Urban Agglomeration (Extended Metropolisation) in a coastal ecosystem and the challenges of resilient urban development: The Case of Kochi Urban Agglomeration
Metropolitan regions also called urban agglomeration are growing faster and extending into the vast hinterlands through sprawl in India. Kerala has witnessed these extended urban metropolisation during the recent decades as there are seven such cities in close proximities in a high-density coastal ecosystem. The rapid population growth of these city regions has daily exchange of goods and services between and amongst themselves with increasing possibilities of investment in urban infrastructures and services. Kochi urban agglomeration has major economic and infrastructural advantages in terms of port and port-led SEZ, Rail-road infrastructure such as Kochi Metro Rail and in-land waterways to connect it with its vast rural and natural hinterlands in Central Kerela.
Koch metropolitan region falls well within the country’s highest density urban areas and the rapidly urbanizing western and southern regional corridor of India where a lot of economic activities related to urban settlements are expected. The urban planning challenges would how to sustain this urban growth at the same time improve the fragile coastal eco-system in its hinterland. The rapid urban spatial expansion along with human pressure on natural coastal eco-system need to be re-looked for better and sustainable urban future in Kerala.
