PG for Men near Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara

Key facts

Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara was established on 9 October 1989 by the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD), a Government of Kerala agency.
MEC was affiliated to CUSAT from 1989 to 2015 and has been affiliated to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University since 2015.
MEC’s postal address is Thrikkakara, Kochi 682021; the college is in the same cluster as CUSAT and Bharata Mata College.
Excel, MEC’s annual national techno-managerial festival, has been held since 2001.

Room with red-oxide floor at Ashraf Gents Hostel, Kalamassery. See all hostel photos

MEC in brief

MEC was set up in 1989 by the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD), an autonomous agency of the Kerala government. For its first quarter-century it was affiliated to CUSAT; since 2015 it has been under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU). It offers B.Tech programmes – computer, electronics, electrical, mechanical and newer specialisations – along with a few M.Tech programmes. Its tech fest Excel, running since 2001, draws students from across India, so expect the area to be busy during fest week.

The address is Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, Kochi 682021. Locally, people describe MEC as being next to CUSAT, and the two campuses share roads, bus stops and the same pool of private hostels and PGs.

Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara. Open in Google Maps · Directions from Ashraf Gents Hostel

Thrikkakara, Kalamassery and the line between them

Thrikkakara is a separate municipality from Kalamassery, but on the ground the boundary is just a road. Thrikkakara is known for its ancient Vamana temple, closely tied to the Onam story – see Thrikkakara Temple and Onam – and for colleges, residential lanes and government offices towards Kakkanad. Our Thrikkakara guide covers daily life there.

For an MEC student, the practical choice is between:

Thrikkakara or South Kalamassery – walking distance, but rooms near the campuses fill fast in July–August and can cost more.
Kalamassery town, HMT Colony or NAD Road – on the other side of NH 544; a bus, metro or two-wheeler ride, often quieter and sometimes cheaper.
Further along the metro – workable if you are comfortable with a daily metro-plus-walk trip.

The commute from NAD Road

From NAD Road you cross NH 544 to reach the CUSAT–MEC side. Options are a private bus or auto along the highway, the metro from Kalamassery to Cochin University station followed by a walk or auto, or a two-wheeler. Peak-hour traffic around the highway junctions is the main delay; our guides to the NH 544 stretch and quieter routes explain how residents get round it. If you plan to ride, read living with a two-wheeler.

Try the route once at your actual class time before you commit to a room. A route that takes 15 minutes at noon can take much longer at 8.30 am.

Projects, fests and late nights

Engineering at a competitive college means lab records, coding contests, club work and – in the final years – projects and internships that keep you on campus late. When you look at a room, ask about entry after late evenings, whether you can keep a desk and laptop safely, and how the place handles exam-season quiet hours. For internships in Kochi during vacations, see internship stays in Kalamassery.

Ashraf Gents Hostel for MEC men

Ashraf Gents Hostel is a men-only boys’ hostel and PG at Ashraf house, NAD Road, at the signal in Kalamassery. For MEC students it is a commuting option rather than a walk-to-class one – worth considering if you prefer a quieter road and twin sharing. Check the route to the MEC gate on a map.

The photos show twin-sharing rooms with cots and mattresses, red-oxide floors, a balcony, a kitchen with sink and shelves, and a tiled bathroom with a western toilet. The indicative rate on the public profile is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, with one month’s advance, confirmed on the call. Ask about internet, meals and gate timings. Phone or WhatsApp: +91 90746 23855.

Frequently asked questions

Is Model Engineering College in Kalamassery or Thrikkakara?

It is in Thrikkakara (Kochi 682021), next to CUSAT on the border with South Kalamassery.

Which university is MEC affiliated to?

APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University since 2015. Before that it was affiliated to CUSAT.

What is the nearest metro station to MEC?

Cochin University station on NH 544 is the nearest; from there it is a walk or short auto ride.

How do MEC students get there from NAD Road?

By bus or auto across NH 544, by metro from Kalamassery to Cochin University station plus a walk, or by two-wheeler. Try it at peak hour before you decide.

Sources

Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.