The Girinagar Conundrum

TNIE zooms in on the long-standing debate over whether commercial activities should be allowed or not at Girinagar Housing Colony

- MANISHA VCS

IRINAGAR residential colony, said to be the first planned housing scheme in Kerala, has for long been caught in an urbanisation conundrum: pace vs peace.

Long-standing legal constraints have barred property owners from making any infrastructural changes, citing a 60-year-old patta agreement that classified the land strictly for "non-commercial use".

The curbs were tightened following a petition filed by a group of residents who argued that commercialisation would disrupt the "peaceful nature of the residential colony".

While concerns such as noise pollution, parking issues, and overuse of common amenities were cited, the larger picture told a different story. Sandwiched between the commercial hubs of Panampilly Nagar and Kadavanthra, Girinagar has remained a quaint pocket in the city.

A bit of history. Girinagar was established in the 1960s on about 33 acres (including for civic amenities) under a state government scheme, with 279 single-storey homes built for middle- and low-income residents. The novel project was implemented by the Ernakulam Co-operative House Construction Society.

As time passed, many first-generation owners passed away, and their properties were left to families living elsewhere. Some of the remaining elderly residents began renting out their homes or parts of them for commercial use as a source of income.

But in 2015, as a section of residents moved court, leading to a halt on all forms of construction and commercial activity. Meanwhile, some residents had already received permits and converted their homes into commercial spaces. They paid commercial taxes as well.

"For many residents, renting out buildings for commercial purposes was their only income. Most are senior citizens residing alone, and having tenants was a great help," says a resident who requested anonymity.

After years of contention, the High Court, on April 10, dismissed the 2015 writ petition.