town planner.

Under the tourism development, the coverage was restricted to 30% and height below 9%, now it is modified and will be governed by the Kerala Municipality building rules.

According to the proposal, new relaxations are also proposed for residential buildings of up to 300 sq m and commercial buildings of up to 150 sq m in both zones in compliance with the paddy and wetland act of Kerala.

The government had issued a draft notification in 2018 to introduce changes in the town planning scheme as a part of the zoning regulations compatible with the current development requirements.

According to the notification, single-family residential buildings of up to 300 sq m were included in the permitted uses of areas reserved for agriculture.

The government issued a final notification in 2019. The corporation council in 2020 approved the decision of the relaxation of zoning regulations in green strips for single-family residential buildings of up to 300 sq m.

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