Kakkanad

Kakkanad കാക്കനാട്
Kakkanad Location in Kerala, India Kakkanad Kakkanad (India)
Coordinates: 10.017°N 76.344°E / 10.017; 76.344
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Ernakulam
Elevation	28 m (92 ft)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha Constituency	Ernakulam

Kakkanad is a suburb in Kochi, Kerala, located 7 km (4.3 mi) east of the city centre. The term is used to refer to an area covering Thrikkakara municipality and the built-up areas in the western parts of the adjoining Kunnathunad grama panchayat.

Kakkanad is a region of great economic importance within the larger Kochi metropolis. It houses multiple industrial and IT projects including the Cochin Special Economic Zone, Infopark, Smart City and KINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Park. It is also the administrative headquarters of the District of Ernakulam.

Administration

Kakkanad at night

Lulu Cybertower

Being the administrative hub of Ernakulam district, Kakkanad is home to several state as well as central government offices namely, the Civil Station (hosting the District Collectorate, the RTO etc.), the District Panchayat office, the Airman Selection Board, Siksha Bhavan (office of the Central HRD Ministry), Kendriya Shram Sadan (office of the Regional Labour Commissioner) etc.

History

Kakkanad is located near Thrikkakara, the capital of the mythical King Mahabali.

In verse 273 of Naṉṉūl, a 13th-century book on Tamil grammar, Sankara Namasivayar recites a venpa that describes the twelve districts of Tamil Nadu where Koduntamil is spoken, as Thenpandi Nadu, Kutta Nadu, Kuda Nadu, Karka Nadu, Venadu, Poozhi Nadu, Pandri Nadu, Aruva Nadu, Aruva Vadathalai, Seetha Nadu, Malai Nadu and Punal Nadu. "Karka Nadu" is believed to be a reference to Kakkanad. The old name of kakanad is karkanad-thrikakara.

Industry

Technopolis

Kakkanad is home for a portion of the industrial base of Kochi. It is home for the Cochin Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). Carborundum Universal Ltd has a unit near the technopolis. Industrial projects like Fashion City are proposed in Kakkanad. This has led to several builders setting up projects here.

Kakkanad is home for the largest IT Township in India, the Smart City, the second largest IT industrial park in Kerala, Infopark. Kakkanad is also home for a Software Export Promotion Zone (SEPZ). The international submarine cable systems landing in Kochi has their nodes installed in Kakkanad. CSEZ houses Cognizant Technology Solutions, Williamslea, WRENCH Solutions, and the Sutherland Global Solutions.

Kakkanad houses the following IT Parks:

• Smart City
• Infopark
• Muthoot Technopolis
• KINFRA HiTech Park

− All these together account for 25% of IT exports from Kerala.

The Kerala Books and Publications Society has its press near Kakkanad. The press is the biggest multicolor offset printing unit within the Government of Kerala.

Localities

• Edachira
• Chittethukara
• Nilampathinjamugal
• Thuthiyoor
• Palachuvadu
• Mavelipuram

Media

Kakkanad is also the broadcasting hub of Kochi. It is home for the terrestrial relay station of the national television broadcaster, Doordarshan. Prasar Bharati, the corporation controlling the public broadcast, has a marketing division at Kakkanad. Kakkanad also hosts the state-owned All India Radio. Red FM's Regional office is also at Kakkanad.