We always aim to keep things simple. No noise, just signal. Often, we deliver results. And on many occasions, we fail spectacularly. And we are there when it counts. For commercial real estate in Trivandrum, try AJ and Associates.

Trivandrum

As someone born and brought up here and someone who now earns a living doing commercial real estate in Trivandrum , I will admit upfront, I am biased.

But I am also someone who tries to keep his eyes and ears open. I travel the city, speak to people on the ground, keep an eye on the relevant news, watch how neighborhoods change, how deals unfold. And what I sense now is this, we are at the beginning of something that generations before us could only dream of.

I have been watching Trivandrum with curiosity for years. I know it reasonably well. For the longest time, it felt like a city caught between its past and its potential. Beautiful, calm, a bit laid back and not fully awake. That’s changing slowly, quietly, but definitely.

I am not writing this as an urban planner, a policy expert, or someone with access to insider knowledge. I am just a common man, with both feet on the ground, trying to piece together what I see and feel around me. So this is just a common man’s perspective.

If you look around, there is no flashy success story. There is no overnight boom. But if you look closely, you will see something taking shape. Trivandrum is building itself thoughtfully and intentionally into a city that could offer real opportunity, without losing what makes it liveable.

The most important piece in that puzzle, in my view, is Vizhinjam Port. For the first time in a long time, Kerala is going to have a real seat at the global trade table. This port isn’t just about big ships and containers. It’s about opportunity ; logistics hubs, warehouses, cold storage chains, and new businesses we haven’t even imagined yet. It puts Kerala back on the map, not as a distant corner of the country, but as a serious gateway to the world.

And if you look around, you can see the city is getting ready for it. The Outer Ring Road will connect the port to the national highways. A Metro is in the works, starting from the IT corridor and running through the city. Roads are being widened, the airport is being improved, and you can already see new townships forming around these transport spines.

For decades, Malayalees left the state in search of work. Migration is in our DNA , we are everywhere. But we shouldn’t have to leave because there are no opportunities at home. There’s a clear effort to bring opportunity here, not just prepare people to go elsewhere.

Technopark continues to grow, and that’s encouraging. I do have some doubts about the IT sector as we know it is bound to change drastically in the years ahead, with AI taking over routine job of a typical IT employee. But logistics.! That’s about to explode and Trivandrum is well-placed to benefit. If you’re building something ; a career, a business, a life this city is starting to give you something solid to stand on.

Tourism will evolve too. The focus is slowly shifting from numbers to quality. The government wants to offer richer experiences, better infrastructure, and deeper engagement with the local culture. It’s not about turning Kerala into a budget holiday factory. It’s about offering something honest, rooted, and meaningful while also helping local communities thrive.

Our strengths in education and healthcare continue to hold. The public health system is improving, and there’s serious conversation about positioning Kerala as a center for wellness, elder care, and even global medical services. On the education front, the shift is toward skilling and aligning with industries that are relevant to where the world is headed. I hope we have world class education facilities in the years to come.

Of course, things aren’t perfect. Climate change is real. Floods, heat, extreme weather. Urban congestion is creeping in. Land prices are rising. Water, waste, and transport systems are under pressure. But what gives me hope is that we’re not ignoring these problems. There’s an honest attempt to face them, plan better, and build more responsibly.

So why am I writing all this?

Because I think we’re at a real turning point. If you’re from Trivandrum, or even just someone who’s wondering whether to stay, invest, return, or build , pay attention. Look around. The signs are there.

I am not saying Trivandrum is going to become the next Bangalore or Dubai. It doesn’t have to. It can be something better , a city that works for its people, that offers real growth, that keeps its peace and its rhythm while opening new doors.

As in life, nothing is certain, But i really think .....  in time the world will come to Trivandrum. 

Pahalgam

The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam is deeply disturbing. The fact that innocent civilians, tourists, lost their lives is heartbreaking. This incident doesn’t feel like a random act of violence. To me, it looks like a calculated attempt to provoke a response from the Indian government. From what I have read, this was a low-cost, high-impact attack targeting unarmed, unsuspecting tourists. It will take normalcy from Kashmir and break local tourist based economy.  Such a tactic might be meant to create fear, anger, and emotional reactions. The attackers could be local radicals, or they might be proxies being used by someone else to achieve a bigger agenda.

Which brings us to the question: Who’s behind this?

The answer you will hear is: Pakistan. But Pakistan is not one unified voice. Unlike India, where the armed forces work under the civil government, in Pakistan, the military often runs a parallel power structure. What the civilian leaders want and what the military does may not align. Even within the military, there may be different factions with their own agenda. The question is who among these exactly benefits from destabilising Kashmir or provoking India?

Is there a possibility that any external players, are involved in an advisory or strategic role? These are important questions. Because if we don’t ask them, we risk reacting blindly.

Who gains from keeping Kashmir tense? Is there someone who benefits when India is forced to focus its attention, energy, and resources on this side of the border? Why locals participate in an event that can hurt their local economy.? Is there a bigger picture we are missing?

This is why I think the Indian government must investigate thoroughly first. Understand the full picture, gather intelligence, and then act strategically. We shouldn't fall into the trap of reacting emotionally because maybe that’s exactly what the orchestrators of this actually wants..

In today’s world, war isn’t just about guns and bombs. India has other powerful tools such as economic pressure, global diplomacy, strategic alliances etc. These can hurt the enemy without firing a bullet. We often underestimate the power of diplomacy quiet, behind-the-scenes work that creates international pressure and builds global support.

In today’s world, real strength is in making the enemy lose more by hurting us. If they know the cost of attacking us is too high, they will think twice. 

I have never seen war in real life, but I have watched realistic depictions, especially of the World Wars, and they hurted me emotionally. Recently, I saw Masters of the Air on OTT, and horrified is an understatement. It reminded me that war is suffering no matter which side you are on. War should be the last option-not the first reaction. I am in general against human suffering. Is it naive to hope for such a world.? As the ancients prayed, i hope for Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu. My rational self says - it is impossible or may be even against some unwritten universal law. But my irrational hope is that - let there be peace everywhere.

Boring Businesses

We work with hundreds of business owners and new entrepreneurs every year. We get to hear many ideas, plans and vision. Most of them are bold. 

But here are some not so cool businesses that has the potential to make money. 

1) A cost effective and scientific solution to get rid of food waste and other garbage from homes. The present waste collection and disposal system is a let down in most places. We need more efficient and environment friendly solutions. 

2) A chain of clean, well maintained toilets and refreshment stops across the state.

3) Healthy food that tastes like junk food.

There is money to be made in hard to solve boring problems of the society.

If you are a business owner looking for space to establish your next venture - contact us and we can discuss your requirement in detail.

Rental Agreements

An unregistered 11 month rental agreement could be done on a Rs.100  stamp about 10 years ago. Then it jumped to Rs.200, later Rs.500, and now it’s Rs.510 e-stamp ( the amount a typical e-stamp vendor charge ). The way these rates are increasing, it feels like they’re moving at warp speed. Registration isn’t needed for 11 month agreements, but having it on e-stamp makes it legally valid. 

Income Tax

What remains to be seen is how the government plans to offset the potential revenue loss from the income tax slab revision. I believe the Union government took this step because it recognizes the growing frustration among taxpayers. However, to balance for the shortfall, more goods and services are likely to be brought under the indirect taxation.

TDS on rental income

As per the latest budget, TDS on rental income will be applicable only if the yearly rent is more than 6 Lakhs, instead of the earlier limit of 2.4 Lakhs. That is for the monthly rent up to 50k , TDS need not be deducted.