Multiple factors including intra-State migration and variation in the land use following the boom in real estate have made Kozhikode the fastest growing urban district in the State.
The latest district spatial plan prepared by the Department of Town and Country Planning showed that the percentage of urban population is 67.15 while the State average is 47.72%. “The process of urbanisation here is faster than other districts,” says Regional Town Planner K.V. Abdul Malik.
Besides the inclusion of peripheral area with pronounced urban characteristics as urban outgrowths, the formation of new municipal towns and census towns in the State has contributed to this urban content.
Of the 30,86,293 population in Kozhikode, the urban population is 20,74,778. However, the growth rate of the district has declined from 16.69% in 1991 to 9.89% in 2001 and 7.33% in 2011.
Industrial factor
Mr. Malik said that at least 30 local government areas are expected to be urbanised in the next decade based on their physical and economical developments. Two important industrial projects in the district, industrial township at Kinaloor-Panangad gramapanchayat and IT Park at Palazhi-Kozhikode Corporation, boost urbanisation.
The development of IT Park will accelerate urban development in the corporation area and the industrial township will contribute to the development of Panangad and Balussery grama panchayats.
He said the future urban scenario of the district is predicted based on the Census 2011, grade of local governments, impact of urban development projects, cumulative functional index, existing and proposed hierarchy of settlements, and the existing municipalities and corporation.
The urban areas of the district show higher growth rate of population whereas the rural areas surrounding the urban areas show significantly lower growth rate indicating possible migration of people to the urban areas from the surrounding rural settlements. Most of these local self-government institutions are located mainly along the coastal line, along the National Highway and a few along the State Highways.
The study of the future urbanisation profile of the district reveals that in addition to the existing urban local bodies, Olavanna, Peruvayal, Kunnamangalam, Chathamangalam, Chelannur and Kadalundy may become urban in the next 10 years. Further, seven local bodies, namely Azhiyur, Perambra, Villiapally, Balussery, Atholy, Eramala, Mavoor and Chemanchery, are expected to become urban by 2031.
