THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When satellites looked down at India’s districts and measured who was truly building for their people, Ernakulam made the top 10.
A recent report from the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister ranked Kerala’s commercial capital third in India for infrastructure per person, behind New Delhi and Daman. It is the only district in South India to feature in the top 10.
The report used satellite imagery data to assess and analyse the district-level built-up volume across the country. In terms of built-up volume per capita, Ernakulam found a place in the highest quintile of 152 to 17,500 cubic meters per person, meaning that the physical infrastructure has kept pace with population growth.
According to the report, built-up volume per capita is an important metric since a district’s target should be to provide enough infrastructural amenities to its people instead of “ever-growing built-up volume”.
Ernakulam ranking third nationally on this metric suggests its residents are comparatively well-served by physical infrastructure like buildings, roads and utilities on a per-person basis.
The report also discussed the rapid urbanisation in Kerala based on the findings in the Economic Survey 2026. When spatially identified settlements are added, Kerala’s urbanisation level is now about 80.8%, far beyond the official statutory figure of 53.81%, it said.
Bengaluru, Pune top dist-wise built-up volume levels
The study report noted that the current classification of urban areas, using a combination of administrative definition and census criteria, was inadequate in capturing the speed and scale of urbanisation in the country. Besides built-up volume per capita, the report mapped India’s districts in two other parameters: district-wise levels of built-up volume and district-wise growth rates of built-up volume.
In the first, Bengaluru, Pune, Jaipur, Rangareddy (Telangana) assumed top spots, while Mahe (Puducherry), Yanam (Puducherry), New Delhi, Central Delhi, Lakshadweep, Diu, Sheohar (Bihar), Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh), South Garo Hills (Meghalaya) and Shrawasti (UP) found a place among toppers in the other parameter. The report recommended a formula-based distribution of urban development funds giving due weightage to the three metrics.
KIIFB projects in Ernakulam
KIIFB is among the top contributors to Ernakulam’s infrastructure development.
As per its website, a total of 117 projects worth Rs 13,774 crore were approved for the district and Rs 10,372 crore released.
They include 42 projects (Rs 6,001 cr) under public works department, 11 (Rs 2,097 cr) under coastal shipping and inland navigation, three (Rs 2,018 cr) under industries, 10 (Rs 884 crore) under health and 20 (Rs 579 crore) under education.