HiLITE Bets INR 25,000 Cr on Kerala Tier 2-3 Property Markets

HiLITE Kerala Real Estate is set for a Rs 25,000 crore capital deployment over the next five years, with HiLITE Group announcing plans to develop 50 million sq ft of built space across the state. The Kochi-based developer, known for India’s largest World Trade Centre in Calicut, will allocate capital across retail malls, IT parks, healthcare, education, residential, and commercial real estate. The strategy prioritizes Kerala’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets through a network of HiLITE Centres, HiLITE Countryside, and other formats. By targeting regions outside major urban hubs, the Group aims to bring organized retail, entertainment, dining, and premium lifestyle infrastructure directly to emerging consumer catchments. The announcement positions HiLITE Kerala Real Estate as one of the largest private development pipelines in the state.
Two Retail Real Estate Formats for Emerging Markets
Central to this retail real estate expansion are two property formats. HiLITE Countryside caters to smaller towns and emerging Tier 3 markets, while HiLITE Centre serves growing regional urban Tier 2 cities. Both formats retain HiLITE’s standards for infrastructure, safety, and customer experience but prioritise localisation. The tenant mix reflects community preferences, supporting regional entrepreneurs and integrating established national brands and home-grown labels without compromising on quality. Execution is underway. HiLITE Group launched the nearly 3-lakh-sq-ft HiLITE Countryside Chemmad in Malappuram district on June 19. The pipeline includes HiLITE Centres in Kunnamkulam, Mannarkkad, and Nilambur, and HiLITE Countryside in Thamarassery. Collectively, the projects are designed to create retail-led employment and entrepreneurial opportunities across Kerala.
The flagship real estate asset anchoring the plan is WTC Kozhikode, India’s largest World Trade Center development. Located at HiLITE City on the Kozhikode Bypass NH 66, the 12.5 million sq ft global business and mixed-use project is being built with an investment of USD 680 million. Its first tower, WTC Learning Park, is a 2.14 lakh sq ft dedicated education hub within HiLITE City and is nearing completion. Developed entirely using a steel structural framework, the project marks a significant milestone in the phased development of the WTC Kozhikode ecosystem. The scale positions HiLITE Kerala Real Estate within the national Grade A commercial and institutional development landscape, linking Kerala’s non-metro markets to global business infrastructure.
In Kochi, HiLITE Kerala Real Estate is moving beyond conventional mall formats with experience-led concepts. HiLITE Boulevard, launching shortly on Willingdon Island, is being developed as Kerala’s first waterfront retail and leisure destination. The asset is focused on food, entertainment, recreation, and immersive attractions, signaling a shift toward mixed-use, destination real estate. Lifestyle and entertainment brands within the Group will scale alongside the geographic expansion. Palaxi Cinemas, the multiplex theatre chain, will expand across new Centres and Countryside projects with plans for roughly 250 screens in the coming years. Hug a Mug, the home-grown café brand, aims to expand from its 13th outlet at HiLITE Countryside Chemmad toward 100 outlets across Kerala in five years, adding F&B real estate footprint to the portfolio.
IT Parks and Branded Office Real Estate
Beyond retail and leisure, the Group is developing YOO Hub Trivandrum at Technopark Phase III, standing as India’s first branded IT park. It is created in a Rs 300 crore luxury partnership with the global luxury design brand YOO and International Workplace Group IWG. At Cyberpark, Kozhikode, HiLITE Group is developing Cyber Hub and Cyber Tower, two upcoming IT projects that will provide modern office spaces and business infrastructure for technology companies, startups, and other enterprises. These assets expand HiLITE Kerala Real Estate into the office and flex workspace segments, targeting demand from IT/ITeS occupiers outside core metros. The developer is positioning these projects as investment-grade office real estate with design and operator partnerships to attract institutional tenants.
The education and wellness verticals add institutional real estate to the mix. HiLITE Group’s The White School International, Kerala’s first IB Continuum school, is expanding its educational footprint. The Group is now launching new school projects across multiple cities through strategic partnership models. Health and wellness real estate continues through Mandara Women’s Wellness by Elanine, envisioned as India’s first holistic wellness centre dedicated exclusively to women. Mandara is designed as a dedicated space for women’s health and wellbeing, combining advanced wellness technologies with traditional wisdom to offer a comprehensive, restorative care experience. These social infrastructure assets diversify HiLITE Kerala Real Estate beyond commercial and retail, adding long-lease, stable-use formats to the portfolio.
“Every project we have earmarked for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will adhere to consistent quality and safety standards, while also strengthening local economies and expanding consumer choice. Collectively, the pipeline is designed to create new retail led employment and entrepreneurial opportunities across Kerala and establish a connected network of retail, leisure, and education destinations”, said Ajil Muhammed, CEO of HiLITE Group. With Rs 25,000 crore committed and 50 million sq ft planned, HiLITE Kerala Real Estate is building a statewide network of income-producing assets across retail, office, residential, education, and wellness. The developer’s focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities taps into Kerala’s distributed urbanization and rising consumption, positioning the Group to capture real estate value creation outside traditional metro cores. The scale and mix suggest a shift from project-level development to platform-level real estate investment in the state.