The draft report for conferring Metropolitan City for Kochi city has been completed and presented before state cabinet for final approval. Once approved, the notification has to included in Schedule 9 of Indian Constitution after Presidential Assent, which will mark Central Govt recognition of the city as Metropolitan area. The govt expects to complete all the process within 3 months.
The area will be 4574 Sqkm with 4.6 Million population.
The Metropolitan limits cross the district borders to include Cherthala, Aroor, Koratty, Chalakudy, Kodungallor and Vaikom. However it will drop Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and eastern parts of Ernakulam District outside proposed Metropolitan city.
Once the notification comes, will mark significant difference for development of Kochi. Kochi can access more central funds and central schemes for development. In addition, one of prime concerns of city- THE CRZ Limits shall change. The limits of CRZ will be restricted to 15M from coastline....
The Greater Cochin Development Authority will be disbanded, while a new authority- Kochi Metropolitan Regional Development Authority under chairmanship of Chief Minister will come up.
With the approval of proposed Metropolitan Plan, Kochi shall be the 4th Metropolitan city from South India after Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Source: Mathrubhumi news.