This document summarizes a study on urban growth trends in Cochin, India. It finds that Cochin's population growth rate is declining within city limits but increasing rapidly in surrounding suburbs. Major economic drivers of growth include the port, airport, IT sector, and tourism. Infrastructure projects like the metro, smart city initiatives and container terminal will further stimulate the economy. The study also examines trends in housing, employment, and transportation that will influence Cochin's continued expansion in the coming decades as it is projected to become a major urban center of over 2 million people.

1. A STUDY ON URBAN GROWTH
TRENDS IN COCHIN
ARUN C BABU
IIT Kharagpur
12AR60R09

2. AIM AND SCOPE OF STUDY
•TO STUDY ABOUT THE URBAN GROWTH TRENDS IN KOCHI
URBAN AREA BY ANALYSING POPULATION GROWTH,
ECONOMY, INFRASTUCTURE DEVELOPEMNT AND THE URBAN
POTENTIAL OF THE REGION.
•KOCHI IS THE ECONOMICAL CAPITAL OF KERALA AND A
RAPIDLY GROWING COSTAL SETTLEMENT IN THE WESTERN
COAST. THE STUDY MAINLY FOCUSSES ON THE GROWTH
TRENDS IN KOCHI CORPORATION REGION AND THE
SURROUNDING MUNCIPALITIES WITHIN THE KOCHI CITY
LIMITS.

3. KOCHI
Commercial capital of Kerala
Kochi is the most promising growth
oriented development region in the
state of Kerala.
Developments in the city and
surrounding area have taken a fast
stride in the last two decades.
The
Information
Technology
Institutions
at
Kakkanad,
the
International
Airport
at
Nedumbassery, the new bridge
linking Vypeen islands to the main
land and the high impact residential
and commercial developments in the
city and the surrounding areas have
caused
direct
and
indirect
development impacts in many
sectors.
The newly proposed metro project,
the high speed rail corridor, smart
city project, and the vallarpadam
container
terminal
project
will
enhance the growth of kochi and the

4. •source : google map
URBAN FORM
The city of Kochi is located
along the central coast of
Kerala in Ernakulam district. A
collection of small islands, a
large peninsula and the
mainland collectively make up
the modern city of Kochi.
Fort Kochi, located on a
peninsula in the southwest
corner of the city, is where
Portuguese colonists
established the first European
colony in India during the 16th
century.
Wellington Island, located
between the peninsula and the
mainland, is where the Port of
Cochin is located. Almost the
entire island is used for
industrial activities by the port
and railways. The
neighbouring islands of
Vypeen, Vallarpadam and

5. URBAN GROWTH IN KOCHI
1870
Colonial
settlement
started from
mattanchery
source : cochin cdp
1920
Formation of
wellington
island
1940
road
connection to
the main land
on the west
and road-rail
connection to
the east from
the
island
completed
Post
independence
surge
in
economic
activities
and
urbanisation

6. •Urban
Growth
trends indicate urban
expansion towards
north, north –east.
•The main reason for
urban
growth
towards the east
(kalamassery region)
is because of the it
sector
and
the
special
economic
zone.
•The development of
satellite towns like
Aluva and Ankamaly
are the main reason
for the urban growth
towards north.
•source : cochin cdp (1971 – 2001census)
•The developments
are mainly along the

7. URBANIZATION IN KOCHI - A COMPARISON WITH THE NATIONAL AND STATE
SCENARIO
•A peculiar phenomenon of the urbanization trend in Kerala is that a major
percentage of this urban population is within 17 urban agglomerations (UA).
•Kochi UA has the most number of constituent units (25) with Kannur in the second
place with 16 constituent units and Kozhikode in the third position with 14 constituent
units. All the other UA s have only 10 or less than ten constituent units.
source : cochin cdp
•Urban population to total population is greater in Ernakulum district than that in
any other district in Kerala or in the state as a whole or in India. Ernakulum
district is highly urbanized with Kochi UA acting as a magnet attracting
economic investments in many sectors.

8. source : cochin cdp
•A remarkable feature of urbanization is that though the urban content of the
State’s population is only 25.97%, Ernakulum is the most urbanized district in
the state in terms of absolute number of urban population (14.77 lakhs) and
the percentage of urban to total district population (47.56 %) as per 2001
census.

9. POPULATION GROWTH TRENDS IN
KOCHI
•Population growth rate is showing a declining trend in the
corporation area ( 5.1%) during the past three decades.
The suburban area around the city shows considerably
high population growth (9.11%).
•Population growth rate is showing a declining trend in the
corporation area ( 5.1%) during the past three decades.
The suburban area around the city shows considerably
source : cochin cd

10. •In the recent years due to many large scale development projects, especially in the
construction sector and information technology, substantial employment
opportunities are generated in Kochi and this is a positive factor for migration.
•sharp increase in land values and scarcity of developable land prevent lower and
middle income group families from buying land within the city for residential
purposes. This has made a good percentage of people to opt for residences in the
outskirts of the city. Though the trend reduces migration, it increases floating
population in the city.
•The large scale investment proposals and infrastructure requirements in and
around Kochi city will attract more people to the city in future.
•Kochi City Region has higher population growth rate compared to the state
average. In the coming two decades it is expected to touch two million mark. Most
of the growth is taking place just outside of the Kochi city area but within the Kochi
City Region. This coupled with 2001high levelgradual decreasing trend in the
•Population growth from 1981 to the shows a of floating population necessitates
integrated planning,Kochi City Region service delivery.
city area and in the development and
source : cochin cdp

11. Key issues in housing sector
Rapid increase of migrant
population
 Due to scarcity and soaring
price of land urban poor are
persuaded
to
stay
in
puramboke lands or rental
homes.
 Lack of tenure security
Lack of land management
strategy for the city
 Legal and administrative
problems related to grant of
pattayam
Lack of awareness in low cost
technology and tenure issues
Dilapidated
buildings
in
source : cochin cdp
Mattancherry.
Future need
 Cost of construction and
Identification and planned use of vacant land is necessary in the residentialare
building
materials
sector.
increasing
 Lack of land use data bank
FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS
Construction of multifamily dwelling unit to most vulnerable homeless, landless
people and occupants of dilapidated buildings;
Relocation of slums located in hazardous and vulnerable areas

12. ECONOMIC OPPERTUNITIES AND ECNOMIC GROWTH TRENDS IN
KOCHI
Due to its strategic location, Kochi has long been a centre of trade. For centuries,
the city was renowned for its spices, jewellery, apparel and fishing industries.
In recent times, the Cochin Port in its expansion and modernization pace and the
tourism industry have also contributed significantly to the local economy. The
Shipyard situated within the city limits has been a silent giant contributing
substantially to the economic health of the city and the state.
While these industries continue to remain strong today, the economy has received
a boost from the IT and financial services. All these have their multiplier effects on
trade and commerce and construction industry. As a result, Kochi is witnessing an
IT/ ITES
economic boom.
•The IT boom in Kochi is driven by a combination of factors,
which include cheaper real estate costs compared to the
larger and more mature metros in India; some of India’s best
communications infrastructure, low labour costs and low
attrition rates.
TOURISM
Recognizing the importance of tourism to the local economy,
city officials have launched initiatives to ensure the continued
growth of tourism in Kochi:
• The coastal backwaters around Kochi are being further
developed to accommodate more tourists
• A new cruise ship terminal is being built in the Port of
Cochin

13. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE URBAN GROWTH
The Port of Cochin, one of India’s twelve major ports, has
ambitious plans for infrastructure development over the next 5
years. The vallarpadam container terminal, future oil
exploration projects, cruise terminal etc.. Will act as a catalyst
for the future economic growth.
Cochin International Airport is the only airport in the country
besides Mumbai and Delhi that can handle large commercial
aircraft. This has served not only to boost tourism within Kochi
but has also had a positive impact on the number of companies
that have launched operations within the city.
Three national highways (NH-47, NH-17 and NH-49) pass
through or near the city. This allows commercial traffic from both
the airport and seaport to connect easily to the national grid. the
Cochin Seaport-Airport Highway – is being constructed. The
proposed seaport airport high way, container terminal corridor,
will connect many of the industrial and commercial zones of
Kochi area and bodes the for the
Kochi’s excellent internet connectivityreduce well travel time from the sea port to the
airport by half.
development of the city as an IT/ITES hub. The city is better
connected than most cities in India, Such connectivity has helped
in attracting IT & ITES firms. two new technology-focused SEZs,
Infopark and Smart City will be completed in the short to medium

14. FUTURE PREDICTION FOR WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION
•The reduction in the
agricultural land will reduce
the work force in these
fields.
•By the introduction of
special economic zones
and the growth of informal
sectors the number of
house hold industry
workers will increase.
•The majority of the
workforce will be on it
sector , construction field
and port based activities.
source : cochin cdp
•The expected increase in
the number of workers will
result in an increased need
for housing facilities and an
improved transportation

15. source : cochin cdp

16. VISION FOR FUTURE
CONCLUSION
Kochi blessed with variety of natural
resources,
back
waters,
good
connectivity to other parts of the country
through rail, road , air , and sea have
tremendous potential to grow as an
global city.
The residential sector in the kochin
region should be organised and planned
for the future need.
The near by satallite towns will
influence the growth of kochi. So an
improved rail road connectivity to these
towns are necessary.
SOURCE: www.corporationofcochin.net
The slum formation in the fort kochi
region,
waste
collection
and
management, urban sprawl, traffic
management, deteriorating
canal
transportation systems etc… will be the
major future issues. Efficient planning is

17. REFERENCES
1.Development plan for Kochi city region 2031 prepared by
Department of
Town and Country Planning, Government of Kerala
Volume 1 – Study and Analysis
Volume 2- Development Concepts and Development Strategies
2. www.corporationofcochin.net
3.www.wikipedia.org
4. http://.www.mapsofindia.com/
5.www.googlemaps.com
6.www.gov.kerala.org

18. THANK YOU