Kochi metropolitan area

Metropolitan area includes a city and its suburbs. For the city, see Kochi.

Kochi Metropolitan Area
Urban
Marine Drive, as seen from the Vembanad Lake
Marine Drive, as seen from the Vembanad Lake
CountryIndia
StateKerala
DistrictErnakulam
Core cityKochi
Area
[1]
 • Total
440 km2 (170 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
2,119,724
 • Density4,800/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone code0484
Vehicle registrationKL-7, KL-39, KL-40, KL-41, KL-42, KL-43,KL-63

Kochi metropolitan area or Kochi urban agglomeration is a metropolitan area in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India, comprising the Kochi Municipal Corporation, nine adjacent municipal councils, 15 gram panchayats and parts of four gram panchayats. With a population of more than 2.1 million within an area of 440 km2, it is the most populous metropolitan area in Kerala.[3]

Municipalities and Panchayaths

The area constituted on the basis of census data 2011, consists of Kochi Municipal Corporation, nine municipal councils, 15 gram panchayats and parts of four panchayats. The 9 municipalities are Aluva, Thrippunithura, Maradu, Thrikkakara, Kalamassery, Eloor, North Paravur, Perumbavoor and Angamali. The panchayats consists of Chengamanad, Nedumbassery, Cheranelloor, Varapuzha, Chennamangalam, Kadamakkudy, Mulavukad, Kadungalloor, Alengad, Chottanikkara, Choornikkara, Edathala, Kizhakkambalam, Kumbalam, Kottuvally and Vypin Island.[4]

The state government and the GCDA have plans to include Mala and Kodungallur in Thrissur district; Piravom and Kolenchery in Ernakulam district; Thalayolaparambu and Vaikom in Kottayam; and Cherthala in Alappuzha district within the Kochi metropolitan limits.[5]

History

Kochi urban agglomeration population over the years
YearPop.±%
1981824,900—    
19911,140,600+38.3%
20011,536,400+34.7%
20112,117,990+37.9%
Source: Census of India[6]

The concept of "urban agglomeration" in India was introduced by the Census of India in 1981. At that time, nine urban agglomerations were identified in Kerala, which increased to 19 in 2011 census. As per the 2001 census, Kochi urban agglomeration is the only urban agglomeration with a population exceeding one million.[7]

The Kochi urban agglomeration constituted based on the 2001 census comprised Kochi Municipal Corporation, five municipal councils, 15 gram panchayats and parts of three gram panchayats. The five municipal councils were Tripunithura, Kalamassery, North Paravur, Aluva and Angamaly. The 15 panchayats were Thrikkakkara, Cheranelloor, Eloor, Varapuzha, Chennamangalam, Kadamakkudy, Mulavukad, Thiruvankulam, Maradu, Kadungalloor, Alangad, Chengamanad, Choornikkara, Edathala and Kottuvally.[8] The population increased to 2,117,990 per 2011 census. As per the 2011 census, Ernakulam district had two urban agglomerations—Kochi urban agglomeration and Kothamangalam urban agglomeration.[7]

Economy

A night view of Marine Drive, Kochi
Main article: Economy of Kochi

Kochi is known as the financial and economic capital of Kerala.[9][10]

The economic growth gathered momentum after economic reforms in India introduced by the central government in the mid-1990s. Since 2000, the service sector has energized the economy.[11] Over the years, the city has witnessed rapid commercialisation, and has today grown into the commercial capital of Kerala.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Demographia World Urban Areas" (PDF). demographia.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 million and above" (PDF). The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  3. ^ "City Mayors: World's largest urban areas in 2020 (3)".
  4. ^ "Official Website of Coorporation of Cochin". 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Metropolitan authority can help Kochi city grow by leaps & bounds". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  6. ^ "TABLE 7.2.11". mospi.gov.in. Archived from the original on 13 August 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Urban Areas and Urban Agglomerations" (PDF). Townplanning.kerala.gov.in. pp. 31–35. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  8. ^ "Kochi eyes a metro stamp". The New Indian Express. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  9. ^ Paul, John L. (4 June 2017). "Setting a scorching pace: the metro saga". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Check out the 10 novelties onboard Kochi Metro". Malayala Manorama. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Check out how Kochi is shining!". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  12. ^ Statistics of Ernakulam in 2001 Archived 28 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine Official site of Government of Kerala
This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.