Journal of Global Resources
Volume 5 (02)
July 2019
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 41-48

06
TREND OF URBANISATION IN ERNAKULAM WITH RESPECT TO KERALA
Arya Lekshmi1, P. T. and Lancelet, T.S2.
Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, SSUS, Kalady, Kerala, India
2
Professor, Dept. of Geography, SSUS, Kalady, Kerala, India
Email: aryalekshmipt8@gmail.com

1

Abstract: Urbanisation is a global spatial phenomenon. As per United Nations Population
Division, more than half of the world population lives in urban areas. There are significant
regional variations in urban experiences. It is in this context that, the urbanisation trends ofKerala, with its unique settlement pattern and diverse socio economic characteristics, stands
out as a question before urban Geographers. This paper tries to bring forth the unique urban
pattern of Ernakulam, a district of Kerala, in relation to that of the state. Ernakulam witnessed
greater degree of urbanisation during 2001 – 2011 periods. The urban growth is accentuatedby increasing number of small and medium towns, which points to the spatial dispersal ofurban amenities in Kerala. The urban – rural ratio of Ernakulam is 213.19, which indicatesthat the possibility of a total urbanisation of the district is not too far-off. The study identified
that Kochi with its emerging IT, transport, industrial, commercial and entertainment sector
acts as a growth pole for the urbanisation of Ernakulam as well as central Kerala.
Key words: Degree of Urbanisation, Urban-Rural Ratio, Rural-Urban Continuum
Introduction
Urbanisation is a spatial phenomenon involving accumulation of population, structuraltransformation and socio-psychological change affecting both people and places (Siddhartha
and Mukherjee, 2016). It can also be defined as the spatial concentration of population andnon-farm economic activities. It is a long term process which reflects spatially and temporally.
This process of becoming rural to urban takes place in varied pace and patterns in different
regions. The study of urbanisation occupies paramount importance in the developmental
studies of any area. Urbanisation is a global spatial phenomenon. As per United Nations
Population Division, more than half of the world population lives in urban areas. Rampant
and uncontrolled urbanisation leads to many positive as well as negative consequences in
economy, environment and society. So monitoring and understanding the trend of
urbanisation in a timely manner is crucial to any development plan. India is at “acceleratingstage in the process of urbanisation” (Kumar and Rai, 2014). A proper understanding ofurban dynamics in a diverse country like India can be accomplished only with a regional
study. It is in this context that, the urbanisation trends of Kerala, with its unique settlement
pattern and diverse socio economic characteristics, stands out as a question before urban
Geographers.
The urbanisation experiences of Kerala are different from the rest of India. Kerala
recorded rapid urbanisation recently. The spatial manifestation of urban growth in Kerala isalso very distinct from the remaining parts of the country. The socio – economic conditionsand “better diffusion of urban features over space” has “led to a neither rural nor urban”
spatial pattern in Kerala (Sreekumar, 1990). It is hard to demarcate between rural and urban
areas of Kerala. Among the districts, Ernakulam with 68 percent of urban population is themost urbanised. Hence, a study of various aspects urbanisation of the state with special
emphasis on Ernakulam seems quite relevant. This paper tries to unfold the unique urban
pattern of Ernakulam, a district of Kerala, in relation to that of the state. The study uses urban
growth rate, rural growth rate, Urban – Rural ratio and growth rate of new urban centres astools to unwind the process, trend and degree of Urbanisation in the study area.

41

Study area
The paper discusses the urbanisation pattern of Ernakulam, a south Indian district in thestate of Kerala. The district covers an area of 3063 sq.km and supports a total population of
3282388. It comprises 7 taluks and 124 villages. It extends from 9° 42’ 30” N to 10° 18’ N
latitudes and 76° 12’ E to 76 ° 36’ E longitudes. The district constitutes 7.89 percent of thetotal area of Kerala and ranks the third highly populated district in the state. Ernakulam has atropical humid climate with an annual rainfall varying between 250 cm to 360 cm (Natural
Resources Data book, Kerala State Land Use Board, 2012). The physiographic divisions of
the district comprises of an extensive coastal plain in the West, a midland of rolling
topography with dissected lateritic plateaus and very gentle slope and a highland region withgeneral elevation rising above 70 meter from mean sea level in the east. The district isdrained by two rivers namely, Periyar and Muvattupuzha and a network of canals andbackwaters. All the villages of the district are electrified and it uses up the major share of
power produced in the state (Natural Resource Data book, Kerala State Land Use Board,2012). In 1990, Ernakulam became the first fully literate district in the whole country of India.
The district has a good network of transportation and communication. Besides, it houses the
Cochin port, Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, National Highways, and National
Waterway: 3, and the Kochi Metro Rail network. Ernakulam is popularly known as the‘commercial capital of Kerala’. The availability of power supply, skilled labour, transportation
network, the coastline and the port has paved the way for industrial growth in the district.
The location of the selected area of study is shown in figure 01.
Figure 01: 1 Location Map - Ernakulam

Objectives
This paper attempts to examine the growth, pattern and trend of urbanisation in Ernakulam in
relation to that of Kerala for a period from 1901–2011. The specific objectives include: To compare the volume and trend of urbanisation in Ernakulam and Kerala for theperiod 1901–2011.
 To examine the recent trend in the emergence of new urban centres.
 To find out the degree of urbanisation attained by the district of Ernakulam from 1901
to 2011.

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Materials and Methods
As the paper highlights demographic characteristics, the study is based on Census data ofvarious years supplemented by District Urbanisation Report 2011, issued by Department ofTown and Country Planning and Economic Review Report published by State Planning
Board. For comparing the volume and trend of urbanisation of Ernakulam and the state ofKerala, the decadal urban population growth rate for the period 1901–2011 was computed.
The decadal growth in number of towns for the period 1991–2011 was also taken into
account and represented using bar diagram to show the astounding increase in medium andsmall towns. The degree of urbanisation of Ernakulam for the period 1901 - 2011 wasmeasured using indices such as percent urban, percent rural and urban – rural ratio.
Urban Percent = (Urban Population/Total Population)*100
Rural Percent = (Rural Population/Total Population)*100
Urban – Rural Ratio = (Urban Population/Rural Population)*100
Later, the results are expressed with the help of tables and diagrams to discuss the urban
trends of the study area.
Results and Discussions
Urbanisation of Kerala shows its own peculiarities from the rest of India. The lack of marked
distinction between rural and urban areas is a salient feature of urbanisation in Kerala. Thiscan be attributed to the spatial pattern of settlements existing in the state. Kerala exhibits acontinuous spread of settlements rather than those separated with open lands or fields(Economic Review, State Planning Board, 2016). This congested pattern is clearly visible
along transport nodes and networks. This unique spatial form projects most parts of Kerala
as an urban centre in it. Ernakulum is the most urbanised (68.07 percent) district of Kerala(Census of India, 2011). It is, thus interesting to study the volume and trend of urbanisationof Ernakulam with respect to Kerala. There are several methods to study urban growth andtrends. But demographic parameters occupy the prime position in any urban study.
According to Bocquier and Costa (2015), “urban transition is the spatial manifestation ofchanging relationships between demographic and economic systems”.
Comparative Population Growth Trend of Kerala and Ernakulam
The table: 1 shows the comparative statistics of total population in the state of Kerala andErnakulam district from 1901 to 2011 census. Even though Kerala experiences a gradual riseand fall of population throughout the last century, the population growth of Ernakulam shows
a fluctuating tendency and an abrupt decrease after the 1970s. Generally, the population
growth is on a declining trend. The fall in the growth rate of Kerala after 1991 is due to the
population policies and family planning schemes implemented by Government of Kerala,besides the state’s achievements in education and health care sectors.

Year
1901
1911
1921
1931
1941
1951
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2011

Table: 1 Decadal Variation in Population (1901-2011)
KeralaErnakulam
Total Population

Decadal Growth Rate

Total Population

Decadal Growth Rate

6396262714767378021279507050
11031541
13549118
16903715
21347375
25453680
29098518
31841374
33406061---+11.75+9.16+21.85+16.04+22.82+24.76+26.29+19.24+14.32+9.43
4.91

6462617352977893439827691172335
1393730
1698575
2383178253529428172363105798
3282388

13.78
7.35
24.5
19.29
18.88
21.87
40.3
17.18
11.12
10.24
5.69

Source: Census of India, Various Issues.

43

Figure 02: Decadal Variation in Growth Rate of Population, 1901-2011

Decadal Variation in Growth Rate ofPopulation(1901-2011)
Growth Rate

50
40
30
20
10
0
1901

1911

1921

1931

1941

1951

1961

1971

1981

1991

2001

2011

Year
Kerala decadal growth rateernakulam decadal growth rate

The abrupt changes in population growth rate of Ernakulam during 1971-81 period isdue to major jurisdictional alterations undergone by the district. Idukki district was formed in1972 by annexing Thodupuzha, a moderate densely populated taluk from Ernakulam district.
Besides, Kothamangalam taluk was newly demarcated in Ernakulam during this period.
Volume and Trend of Urbanisation: Kerala and Ernakulam
Table 02 exhibits the volume and growth of urban populace in both the state of Kerala andErnakulam district. In the state, the major shift in urban growth happened in the last decade(2001-2011), where the urban diaspora has almost doubled (47.7 percent) from the previous
census year (25.97 percent in 2001). Ernakulam registered about 43 percent increase inurban population in 2011 than from 2001.
Table 02: Comparison on trend of urbanisation: Kerala and Ernakulam
Year

Urban Population
KeralaPercentage Urban
Population Kerala

Urban Population
Ernakulam

Percentage Urban
Population Ernakulam

1901
1911
1921
1931
1941
1951
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2011

454499
5,24,661
6,80,900
9,16,330
11,95,550
18,25,832
25,54,141
34,66,449
47,71,275
76,80,294
82,66,925
1,59,34,926

7.11
7.34
8.73
9.64
10.84
13.48
15.11
16.24
18.74
26.39
25.97
47.7

74198
87353
96492
1505791898092619233953106360101002892
137317714770852234363

11.48
11.88
12.22
15.32
16.19
18.79
23.27
26.69
39.56
48.74
47.56
68.07

Source: Census of India, 2011

Growth in the Number of Towns: Comparison
Another significant characteristic of urbanisation in Kerala is the growth in the number oftowns. Generally, urbanisation is defined as the progressive concentration of population in
urban areas (Davis, 1965). However, in the context of Kerala, urbanisation cannot be viewed
as the product of accumulation of population in its major existing cities alone, which is called
the incremental component of urbanisation (Sreekumar, 1990). But the unique Kerala patternreveals that it is mainly due to increase in the number of new urban centres (extensional
component) as well as due to urbanisation of the periphery of existing urban centre, which isalso termed as ‘urban sprawl’ (Economic Review, State Planning Board, 2016). This isclearly evident from the figure 03 shown below.
44

Figure 03: Growth in Towns (1991-2001): Kerala & Ernakulam

Growth in Towns (1991-2001): Kerala & Ernakulam
Number of Towns

600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1991

2001

2011

Cenus Year
KeralaErnakulam

Kerala set a shocking record of about 227 percent increase in urban centres (520) in2011 census from the previous census (159 in 2001). The same trend is also seen in
Ernakulam, though in moderate numbers. Here, the number of towns doubled from 25 in2001 to 56 in 2011. A slight decrease in urban centres is also observed during 1991 to 2001,
that is, from 197 to 159. This was because of declassification of 42 towns in 2001 census
and merging of 16 census towns in Trissur, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram corporations. At
the same time, 18 towns were newly identified. The alarming rise in urban centres recently,
points to the unique spatial pattern of settlements and the settlement behaviour of thepeople. It is inferred that people tends to avoid congested metro cities and prefer to reside in
peripheries and in small and medium towns. A fairly well-developed transport network,
presence of education, health care and other basic amenities in every small towns of Kerala
led to this scattered settlement pattern in the state. This is the reason why a rural – urban
polarisation is absent in Kerala paving way to a rural – urban continuum. Rural – Urban
Continuum is a situation where “emerging spatial form is neither rural nor urban “,(Sreekumar, 1990). According to Chattopadhyay (1995), “settlements of Kerala do not haveany distinct core, nor do the villages have any marked nodality”. The rural to urban
boundaries in Kerala seem to be “more imaginary than real. This kind of settlement pattern iscalled as Rural –Urban continuum (Firoz, 2014).
Process of Urbanisation: Ernakulam district
The figure 04 depicts the process of urbanisation in Ernakulam district. It is evident thatduring 2001–2011, the graph of urban growth shows a precipitous increase, while total
population is on a steady rise. For the first time, the urban population of Ernakulam
constituted the lion’s share (68.07 percent) of the total people and thus became the mosturbanised state in Kerala. In 2001 census period, this position was held by Kannur district
with 50 percent of urban population.
Degree of Urbanisation: Ernakulam
The degree of urbanisation refers to the relative number of people who live in urban areas(Datta, 2006). The variables used in measuring the degree or the level of urbanisation are
Urban Percent [(urban population/total population)*100], rural percent [(rural population/total
population)*100] and urban – rural ratio [(urban population/rural population)*100]. The urban– rural (U/R) ratio ranges from 0 to infinity, i.e., 0< U/R< ∞. When the entire people are rural
dwellers, then U/R ratio becomes zero. When the urban population equals the total
population, then the U/R ratio tends to infinity. The degree of urbanisation of Ernakulam isshowed in table: 3. It is clear that the urban – rural ratio took a dramatic turn after 2001. Thisis represented graphically in figure 05.

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Figure 04: Process of Urbanisation in Ernakulam district

Year
1901
1911
1921
1931
1941
1951
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2011

Table 03: Degree of Urbanisation in Ernakulam, 1901-2011
Urban Percent
Rural Percent
Urban - Rural Ratio
11.48
88.52
12.97
11.88
88.12
13.48
12.22
87.78
13.92
15.32
84.68
18.09
16.19
83.81
19.32
18.79
81.21
23.14
23.27
76.73
30.33
26.69
73.31
36.41
39.56
60.44
65.45
48.74
51.26
95.08
47.56
52.44
90.69
68.07
31.93
213.19Source: Calculated by author using various census data

Percent Urban, Percent Rural,
Urban-Rural Ratio

Figure 05: Degree of Urbanisation in Ernakulam

Degree of Urbanisation(1901-2011): Ernakulam
250
200
150
100
50
0
1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

Census year
Urban Percent

Rural Percent

Urban - Rural Ratio

The urban – rural ratio represents the number of urbanites per each rural person withina unit of area. The U/R ratio for Ernakulam in 2011 is around 213, which implies that forevery 100 rural persons, there are 213 urbanites in the district. This high ratio indicates that
Ernakulam is fast heading towards a complete urbanisation. Many factors can be cited as thereason for this remarkable growth of urbanisation in the district. These factors can be
categorised into historical factors and recent factors, that is, after 2001. Historically, the46

district’s development gained a lot from the strategic position of Kochi port in the Western
coast of India. With the development of the port in post-colonial period, Kochi rose toprominence as a centre of trade, commerce and many industries. Thus Ernakulam came tobe known as the commercial capital of Kerala. Kochi grew at an accelerated pace than any
other urban centres of the state, which in turn, the urban transformation of the whole district.
However, rather than acting as a magnet that attracts population into the inner city, Kochi
Urban Agglomeration(UA) expands spatially “by annexing adjacent small towns andperipheral areas into its sphere of influence” (Aleyamma M P, 2010). Kalamassery, Eloor andAluva are some of the industrial centres in the district.
After 2001, the district experienced a surge in the degree of urbanisation. Construction
boom in Ernakulam started during the previous decade, especially increase in verticalstructures, that is, high rise buildings and apartments (Aleyamma M P, 2010). During thisperiod, small and medium towns of the district like Perumbavoor, Kalady, Aluva andAngamali became the preferred destination of interstate migrant workers. This has altered
the demographic structure of the district. The major in-migrant influx into the district started
after 2000, when Kochi emerged as an important hub of IT, particularly after theestablishment of Info Park at Kakkanad in 2004. This has resulted in age selective migrationof young and educated group into the district. In addition to these, many other factors like,the opening of international container trans-shipment terminal at Vallarpadom, new transportmodes like airport, metro rail, water metro, new business centres like shopping malls,
renovation of heritage centres and boost in entertainment sector like tourism and media in
the recent decade also gave impetus to the rapid urbanisation of the district.
This rapid urban growth leads to many positive as well as negative consequences.
Along with economic growth, regional development, rise in employment opportunities anddiffusion of infrastructure facilities, the hasty urbanisation of an entire district will also create
many undesirable effects which shall not be overlooked. There will be critical scarcity of land
for future developments which will be reflected in the rising land value of the area. Gradually,
only high class affluent community can afford to settle in the district forcing the middle classand marginalised community to migrate from the district, paving way for gentrification. The
proliferation of impervious concrete structures over the natural land cover can result into
grave situations like acute scarcity of drinking water, ground water depletion and increased
flood vulnerability. The repercussions of the great August deluge of 2018, that shook entire
Kerala, in the highly inhabited areas of Aluva and Kochi is a lesson that Kerala should neverfail to remember. Reclamation of wetlands and cultivable land in the name of green field
construction activities will ultimately result in food scarcity. The disproportionate increase of
motor vehicles to the road density is the main reason of traffic congestion. Like any othertowns in the world, the question of urban sewage and waste disposal is a serious concern in
Ernakulam too. According to the State Pollution Control Board action plan (2010), there are
83 red category industries in Kochi Metropolitan area, of which, 95 percent are situated at
Eloor – Edayar and Ambalamugal industrial cluster alone. Around 260 million litres of tradeeffluents reach the backwaters of Kochi per day. All these after effects validate thatunchecked urbanisation have far reaching and long term negative consequences. Therefore,
timely uncompromising urban planning is the need of the hour.
Conclusion
Urban growth pattern of Kerala shows some distinguishable features. Kerala witnesses
unprecedented urbanisation since 2001. The urban inhabitants has almost doubled (47.7
percent) in the state of Kerala during the period 2001-2011. Simultaneously, Ernakulam
registered 43 percent in growth rate in urban population during 2001-11. The Kerala patternof urban growth discloses that urbanisation is the outcome of extensional components suchas emergence of new urban centres and urbanisation of peripheries of existing town. This isevident from the 227 percent increase in urban centres in 2011 census from that of 2001. In
2011, with 68.07 percent urban populace, Ernakulam became the most urbanised district ofKerala. The Urban – Rural Ratio of Ernakulam unveils that for every 100 rural people, there
are 213 urbanites in the district. Both historical and recent factors can be attributed to thissurge in urban growth. Historical reasons include ancient trade, propinquity of a natural
harbour, European colonial trade interests, and the development of Kochi port. Moreover,47

recent developments like post-independence plan measures, high literacy rate, construction
boom, establishment of International Container Terminal, Airport, Mobility Hub, Metro Rail,Info Park, Export Processing Zone, Industrial Estates, blooming of entertainment and media
sector and commercial centres like malls etc. have favoured the fast urbanisation of
Ernakulam.
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