ISO 9001:2015 certification (May 2019) for the best Municipal administration and services.[1]
Kollam Municipal Corporation (KMC) is an Urban Local body in Kerala that governs Kollam[2][3][4] It is the fourth-largest city corporation by population in the state, and the third-largest by area. Constituted in 1921 as a municipality, it was officially recognized as a city corporation in 2000.[5] The body governs an area of 73.03 square kilometres (28.20sqmi) centered at Kollam, with about 55 divisions and a population of 397,419.[6]
In 1894 through second regulation a committee was constituted at Quilon for sanitation and by 1901 this committee got taxation powers. In 1910 this was elevated to Town Development Authority and by 1921 a municipality in 1921. It is also said that a municipal board was constituted in 1888 precursor to this.[9] In 1928 Regent Maharani proclaimed an order which clearly defined the powers and duties of the municipal council. The council had 17 members which included 11 elected, nominated and ex-officio members and the voting powers was restricted to tax payers and graduates till 1946. The initial chairmen were all advocates of bar council.
In 1948, the council got its first elected chairman and first chairman from a backward community. The council was suspended between 1984–88 and powers where conferred to District Collectors then. The municipality initially had its office at Puthukulangara Palace in Anandavalleshwaram, in 1937 a new building was constructed near Chinnakada flyover and Sri Moolam Thirunal Palace. In 1970's the present day building near Cantonment was purchased from H&C.
The high population density, population and economic activity eventually led to Kollam Municipality getting upgraded to a Municipal Corporation by the Kerala Government on 1October 2000.
Corporation office Kollam
The city population of Kollam increased substantially from 139,852 in 1991 to 346,013 in 2011 since Vadakkevila, Sakthikulangara, Eravipuram and KilikollurPanchayats were merged with Kollam City when city was upgraded to a Municipal Corporation. As a result, the area run by the Municipal Corporation increased from 18.48 square kilometres (7.14sqmi) to 58.18 square kilometres (22.46sqmi).[10] In May 2015, Thrikkadavoor Panchayat was also merged with Kollam city, increasing the total population to 397,419, with a total area of 73.03 square kilometres (28.20sqmi).[11][12]
Administration
Kollam Municipal Corporation (KMC)
Mayor
Prasanna Earnest
Police Commissioner
P. K. Madhu IPS
Deputy Mayor
Kollam Madhu
Secretary
Anu R S
District Collector
Shri. Devidas. N IAS
The City Corporation of Kollam has a 55-member council headed by a mayor, who is assisted by a deputy mayor.[13] The average population of every ward is around 7,000. Each ward is represented in the Municipal Council by an elected councilor. The Kerala Municipalities (KM) Act, 1994, governs all functions in the KMC.[10] The corporation has eight standing committees for smooth governance of the city.[14] Each of these committees is headed by an elected councilor, who serves as its chairperson.[15][16] The standing committees are: Finance, Development, Welfare, Health and Education, Public works, Town planning, Tax appeal and Education and Sports.
The KMC consisted of 55 divisions or councils spread across its seven zones as of 2020. Following the 2024 Local self-government delimitation, the number of councils became 56. The erstwhile Maruthadi, Pallithottam, Anchalamoodu wards got merged or changed borders and Sakthikulangara Harbour, Anchalummoodu West, Anchalummoodu East, and Kannimel West got added as new councils.[18]
Councils of Kollam Municipal Corporation as of 2020
Apartments built at Cantonment area in Kollam Corporation under RAY Project for providing housing in the urban places
As per the Kerala Municipal Act of 1994, the Government of Kerala transferred powers and functions to local self-governments in 1995, along with institutions, offices, and functionaries. Consequently, 18 functions are maintained by the Municipal Corporation:[10][19]
Regulation of land use and construction of buildings
Roads and bridges
Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
Slum improvement/upgradation
Urban poverty alleviation
Provision of urban amenities such as parks and playgrounds
Promotion of cultural, educational, and aesthetic aspects
Burial grounds and crematoria
Cattle pounds
Public health - Sewerage, water supply
Registration of births and deaths
Public conveniences including street lighting, parking lots, etc.
Regulation of slaughterhouses
Spatial planning (urban and socio-economic planning)
Urban forestry
Fire fighting
Education
Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections
Revenue sources
The following are the Income sources for the corporation from the Central and State Government.[20][21][22]
Revenue from taxes
Following is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.
Property tax.
Profession tax.
Entertainment tax.
Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax.
Advertisement tax.
Revenue from non-tax sources
Following is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.
Water usage charges.
Fees from Documentation services.
Rent received from municipal property.
Funds from municipal bonds.
Annual budget
A budget will be presented on either January or February month of every year in Kollam Corporation. It usually envisages expenditure, revenue and surplus for that financial year.
Prior to formation of the Municipal Corporation, Kollam was a Municipality and in the last elections held to the municipality in 1995 LDF was the winner and Kollam is the only Corporation in Kerala which is having three decade long continuous single party rule after Seventy-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India.[35]
Electorate
As per the voters list published in 2020 November, there were around 2,88,804 eligible voters (1,38,820 male voters, 1,49,984 female voters).
In 2000, Sabitha Beegum became the first Muslim mayor in Kerala and she was one of the youngest person to become mayor in India then. In 2010, then mayor N. Padmalochanan from CPI(M) had to step down from his post following a controversy surrounding him attending an RSS event.[43][44] In 2025, Prassana Earnest had to step down and make way for a CPI mayor following protest from the alliance partner of LDF.[45][46][47]
Former Municipal Chairmen of Old Quilon Municipality
Former Municipal Chairmen of Old Quilon Municipality
Marine Aquarium under construction at Kollam Beach
The Chinnakada underpass is a public road infrastructure project for the city of Kollam, as part of the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project. It is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to ease traffic congestion at Chinnakada, the city CBD of Kollam.[51] The presence of an existing railway over-bridge and three close intersections with heavy traffic limits options for traffic management measures, including junction improvement. This caused the authorities to conceptualize the underpass at Chinnakada. Chinnakada is a complex junction where roads from Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Downtown, Sengottai, Ashramam (Residency Road), Kollam Beach and the City bus stand road meet.
The preliminary design prepared for the underpass by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) involved the acquisition of 0.08 hectares (0.20 acres) of government land on a temporary basis.[52] The height of the road passage above the underpass was increased to 5.5 metres (18ft) from 5 metres (16ft) to facilitate movement of modern container trucks through the underpass. The underpass was opened to the public at the end of May 2015.[53][54]
Marine Aquarium at Kollam Beach
On 22June 2014, construction work started on a marine aquarium at Kollam Beach—the first of its kind in the state of Kerala. The Harbour Engineering Department constructed the aquarium on the eastern side of the beach for the KMC. The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 2014 and it was inaugurated on 14 July 2019. The aquarium has 24 tanks worth Rs.25lakh, a pool with a 12,000-litre capacity, and 18 varieties of fish. The facility is open to the public in the evenings.[55][56]
Popular activities/ achievements
ISO 9001:2015certification: In May 2019, Kollam City Corporation achieved the ISO 9001: 2015 certification for the best municipal administration and services.[57][58]
IUDI Conclave: The city hosted a three-day national conclave, 'Kollam City Vision', 20–22 September 2019. Jointly organised by the KMC and the Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI), this was the second-ever IUDI conclave and the first one outside New Delhi.[59][60]
E-governance facilities: On 4 November 2019, the KMC launched the Intelligent Property Management System (IPMS) to regulate the recording and tax-filing of properties, and Integrated Management System (IMS), an e-governance facility. A touch-screen ‘information kiosk’ has been placed in front of the KMC headquarters in Kollam Cantonment for the public to clear their queries, track applications and search for information. A digital screen, replacing notice boards, has been placed inside the office to provide information to the public.[61]
Recognition and criticism
In 2014, Mrs. Prasanna Earnest, then-mayor of Kollam was selected as the Best Lady Mayor of South India by the Rotary Club of Trivandrum Royal. She has also faced criticism for nepotism towards her husband X Earnest and lack of governance in the city.[62] In September 2023, Thozhilurappu Workers staged protest against her for non payment of wages and they were met with police brutality.
The City Corporation is widely criticized for not developing physical infrastructure in the city in proportion to its rising population and traffic. Kollam is the only city corporation in Kerala without a proper Bus station.[63][64] The major roads leading to the city from neighborhood and nearby towns such as Kottiyam, Kavanad, Kannanalloor, Kundara, Anchalumoodu are narrow and has not seen any major development in last three decades. The Olayilkadavu Bridge that could neither land properly on other side nor be opened partially for three years was subjected to wide Social media criticism.[65] The corporation face public ire for not catering civic amenities like street lightings, waste management etc. in an effective manner.[66] The poor governance combined with decline of manufacturing sector has led to stagnation in economy and increase in poverty and crimes.[67][68][69] The CPIM leadership in corporation invited criticism in 2024 for hindering Kollam Junction railway station redevelopment.[70]
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