Kochi Municipal Corporation

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Kochi Municipal Corporation
File:Logo of Corporation of Cochin.jpg


Logo of Kochi Municipal Corporation


Type Municipal Corporation


Term limits 5 years
Mayor Adv.Minimol V K
Deputy Mayor Deepak Joy
Leader of Opposition
Municipal Corporation Secretary P.S.Shibu[1]


Structure Template:Switcher






Meeting place Old Corporation Office at Park Avenue, Ernakulam
Session room Kochi Municipal Corporation IMG 20180916 140014.jpg
Website Template:Url

The Kochi Municipal Corporation is the municipal corporation that governs the Indian city of Kochi in the state of Kerala. The Corporation manages 94.88 km2 of Kochi city and has a population of 677,381[2] within that area. It is the most densely populated city corporation in the state.[3] Kochi Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.

History

The port at Kozhikode held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, Kollam, and Kochi, were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.[4] The arrival of the Portuguese at Kappad, Kozhikode in 1498, during the Age of Discovery, opened a direct sea route from Europe to India.[5] However with the arrival of Portuguese, the power of Zamorin began to decline and Kochi began to emerge as the largest port city on the coast.[6]

The map of Fort Kochi Municipality under the Dutch rule with Fort Stormburg (Kochi Fort)

The Fort Kochi had its first municipality established under Dutch influence on 18 April 1664 which was limited within Dutch occupied Kochi Stormburg Fort (Immanuel Fort), which was the oldest municipality in the Indian sub-continent. However, with the handing over of Kochi to the British as part of Anglo-Dutch treaty, the municipality of Fort Kochi was disbanded and much of the local administration were then carried out by Pandara officials (Revenue department of Cochin Kingdom). The Ernakulam town was under the direct protection of the British Resident of Kochi. A municipality under the chairmanship of British Resident was commissioned in 1823 to administer Ernakulam town. However it didn't have local representation, rather constituted by military officials of the British East India Company.

Fort Kochi, which was a part of Malabar District until 1956, was made a municipality on 1 November 1866, along with Kannur, Thalassery, Kozhikode, and Palakkad, according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850)[7][8][9][10] of the British Indian Empire. Its first Municipal Council seating contest was conducted in 1883. This was first modern municipality in the region and also the first native (not under British India) municipality of the country. Much of Kochi's progress in local administration came under reign of Maharaja Rama Varma along with support of Diwan Sankunni Menon. In the year 1873, Mattancherry areas were demarcated out of Fort Kochi and a new municipal board was formed. In 1896, the Maharaja announced establishment of a municipal board for Ernakulam town, constituted by 4 members from palace, 2 members from local communities, one Englishman and 2 members from other religious minorities. The mayor was nominated by Maharaja. These were the first steps towards establishing a modern municipalities in the city.

After independence, these 3 municipalities remained and was brought under Indian laws. In 1956 the erstwhile Elamkulam Panchayat and a portion of Cheranallur Panchayat (Pachalam - Vaduthala) were amalgamated to the Ernakulam Municipality. In 1962 a portion of Palluruthy Panchayat (Mundamveli area) was amalgamated to the then Mattancherry Municipality. Edappally Panchayat was formed in 1946 and Palluruthy and Vyttila in 1953. The idea behind the formation of Kochi Municipal Corporation[11] was first shaped in the Mattancherry Municipal Council. The Council passed a resolution requesting the Government to form Cochin Municipal Corporation amalgamating the Municipalities of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, on 9 July 1960. However, the erstwhile Fort Kochi Municipal Council was strongly opposed to this proposal.

Kerala State Assembly approved the proposal of Cochin Municipal Corporation. The Government of Kerala, as per their order G.O. (MS) 276/67/DD dt. 27/9/67, notified the formation of the Municipal Corporation of Kochi by amalgamating the three historical Municipalities of the state (Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi) with the Willingdon Island, four Panchayats (Palluruthy, Vennala, Vyttila and Edappally) and the small islands of Gundu Dweepu, Ramanthuruth. The new Corporation came into existence on 1 November 1967, having a total area of 83.524 km2. The name of the Corporations was later changed to Kochi Municipal Corporation, to reflect the local name.

Structure

The corporation is headed by a mayor. The current mayor is VK Minimol of the Indian National Congress, seconded by Deepak Joy as Deputy Mayor. Former mayors and deputy mayors include Mercy Williams and C.K. Manisankar. The city is divided into 76 administrative wards, from which the members of the corporation council are elected for a period of five years. The corporation has its central office situated in Ernakulam and has zonal offices at Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Palluruthy, Edappally, Vaduthala and Vyttila.

For the purpose of administration, the corporation is divided into different departments, each catering to a different aspect of the city's development and welfare. The corporation secretary, appointed by the Government of Kerala, is the head of the administrative wing of the Kochi Municipal Corporation and oversees its administrative affairs. The Personal Department takes care of the general administration of the city. The various departments include that of Town Planning, Health, Engineering, Revenue, Accounts and the Council Section. The corporation has a Janasevanakendram (meaning centre for people's service), that addresses the issues of the public. The corporation also operates eight maternity and child welfare centers in the city.

Wards

After the ward delimitation in 2025, the number of wards in Kochi Municipal Corporation increased from 74 to 76.[12][13]

Office holders

Kochi Municipal Corporation — Office Holders (2025–2030)[14]
Office Name Notes
Mayor V. K. Minimol

(INC)

Elected Mayor; serving first half of term after 2025 council elections; Councillor from Palarivattom division
Deputy Mayor Deepak Joy

(INC)

Elected Deputy Mayor; serving first part of term.
Chairperson, Finance Standing Committee Deepak Joy Deputy mayor Ex officio
Chairperson, Development Standing Committee Shakrutha

(INC)

[15]
Chairperson, Welfare Standing Committee Antony Painuthara

(INC)

[15]
Chairperson, Health Standing Committee Seena Teacher

(INC)

[16]
Public Works Standing Committee Ashraf T. K.

(IUML)

[15]
Town Planning Standing Committee Adv. P.M. Naseema

(INC)

[15]
Tax Appeal Standing Committee K.A. Manaf

(INC)

[15]
Education & Sports Standing Committee Jismi Gerald

(INC)

[15]
Corporation Secretary P.S. Shibu Official appointed by the Government of Kerala.[17]

Executive Officers

Kochi Municipal Corporation Leadership
Position Name Division Party Alliance
Mayor Adv. Minimol V. K. Palarivattom (33) Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Deputy Mayor Deepak Joy Ayyappankavu (19) Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color

Current members

The 76 wards of the Kochi Municipal Corporation and their councillors are listed below in the serial wise order.[18]

Assembly Ward Details Councillor Party Alliance Remarks
No. Name
Kochi 1 Fort Kochi Shiny Mathew Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color Mayor-designate (Term 2)
2 Kalvathy Fausia Mohammed Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
3 Earavely Rahina Rafeeq Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
4 Karippalam Manaf K. A. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
5 Cheralayi Pravitha Vijayakumar Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
6 Mattanchery Sheeja Navas Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
7 Chakkamadam Suhana Subair Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
8 Karuvelippady Kavitha Harikumar Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Ernakulam 9 Island North Padmakumari T. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
10 Ravipuram S. Sashikala Template:Party name with color Template:Party color cell
11 Ernakulam South K. V. P. Krishnakumar Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color Deputy Mayor-designate (Term 2)
12 Gandhi Nagar Nirmala Teacher Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
13 Kathrikadavu Riya Lawrence Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
14 Ernakulam Central Sudha Dileepkumar Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
15 Ernakulam North Augustine Sebastian P. M. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
16 Kaloor South Aristotle M. G. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Thrikkakara 17 Kaloor North Ashraf T. K. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Ernakulam 18 Thrikkanarvattom Dr. Jalaja S. Acharya Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
19 Ayyappankavu Deepak Joy Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color Deputy Mayor
20 Pottakuzhy Brigith Ashin Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
21 Elamakkara South V. R. Sudheer Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
22 Pachalam Albert Ambalathingal Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
23 Thattazham Sibi John Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
24 Vaduthala West Jismi Gerald Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
25 Vaduthala East Henry Austin Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
26 Elamakkara North Beena Mahesh Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
27 Puthukkalavattam Seena Teacher Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
28 Kunnumpuram Jagadambika Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Thrikkakara 29 Ponekkara Nimmi Mariyam Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
30 Edappally Abdul Latheef Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
31 Changampuzha Sini Anand Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
32 Dhevankulangara Vijayakumar Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
33 Palarivattom Adv. Minimol V. K. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color Mayor
34 Stadium Adv. Deepthi Mary Varghese Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
35 Karanakkodam Girly Robert Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
36 Puthiyaroad Molly Charlie Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
37 Padivattam Shibi Soman Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
38 Vennala Sabu Koroth Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
39 Chakkaraparambu Adv. P. M. Naseema Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
40 Chalikkavattam Bindu Viju Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
41 Thammanam Divya Rajesh Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
42 Elamkulam Nisha P. D. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
43 Girinagar P. D. Martin Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
44 Ponnurunni M. X. Sebastian Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
45 Ponnurunni East Beena Divakaran Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
46 Vyttila V. P. Chandran Template:Party name with color Template:Party name with color UDF Independent
47 Poonithura Xavier P. Antony Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
48 Vyttila Janatha Anju K. Thankachan Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
49 Kadavanthra Jison George Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
50 Panampilly Nagar Antony Painuthara Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Ernakulam 51 Perumanoor K. X. Francis Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
52 Konthuruthy Abhishek K. S. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
53 Thevara Elizabeth Teacher Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
54 Island South Shakrutha Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Thrippunithura 55 Kadebhagam Ashwathi Joshi Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
56 Palluruthy East N. P. Shanthini Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
57 Thazhuppu Sujatha Sabu Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
58 Eadakochi North K. J. Basil Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
59 Edakochi South Lasitha Peter Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
60 Perumbadappu Likitha N. X. Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
61 Konam C. R. Biju Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
62 Palluruthy Kacheripady V. A. Sreejith Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
63 Nambyapuram Rashida Hussain Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
Kochi 64 Palluruthy Geetha Prabhakaran Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
65 Pullardesam Hema Teacher Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
66 Tharebhagam Lavitha Nelson Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
67 Thoppumpady Joseph Sumith Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
68 Mundamvely East K. J. Prakashan Template:Full party name with color OTH
69 Mundamvely Lisi Sumi Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
70 Manassery Nisha Joseph Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
71 Moolamkuzhy Joseph Fernandes (Josykutty) Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
72 Chullickal Bastin Babu Template:Party name with color Template:Party name with color UDF Independent
73 Nasrathu Yesudas (P. J. Dasan) Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
74 Panayappilly Aswathy Gireesh Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
75 Amaravathy Adv. Priya Prashanth Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color
76 Fortkochi Veli Manjula Anil Kumar Template:Full party name with color Template:Party name with color

Ward Breakdown by Assembly Constituency

Assembly Constituency Total Wards UDF LDF NDA OTH Leading Alliance
Thrikkakara 23 22 1 0 0 UDF
Ernakulam 23 15 4 3 1 UDF
Kochi 21 10 7 3 1 UDF
Thrippunithura 9 1 8 0 0 LDF
Total 76 48 20 6 2 UDF

Demography

The Kochi City has a population of 596,473 as per Indian Census 2001. Kochi witnessed a rapid population growth during the past 30 years. The average decadal growth in Kochi Corporation is 7.83% whereas the nearby municipal areas registered decadal average of 18.65%, and the adjoining panchayaths had an average decadal growth of 12.13%. The Sub-urban areas around the city is showing high rate of population growth and also fast developing trends. The literacy rate is 95.5%.

Revenue sources

The following are the Income sources for the Corporation from the Central and State Government.[19][20][21]

Revenue from taxes

Following is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.

  • Property tax.
  • Profession tax.
  • Entertainment tax.
  • Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax.
  • Advertisement tax.

Revenue from non-tax sources

Following is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.

  • Water usage charges.
  • Fees from Documentation services.
  • Rent received from municipal property.
  • Funds from municipal bonds.
  • Fees and user charges
  • Sale and hire charges

Election history

Corporation Election 2025

S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators Change Map
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|1. UDF 48 Template:Increase 18
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|2. LDF 20 Template:Decrease 9
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|3. BJP 06 Template:Increase 1
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|4. IND 02 Template:Decrease 8

Corporation Election 2020

S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators Change
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|1. UDF 30 Template:Decrease 8
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|2. LDF Error creating thumbnail: 29 Template:Increase 6
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|3. OTHERS Error creating thumbnail: 10 Template:Decrease 1
! style="text-align:center; background:Template:Party color;color:white"|4. BJP Error creating thumbnail: 05 Template:Increase 3

2015 Local body elections

Soumini Jain from the Indian National Congress served as the mayor of Kochi Corporation in 2015.[22][23][24][25] On the council, Soumini represented the municipal corporation's 36th division (Elamkulam).[26]

S.No. Political Front/Party Number of Corporators
1 United Democratic Front (UDF) 38
2 Left Democratic Front (LDF) 23
3 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 02
4 Others 11

Issues

One of the main issues that the Kochi Municipal Corporation faces is that much of the modern city has developed outside the official city limits which was last defined in 1967. As a result, the extended urban agglomeration grew much more than any other city of India, leaving the corporation dry in resources. As Kochi is a major industry and thriving modern port-city, it required much more strong leadership and plans, which till now never materialized. The city grew in unplanned way without any masterplan creating more problems. As most of the town-planning agencies like transport, electricity, water distribution were managed by Kerala Government, the Kochi Corporation failed in co-ordinating various agencies implementing various projects. Apart from all these, much of the infrastructural development funds for the city were given to Greater Cochin Development Authority which often creates administrative clashes and issues over implementation.

One of the major issue which the city faced earlier was waste management which aggravated in 2002, which was partially solved by commissioning of the Brahmapuram Waste Management Plant in 2008. However this was gradually converted into a dumping yard. In 2023, a major fire broke out at the Brahmapuram plant resulting in major parts of Kochi city getting engulfed in smoke.[27]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://kochicorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in/en/secretary/370
  2. ↑ Profile of Kochi. Kochi Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Official Website of Coorporation of Cochin. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  4. ↑ The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)
  5. ↑ DC Books, Kottayam (2007), A. Sreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History
  6. ↑ DC Books, Kottayam (2007), A. Shreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History
  7. ↑ CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF CENTRAL ACTS (Updated up to 17-10-2014). Lawmin.nic.in. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  8. ↑ Imperial Census of 1881 Operations and Results in the Presidency of Madras{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. E.Keys at the Government Press(1883)
  9. ↑ Madras District Gazetteers, Statistical Appendix For Malabar District.{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. The Superintendent, Government Press(1915)
  10. ↑ Imperial Gazetteer of India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Clarendon Press(1908–1909)
  11. ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  12. ↑ Kochi Municipal Corporation; Wards - Kerala State Election Commission.
  13. ↑ 38 divisions in Kochi Corporation reserved for women after fresh draw of lots. The Hindu(2025-11-05). Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  14. ↑ Corporation of Kochi.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Standing committee members - Kochi Corporation.
  16. ↑ കൊച്ചി കോർപറേഷൻ; മത്സരമില്ല, സ്ഥിരംസമിതി അംഗങ്ങളായി | Kochi Corporation; No contest, standing committee members appointed | Madhyamam, ലേഖിക, സ്വന്തം. www.madhyamam.com(2026-01-08). Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  17. ↑ https://kochicorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in/en/secretary/370
  18. ↑ 2025 Kerala local election results.
  19. ↑ Why civic bodies in India need municipal bonds(3 December 2020). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  20. ↑ Municipal corporations under severe strain as revenues sink: RBI Report(2 December 2021). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  21. ↑ If cities are to deliver better quality life, need to have business models which are sustainable(17 May 2022). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  22. ↑ CORPORATION | Ernakulam District Website | India. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  23. ↑ Thiruvananthapuram: Soumini Jain sails through for now. Deccan Chronicle(2019-10-31). Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  24. ↑ Soumini Jain to step down; Shiny likely to be next Kochi mayor. The New Indian Express(7 December 2019). Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  25. ↑ Soumini Jain to be Kochi Mayor. The Hindu(2015-11-18). Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  26. ↑ Anil Kumar likely to be Kochi Mayor, Ansiya Deputy Mayor. Manorama(2020-12-27).
  27. ↑ Toxic fumes continue to engulf Kochi nearly 3 days into fire at Brahmapuram waste plant. The Indian Express(2023-03-05). Retrieved 2023-03-06.

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