Kakinada (formerly known as Cocanada, Coringa, and Kakinandiwada; listenⓘ) is a port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Kakinada district and is the sixth most populous city in the state.[6] Kakinada is recognised for being one of the most liveable and cleanest cities in India among those with a population under one million.[7][8]
Situated along the Bay of Bengal, Kakinada is one of the largest ports in Andhra Pradesh and holds historical significance as a major port city. It was the most populous city in Andhra according to the 1911 and 1931 Censuses. It was once the starting point of the Buckingham Canal during British rule. Known for its well-planned layout, Kakinada is also an educational hub, featuring prominent institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Rangaraya Medical College, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) campus, and Andhra Polytechnic. Kakinada is also a gateway to the scenic Konaseema region and is located near the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, home to one of India's largest mangrove forests. Hope Island, situated off the coast, acts as a natural barrier protecting the city from cyclones and the effects of tsunamis, and is a popular tourist destination.
Kakinada's economy is mainly driven by industries, agriculture, and fishing. Key sectors include fertilizer production, automobile components, edible oil refineries, and natural gas extraction. The strategic Kakinada Port acts as a natural harbour, boosting the export of seafood and agricultural products. The city also has industries in information technology and power generation and is a significant hub for fertilizer and petrochemical companies in the Krishna-Godavari Basin.
The city is renowned for its distinctive Kakinada Kaja sweet, along with local snacks such as Bajji. Kakinada is also culturally and politically significant. The city is known for its unique Godavari dialect of Telugu and has been home to several Telugu film personalities. It is one of the three smart cities in the state under the Smart Cities Mission.[9] In the past, many residents of Andhra migrated from this seaport to countries such as Burma, Mauritius, Fiji and various Southeast Asian nations for work, where they were referred to as "Coranghees."[10]Additionally, the city holds a geographic distinction, as the Indian Standard Time (IST) longitude passes through it.
Etymology
Kakinada, previously known as Kaki Nandiwada, has various theories regarding its name. It was a Dutch settlement,[11] and one belief is that the name "Cocanada" originated from the Telugu word "Koka" or "Coca," referring to saree products stored and exported by the Dutch.[12]
Another theory suggests that during British rule, the British East India Company found the name "Cocanada" difficult to pronounce, modifying it to "Co-Canada" for convenience. The city was also called "Coringa" due to the proximity of its port to the Koringa river.
The British later used the name "Cocanada" when establishing the first Canadian Baptist Mission in the area. After India gained independence, the city was officially named Kakinada during 1968. Additional theories link the name to Kakasura, a mythological figure from the Ramayana, or to "Kakulavada," meaning an abode of crows, due to the birds catching fish along the shore.[13]
History
District Collectorate Office, built during British rule in Kakinada
During the Dutch colonization of the Coromandel Coast, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a trading post in the area known as Jaggernaickpuram (variously spelled), in present-day Kakinada. On 25 September 1734, Haji Muhammad Hussain, the Nawab of Rajamundry, granted a parwana and kaul to the Dutch, officially transferring the hamlet of "Jagernaykpalam" to the VOC for the construction of a trading lodge.[14]
The British established a shipbuilding and repair facility in the area in 1759, which they referred to as Coringa Town, located on the Coringa River, a branch of the Godavari River. As a principal seaport on the Coromandel Coast, Coringa became a significant shipbuilding hub. In 1802, a dock was constructed to repair Royal Navy and other vessels, becoming the only wet dock between Bombay and Calcutta. The area, including Cape Cori (now known as Hope Island), gained international recognition for its shipbuilding and repair capabilities.[15]
However, the facilities suffered extensive damage from massive cyclones. A storm in 1787 caused the loss of 20,000 lives, and another storm on 9 and 10 May 1832 further devastated the area.[16][17] On 25 November 1839, an even more destructive cyclone hit, with a storm surge estimated at 40 feet, completely destroying the port and approximately 20,000 vessels. This was one of the storms cited by Henry Piddington in a speech to the Asiatic Society of Bengal where he first used the term ‘'cyclone'’ to describe the phenomena. Following this disaster, the port never fully recovered, and homes were relocated further inland.[18]
By 1901, due to silting and sand deposition in the estuary, no large ships could enter the port. Shipbuilding activities had ceased by 1905, and the port was eventually closed.[19][20]
In 1823, during British rule, the District of Rajahmundry was created within the Madras Presidency.[21] It was reorganized in 1859, leading to the creation of the Godavari and Krishna districts. Rajahmundry served as the headquarters of Godavari district until 1925, when the district was bifurcated into East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Kakinada became the headquarters of East Godavari, while Eluru became the headquarters of West Godavari. On 4 April 2022, East Godavari district was further bifurcated, leading to the creation of Kakinada district, with Kakinada as its headquarters.
The city is divided into two regions, connected by bridges. The southern part, Jagannadhapuram, is separated from the main city by the Buckingham Canal.[24] The canal and its branches form Medaline Island,[25] which borders the city to the southwest.
Kakinada features an industrial belt that runs north–south, separating the eastern part of the city from the coast.[26] To the southeast, Kakinada Bay and surrounding marshlands are home to India's second-largest mangrove forest, which includes the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.[27] The Gouthami, a branch of the Godavari River, flows into the Bay of Bengal near the city.
Climate
Kakinada experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) , characterized by hot and humid conditions throughout most of the year. The hottest period occurs in late May and early June, with maximum temperatures ranging from 38°C to 42°C (100°F to 108°F). January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures of 18°C to 20°C (64°F to 68°F). The city receives most of its rainfall during the southwest monsoon, though it also gets significant rainfall from the northeast monsoon between mid-October and mid-December. Kakinada is frequently affected by cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal.[28]
Prevailing winds are from the southwest for most of the year, except from October to January when they shift to the northeast. The city's average annual rainfall is between 110 and 115 centimetres (43 to 45 inches).
Climate data for Kakinada (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2020)
As of 2011 Census of India, Kakinada had a population of 443,028, with 222,461 males and 220,567 females.[32] The Kakinada Urban Agglomeration also had a population of 443,028, comprising 217,459 males and 225,569 females, including the city's outgrowths.[33] The city has 101 identified slums, housing a population of 132,185, which accounts for 41% of the total population. Kakinada ranks as the 115th largest city in India by population and is one of the fastest-growing cities in Andhra Pradesh.[34]
The economy of the city depends mainly on agriculture, fishing and industrial sectors. paddy, coconut are agro products from the city. The majority of the industrial sector is covered edible oil refineries, fertilizers and natural gas.[12] During the late 1940s (around the time of Indian independence) there was little industry in or around Kakinada;[37] the local economy was based on agriculture and fishing. Until the early 1980s (before the fertilizer companies began operation), the local economy revolved around the textile industry, auto parts, steel-related ancillary units, agriculture and fishing.[23]
Kakinada port
Hope Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the coast, makes Kakinada Port a natural harbour.[38] It is home to two ports namely, an Anchorage port and a Deep-water port (and also third port is going to be constructed in KSEZ which will be Greenfield Seaport ).[39] Kakinada's deep-water port is the second-largest in the state (after Visakhapatnam port) and the first in the country to be built in a public-private partnership, in 1996 It is operated by Kakinada Seaports.[40] Before the deep-water port was built, the Anchorage port was the largest of India's 40 minor ports.[41]
Kakinada's principal exports include seafood (Prawns, Shrimp, Fish) and related products, agricultural products (including rice and corn),[42] oilmeals, processed food products, chemicals, iron ore, bauxite powder and biofuel. Imports include chemicals, edible oils and agricultural products[43] (including wheat and sugar).
Industrial sector
A number of industries and edible oil refineries, and serves as a base for a thriving oil and gas industry for the state of Andhra Pradesh are established at Kakinada.[12]
Agro−products
Coconuts are exported by several companies in and around Kakinada. The Murugappa Group-owned EID Parry (India) and Cargill International joint venture, Silk Road Sugars, has a port-based stand-alone sugar refinery in Kakinada with a capacity of 600,000 tonnes.,[44][45]
Edible oil refineries and biofuel plants
In 2002, several edible-oil refineries were established in Kakinada, with a refining capacity of 3,000 tons per day; they include Acalmar Oils and Fats (taken over by Adani Wilmar), Ruchi Infrastructure and Nikhil Refineries. The port facilitates the importation of crude palm and soybean oil.[46]
Vakalapudi Industrial Park has attracted over $10 million in investment from biodiesel companies such as Reliance Industries, Natural Bioenergy and Universal Bio Fuel.[47][48] Andhra Pradesh has entered into an agreement with Reliance Industries for jatropha planting. The company selected 200 acres (81 ha) of land in Kakinada to grow jatropha for quality biodiesel fuel.[49]
Ratan Towers in ADB Road, Kakinada where companies such as Krify, Avineon are operating
Information technology
Kakinada is a tier-II city. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) established a facility here in 2007. Since then, several IT companies have come up in the city, mainly due to its educated workforce available in the city.[50]
Nearly, 35 Software and IT companies are operating from Kakinada, including Krify,[51] Avineon, Cyient.[52]
An IT Association by the name "Godavari IT Association of East and West Godavari districts" (GITA) which an association of IT companies in the twin Godavari districts is formed in 2008 which is based in the city.[53] Since 2016, GITA is merged with "IT Association of Andhra Pradesh" (ITAAP) forming a separate chapter called ITAAP Godavari Chapter.[54]
Power generation
There are several power plants in and around Kakinada. Spectrum Power Generation has a 208-MW plant and was one of the first Independent Power Producers in the country. The company is planning to expand its capacity to 1350 MW in phases. Tenders for a 350-MW expansion have been requested.[55] A 220-MW power station (being expanded to 2400 MW at a cost of Rs 100 billion) owned by Reliance Energy[56] and a 464-MW combined-cycle power plant by GVK Group are in operation at Samalkota (Kakinada Rural). These plants supply electricity to the state's transmission utility, AP Transco, under a power purchase agreement.[57]
Natural gas and petroleum
Kakinada is the base for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's Eastern Offshore Asset. Several oil companies use Kakinada for oil and gasoline shipments. Baker Hughes and Schlumberger are field-development companies working on offshore natural-gas fields near the city. The Krishna Godavari Basin is considered the largest natural gas basin in India.[58] Significant discoveries of oil and natural gas were made by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation and Reliance, which has been extracting gas from its KG D6 block off the Kakinada coast. Reliance has an onshore terminal in Gadimoga, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Kakinada, to process and distribute gas to other parts of the country. Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure (RGTIL) has built a 1,440-kilometre (890 mi) pipeline from Kakinada to Bharuch (Gujarat) to transport 120 million cubic meters per day (mcmd) of natural gas from the Krishna-Godavari fields (owned by Reliance Industries)[59] across India to its west coast.
In 2010, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board awarded Kakinada's gas-distribution project to Bhagyanagar Gas, a consortium of GAIL and Hindustan Petroleum.[60] Construction is underway to supply gas to Kakinada and the surrounding towns of Samalkot, Peddapuram and Pithapuram, making Kakinada the second city in Andhra Pradesh to have a piped gas supply for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes.[citation needed]
Kakinada Beach Festival (also Sagara Sambaralu) is a music festival held in Kakinada.[61] It was declared as an annual festival by the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2012.[62] It is a three-day event where many artists perform.[61][63]
In addition to its contributions to cinema, Kakinada is also the hometown of Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari[71] and the freedom fighter Baru Alivelamma.[72]
Literature
Kasibhatta Brahmaiah Sastry was a Sanskrit and Telugu scholar. Garikipati earned the title Maha Sahasravadhani for performing one thousand performances of Avadhanam, a type of Telugu poetry competition. Garikipati wrote the epic poem Sagaraghosha.[73] Ryali Prasad was a modern poet, short story writer and history researcher. He wrote 32 epic poems and history books about various locations. He performed Telugu avadhanam in free verse poetry. Ryala Prasad wrote "Kakinada Charitra", the complete history of Kakinada.
Bolloju Baba, a poet and historian, lives in Kakinada. He wrote 11 books of which 6 are related to literature and the remaining are on history. He wrote the books "Ancient Cities of East Godavari" and "Yanam under French colonial rule".
Transport
The city has various modes of transport in terms of road, rail and sea.[12] Previously private city buses and rickshaws used to dominate the roads but after massive amount of urbanisation the primary mode of intra-city public transport is auto rickshaws and there are about 7,000 of them being operated in the city limits with an additional of 3,000 from the surrounding settlements.[74] Non-transport vehicles cover, Motorcycles, bicycles.[75] For cyclists and motorists, there are planned cycling paths, bicycle sharing stations,[76] and bike hiring outlets.[77]
Roadways
Kakinada is connected by road to the rest of the state and other cities of India by means of National Highways. National Highway 216 which stretches from Kathipudi to Ongole passes through Kakinada. The bypass road is under construction which reduces the traffic in the city[78] It is a well planned city with Grid type Road network.[12] The city has a total road length of 719.21 km.state highway 42 connects Kakinada with other cities. ADB Road and Canal Road connects Kakinada with Rajamahendravaram. Government is going to construct a new national highway to Tuni along coast under Sagaramala scheme.[79]
SCR operates its carriage and Wagon depot which is one of the medium-sized depots in Vijayawada division. It's the second station after Vijayawada Junction railway station to have Intermediate Overhauling IOH shed for all types of coaches.[83]
The nearest airport is Rajahmundry Airport which is 55 km from the city. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) operates an Aerodrome at Gadimoga in the city. Cocanada was a stop by Francesco de Pinedo of the Regia Aeronautica and his mechanic, Ernesto Campanelli, during Pinedo's 1925 Rome- Australia-Tokyo-Rome flight.[84][85]
Kakinada, known as an educational hub in Andhra Pradesh, provides a wide range of primary, secondary, and higher education options. Primary and secondary education in the city is offered by government, aided, and private schools under the School Education Department of Andhra Pradesh, with instruction available in both English and Telugu.
The city and its surrounding areas are home to numerous professional institutions offering courses in fields such as engineering, medicine, information technology, and management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Among these institutions, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada (JNTU Kakinada), stands out. Originally established as Vishakapatnam College of Engineering on former military land, it offers a variety of engineering programs and includes a business school.[86]
Rangaraya Medical College, established in 1958 by Dr. M. V. Krishna Rao and Dr. Datla Satyanarayana Raju, is another prominent institution in the city.[87] Initially supported by donations, including land and financial contributions from various benefactors, the college became a fully government-run institution by 1981. The Government General Hospital, Kakinada serves as its teaching hospital.[88]
The Andhra University Postgraduate Centre, founded in 1977, provides higher education in Kakinada. It is located on a 50.93-acre (20.61 ha) campus in Thimmapuram, approximately six kilometers from Kakinada Town Railway Station. Andhra Polytechnic, one of the oldest educational institutions in the city, was established in 1946 by the British Indian government on land donated by M. S. N. Charities in Jagannaickpur.[89][90]
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Godavari delta, Hope Island, India, a sandspit formed by the Godavari, Konaseema, scenic Godavari delta islands. It is the second-largest mangrove forest in India after Sundarbans.[27] Uppada beach is primarily considered as Kakinada beach which is having one of longest coastlines in Indian beaches.[92] Kakinada beach is meant for its mild blue waters and cold breeze all the day. The temples of Suryanarayana Swami and Kodandaramalayam are located at G. Mamidada which is 20 km from the city.[93] The Bala Tripura Sundari Devi Temple is a famous temple.
Sports
Cricket is the most popular game in the city, followed by badminton and athletics. Kakinada is home to a number of local cricket teams participating in district and zone matches,[94] with a stadium used for Ranji Trophy matches. The East Godavari District Sports Authority has a sports complex in the city with an indoor stadium and swimming pool. Indian international Hanuma Vihari hails from Kakinada.[95]
^"Kakinada Profile". Kakinada Municipal Corporation. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
^Janaki, Dr. Komanduri (1999). Role Of Women In Freedom Struggle In Andhra Pradesh (1st ed.). Hyderabad, India: Neelkamal Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 82.
.svg)
