HiLITE Group has announced an ambitious investment plan of Rs 25,000 crore over the next five years to develop 50 million sq. ft. of space across Kerala. The expansion will span retail malls, IT parks, healthcare, education, residential, and commercial projects, with a strong focus on emerging Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The company is accelerating its presence through a network of HiLITE Centres and HiLITE Countryside developments, aiming to bring organised retail, entertainment, dining, and lifestyle experiences to smaller cities and towns across the state.
HiLITE Countryside is designed for smaller towns and emerging Tier 3 markets, while HiLITE Centre targets growing regional urban centres. Both formats will maintain the Group’s infrastructure, safety, and customer experience standards while adapting tenant mixes to local preferences, supporting regional entrepreneurs, and integrating national as well as home-grown brands.
As part of this strategy, the Group recently launched the nearly 3 lakh sq ft HiLITE Countryside Chemmad in Malappuram district. Additional projects are planned in Kunnamkulam, Mannarkkad, Nilambur, and Thamarassery, further strengthening the company’s retail footprint across Kerala.
The company’s flagship development, WTC Kozhikode, is being developed at HiLITE City on NH 66. The 12.5 million sq. ft. mixed-use business district is being built with an investment of USD 680 million.
Its first tower, WTC Learning Park, a 2.14 lakh sq. ft. education hub built entirely using a steel structural framework, is nearing completion and marks an important milestone in the phased development of the project.
HiLITE is also set to launch HiLITE Boulevard on Willingdon Island in Kochi. The project is being positioned as Kerala’s first waterfront retail and leisure destination, offering a mix of food, entertainment, recreation, and immersive lifestyle experiences.
The Group’s entertainment and lifestyle businesses will expand alongside its retail developments.
Palaxi Cinemas plans to increase its presence to around 250 screens, while Hug a Mug, the company’s home-grown café brand, aims to expand to 100 outlets across Kerala over the next five years.
Beyond retail, HiLITE is investing in the state’s growing technology ecosystem. YOO Hub Trivandrum, being developed at Technopark Phase III, is positioned as India’s first branded IT park through a Rs. 300 crore partnership with YOO and International Workplace Group (IWG).
At Cyberpark, Kozhikode, the Group is developing Cyber Hub and Cyber Tower, providing modern office infrastructure for technology companies, startups, and enterprises.
Commenting on the expansion, Ajil Muhammed, CEO of HiLITE Group, said, “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.”
With an investment of Rs 25,000 crore and a diversified pipeline spanning retail, commercial, IT, education, healthcare, and wellness, HiLITE Group is set to play a significant role in shaping Kerala’s next phase of urban and economic development.