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.
