Final delimitation of Kochi Corporation divisions mostly sticks to draft notification

The Kerala Delimitation Commission has issued the final notification of the delimited divisions of Kochi Corporation, complete with their new boundaries, and has increased the total number of divisions from 74 to 76, effecting sweeping changes to their existing boundaries and numbers.

Though the delimitation exercise has increased the total number of divisions by only two, it has in the process created multiple new divisions and eliminated a few existing ones, which got subsumed in other divisions following the redrawing of boundaries. Edappally Changampuzha (Division 31), Stadium (34), Puthiya Road (34), Palluruthy East (56), Palluruthy (64), and Mundamveli East (68) are among the new divisions being created. Prior to delimitation, Vaduthala West, Panampilly Nagar, Kathrikadavu, and Ayyappankkavu accounted for these divisions. Post-delimitation, these divisions are now being numbered 24, 50, 13, and 19 respectively.

Earavely (Division 3) and Chambakkara (Division 50) have ceased to exist. Besides, boundaries of most divisions have undergone a sea change. The population of the delimited divisions ranges between 6,500 and 9,000. Island South has the lowest population at 2,651, while Kunnumpuram has the largest population of 9,119.

While the West Kochi region received two new divisions, the Vyttila zone lost one division. Earlier, the divisions were numbered starting from Fort Kochi (Division 1) and ended with Thattazham (74). Now, though it starts with the same Fort Kochi division, it ends with Fort Kochi Veli (76). The numbers of all divisions except Fort Kochi (1), Kalvathy (2), Karipalam (4) and Kochangady (6) have also undergone change.

Stakeholders were given time until December 4, 2024, to submit complaints about the draft notification of the delimitation. Over 1,000 complaints were received regarding the delimitation of wards in 96 local bodies — 82 grama panchayats, 13 municipalities, and Kochi Corporation — in Ernakulam district. The delimitation of wards was primarily carried out based on the 2011 census and the number of existing households. Most complaints concerned variations in the number of households and the boundaries of the delimited wards. Since then, the Delimitation Commission has held hearings to address the complaints.

Published - May 29, 2025 08:59 pm IST