A decade ago, a Delhi- based economic research and data analysis firm put Kozhikode among the top 10 liveable cities in the country. Kochi topped the chart in the ranking based on key indicators such as health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment.
But now Kozhikode is nowhere in the list of 111 cities in the Ease of Living Index 2018 brought out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Kochi has been placed in the 45th position and Thiruvananthapuram in the 71st position in the ranking based on the performance on four different parameters such as institutions or governance, social indicators, economic indicators and physical infrastructure.
Cities have been classified under various categories based on the population — over 40 lakh; between 10 and 40 lakh; between 10 and 5 lakh and less than 5 lakh. Kozhikode falls in the third category along with Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Several two-tier and three-tier cities in southern States have entered the list.
Previously, Kozhikode had failed to get selected in the list of Smart City Mission - another flagship urban programme of the Centre. Incidentally Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram from the State got selected to be developed as smart cities.
The Ease of Living framework was done in a comprehensive manner covering all the critical pillars of urban development - physical, institutional, social and economical. Nearly 78 indicators across 15 categories — governance, identity and culture, education, health, safety and security, economy, affordable housing, land use planning, public open spaces, transportation and mobility, assured water supply, waste water management, solid waste management, power, and quality of environment — were used to determine the ranking.
Kozhikode has to enhance its capabilities in housing and inclusiveness, public open spaces, mixed land use, waste water management and solid waste management. Interestingly, Kozhikode is one of the cities in the State that has an urban master plan.
