Homestays in Kochi are here to stay

A homestay is new development in Kochi, an intercity living in Kerala, in which a person visiting or temporarily staying in Kochi, lives with a family in the Town or nearby area. Homestays involve relationships between people and it should not be linked with a boarding-house or hotel experience, in which they only rent rooms. While students pay their own expenses for room and stay, the purpose of an intercity homestay is not just to provide a place to stay but to create an enriching learning experience for both the student and the host family. The homestays in Kochi sometimes comes in the place of Hostal or Hotel accommodation for the employed people as well as for those making a short visit to the town. While choosing a homestay and while giving a home stay, particularly the host should be very careful.

Let us assess the situation:

The host should always be careful and vigilant. Modern day boys are very forward and they sometimes do not give much importance to cultural values. They should not be allowed to take advantage of the situation.  These students should not be allowed to stay alone in the house, bring their friends – both male and female friends to the home, ie., there should be someone in the house always to take control of the situation if something fishy happens.

Homestays are good and useful for students, but they are not ideal for every student and every situation. Homestays are probably most helpful for students coming to the Kochi for the first time and interested in having a safe, family environment in which, getting used to life in a different city and different family; learn about their family life and values; interact with people of different ages; and share their own culture and interests. Homestay students must be willing to make an effort to communicate and cooperate with others and accept the rules and preferences of the families with whom they live. For example, most homestay families do not allow smoking in their homes. Because of the additional responsibility involved, students seeking a homestay should be mature, stable individuals who are good natured and flexible. Such students usually have a positive and memorable homestay experience.

There are many different kinds of families involved: retired couples, single-parent families, single individuals, widows, as well as traditional families. But whether they are young or old, with or without children, they all share a strong interest in good-natured, well mannered people. Many of them have traveled or lived abroad, so they can identify with you. They are excited to welcome you into their homes and assist you in your adjustment to life there.

Like families all over Kerala, most families are interdependent, which means that individuals often must give up some of their own independence in order to help family relationships run smoothly. Living with a family requires a kind of cooperation that sometimes involves some personal sacrifices. A student becomes like a member of the family, not a guest. As a result, families may have certain expectations of students such as participation in family activities, cleaning their rooms, keeping reasonable hours, communicating clearly with the family about their schedules, and occasionally helping with cooking or other household duties.

There are many benefits of a homestay. First of all, a homestay allows students to communicate effectively and interact with strangers and be one of them. Second, living with a family provides a quiet atmosphere for study and a greater sense of security for some students. Third, a homestay exposes students to a rich variety of cultural learning opportunities, such as family activities, holiday celebrations, religious practices, sporting events, etc. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a homestay often results in students developing deep, lasting friendships with their families. Such a personal connection gives many students a real sense of stability in their lives, and what they get in their own homes.

www.kochiplaza.com is always there in Kochi to help those in need of homestays or good trustworthy hosts. For more information visit our real estate website www.kochiplaza.com

Three new projects fuel boom in Kochi

A move by the Kerala state government to set up a Smart City at Kochi has triggered off a fresh rally in real estate prices in the central districts of Kerala, especially in and around Kochi.
The real estate and construction business in Kerala have been passing through a dull phase after new and stringent norms on registration and stamp duty were introduced some months ago.
The announcement of the Smart City project has added life to the segment recently.
The government will soon tie up with the Technology and Media Free zone Authority (TECOM) of Dubai to set up the Smart City, one of the largest IT infrastructure projects of India at Kakkanad, near Kochi city.
Around two years back, the UDF government had announced the project and this had led to a surge in real estate prices in Kochi and surrounding areas.
Almost all the major builders of India had acquired land at Kakkanad area and the value of land had increased by manifolds.
Thereafter, LDF had swept to power in the elections and work on the project was slowed down.
Now after a year, the project is about to take off.
The project was expected to create jobs for 90,000 professionals in the city and this would create demand for apartments.
According to major builders, around 30,000 apartments and flats would be needed in Kochi in three years.
By 2015, Kochi would need more than 100,000 plus apartments.
Three mega projects, the Vallarpadam International Container Terminal (VICT), Petronet's LNG terminal and the Smart City, were expected to lead to 200,000 jobs while related projects like the bunkering terminal, single point mooring (SPM) and new hotels would add to demand for apartments.
In the last few months, land value in Kochi's Kakkanad area climbed 75 per cent.
A large number of land deals were being done in Kochi localities like Vyttila bye pass (NH 47) and the Sea Port to Airport Road.
Prices per centiare near NH 47 was Rs 20 lakh and on the Sea port - Airport Road it was Rs 6 -8 lakh.
According to K A Mohammed Salim, managing director of Asset Homes, land prices in Kochi were lower than most other tier-II cities and hence the interest among builders.
Salim said that the construction of flats would surge in the coming years and investments to the tune of Rs 6000 -7000 crore would be required in the next three years.
Villas were also in demand in major towns in the average price band of Rs 50 -70 lakh per unit.
But major builders agreed that demand for apartments would drive growth in the future with prices being in the Rs 15 -25 lakh band, affordable for professionals.
Salim said the surge in land prices could derail plans to build villas as unit prices could soon exceed Rs 1 crore per unit.
Demand for flats, especially from NRIs, was already high and most flats were being booked as soon as bookings opened.
Major builders were concentrating on sales in the Persian Gulf region and around 50 per cent of flats were being sold within a month of announcement of a project.
In Kochi city, around 5000 flats were under construction at present.
Demand was so high that extension of the city outwards in all directions was inevitable.
In the north, land upto Thrissur 80km away on NH 47 was now being described as being suitable for apartments in future and land value was rising in areas like the Nedumbassery-Angamally area where the international airport was situated.
In the south, the road to Cherthala was suitable and in fact, in Cherthala, some large apartment projects were coming up.
Other areas to see development included the south-eastern suburbs of the Thripunithura-Chottanikkara and the north-western areas of Varapuzha, North Parur and Vypin Island.
The city of Kochi was at present slowly spreading to around 70 per cent of the land area of Ernakulam district as very little land was available within the city limits.
The city was already extended upto the Kalamassery and Aluva municipalities since these were areas adjacent areas of the old city.
Hectic construction was also going on the reclaimed land near Goshree bridges connecting the city with Vypin island.
The development of infrastructure projects and the new road-rail connectivity would revive the fortunes of the city and a number of big hotel projects had been announced recently.
However, the unique eco-system of the city was under threat as a major portion of the paddy fields were now being taken over and developed into flats and housing projects.
High real estate prices was likely to edge out many of the older residents of Kochi city and its suburbs to other districts.
Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/three-new-projects-fuel-boom-in-kochi/283059/

Fort Kochi to get a clean, beautiful look

Fort Kochi might soon be a clean and hygienic paradise, with beautiful sidewalks and zero garbage!   The Kochi Corporation and the Tourism Department in association with the Kudumbashree Mission are  all set to launch the ‘Zero Waste Fort Kochi - Tourist Destination Project’ at Fort Kochi.   The project will be launched on Friday at a meeting to be held at the Santacruz Basilica Parish Hall, Fort Kochi.   The project aims at the overall tourism development of Fort Kochi and Fort Kochi Veli areas through better solid waste management. Decentralised waste management and general beautification of the area will be the focus of the project.    The Department of Tourism has pledged `43 lakh for the project which is to be implemented with the active cooperation of  various stakeholders, including the Kochi Corporation, residential associations, home stays, hoteliers and NGOs.    “The project is being implemented as a part of the Department of Tourism’s ‘Clean Destination Project,” District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Secretary Shine said. The implementation of the project will transform Fort Kochi into a much cleaner and more beautiful destination, Kochi Corporation Development Committee chairman and councillor of Fort Kochi Veli K J Sohan said.  Kudumbashree, the implementing agency, has prepared elaborate plans for the project. Apart from decentralised management of biodegradable waste in the area, a system to manage the huge amount of waste, and re-cycling of various types of waste are being planned as a part of the project.The Kudumbashree Mission envisages seven employment generating schemes from the project. An employment generating activity of making handicraft out of coconut shells, a paper recycling project, a collection centre for re-usable items, a non-plastic manufacturing unit using clothes, paala (arecanut leaf) and grass,  a maintenance unit which provides the service of skilled labourers like masons, plumbers and electricians, a vermi-compost making unit, and a gardening and beautification unit to beautify the roadsides and walkways.  The Kudumbashree Mission is planning to implement the project in a phased manner in a year or two. The falling of shade trees and branches, which is another problem in the area, might also be solved as the Kudumbashree Mission is  planning to buy the necessary equipment to prune and maintain the shade trees and employ skilled people to manage it, as a part of the project. The falling of huge branches of big shade trees in various parts of Fort Kochi recently had caused much damage to shops, houses and electric posts.