On 8 May 2019, the Supreme Court of India ordered five apartments in Maradu to be demolished within one month, for violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, although only four of these apartments had yet been constructed. The incident received widespread media attention, and generated controversy across Kerala for the alleged corruption in the local government sector.[3][4]
History
Maradu was formed in May 1953 as a Grama Panchayath and was upgraded to the level of municipality in November 2010.
As per the 2011 Indian census, Maradu has a total population of 44,704 and a population density of 3,620 inhabitants per square kilometre (9,400/sq mi). Of this, 49.6% are male and 50.4% are female. 8.01% of the population is under 6 years of age. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constitute 17.28% and 0.40% of the population respectively. The total literacy rate was 97.2% (98.3% for males and 96.04% for females), which is higher than the state average of 94% and the national average of 74.04%.
Religion
According to the 2011 census, Hindus are the plurality with 49% of the population adhering to the religion. Christians form a significant minority, constituting 36% of the population. Muslims constitute 15% of the population.[8]
Culture
Local media
Maradu News is an news network which provides news updates in Maradu and the surrounding areas.[9]
The organisation shows news related to politics, local events, crime, and obituaries.
Festivals
The annual Thalappoli festival, also known as the Maradu Vedikkettu, is held in the Maradu Kottaram Bhagavathy Temple every year, in the month of Kumbham in the Malayalam calendar. Though the festival lasts for 8–9 days, it is famous for its large fireworks displays in the last 2 days.[10] However, in 2024, the Kerala High Court denied permission for the fireworks displays, citing safety concerns and lack of proper licensing.[11][12]
Three National highways pass through Maradu (NH 66, NH 85, NH 966 B). Presence of the National Highways and its assimilation into Kochi city brought the area under the radar of investors and is now one of the fastest-growing areas in Kochi. Maradu also houses two 5 star hotels in addition to several other 2 and 3 start hotels. Several other high-rise buildings and malls are also coming up alongside the highway stretch. Capital Forum Mall of Prestige Group is under construction on Kochi Bypass near Kannadikadu.
NH 66 (Kochi bypass/Panavel kochi Kanyakumari highway), NH 85 (Kochi Madurai highway) and NH 966 B (Kundanoor Willingdon highway) intersects at Kundannoor Junction. There is also an underpass in Kundanooor. A new 6 lane flyover has also been opened recently at the busy junction.
Since the current Kochi Bypass carries over twice the traffic it is designed to handle, the National Highways Authority of India had come up with a proposal for a new bypass for Kochi city a few years ago. As per the selected alignment, the Kochi New Bypass will begin from NH 544 at Karayamparambu, north of Kochi's suburb Angamaly, and end at NH 66 at Nettoor region of Maradu.
In addition to this new greenfield National Highway project, the existing NH 85 (Kochi-Dhanushkodi) starting from Kundannoor junction will be widened to a four lane one under Bharatmala. As per the plans the new widened NH will avoid the current NH 85 as far as Puthenkurishu, starting around 1 kilometre south of the existing Kundanoor Junction.[16]
Maradu municipality oversees the development and administration of Maradu region. Maradu municipal office is in Kundanoor on KRL road.
^Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, p. 48, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, ISBN81-902505-2-3
^Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (web), Delimitation Commission of India (web), Rand McNally International Atlas 1994, School of Planning & Architecture (web)
