Kakinada
Cocanada, Coringa | |
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Nicknames: Second Madras, Pensioners' Paradise | |
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Coordinates: 16°57′58″N 82°15′18″E / 16.96611°N 82.25500°E | |
Country | ![]() |
State | Andhra Pradesh |
District | Kakinada |
Established | 1759 |
Incorporated (Municipality) | 1866 |
Government | |
• Type | Municipal Corporation |
• Body | Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) |
• Mayor | Sunkara Siva Prasanna[1] |
• MLA | Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao (Urban) Pantham Nanaji (Rural) |
• MP | Tangella Uday Srinivas |
Area | |
• City | 152.51 km2 (58.88 sq mi) |
Population | |
• City | 384,128 (6th) in AP |
• Metro | 443,028 |
Literacy | |
• Literacy rate | 81.23% |
Languages | |
• Official | Telugu |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 533001, 533002, 533003, 533004, 533005, 533006, 533016 |
Area code | +91–884 |
Vehicle Registration | AP05, AP06 (Former) AP39 (from 30 January 2019)[5] |
Website | Kakinada Municipal Corporation |
Kakinada (formerly known as Cocanada, Coringa, and Kakinandiwada; 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 livable and cleanest cities in India with a population under one million.[7][8]
) is aSituated 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.