Kollam Municipal Corporation (KMC) is an Urban Local body in Kerala that governs Kollam 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. The body governs an area of centered at Kollam, with about 56 divisions and a population of 397,419.
History Kollam, was an ancient trade hub and one of the largest port cities in Asia in ancient times. In 20th century city became a major cashew processing and export center and industrial center and also the seat of British Residency.
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. 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.
The city population of Kollam increased substantially from 139,852 in 1991 to 346,013 in 2011 since Vadakkevila, Sakthikulangara, Eravipuram and Kilikollur Panchayats 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 to .Rapid Baseline Assessment in Kollam City - Ministry of Urban Development In May 2015, Thrikkadavoor Panchayat was also merged with Kollam city, increasing the total population to 397,419, with a total area of .
Administration +Kollam Municipal Corporation (KMC) MayorA K HafeezDeputy MayorKarumalil Dr Udaya Sukumaran SecretarySaji S S
The City Corporation of Kollam has a 55-member council headed by a mayor, who is assisted by a deputy mayor. 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. The corporation has eight standing committees for smooth governance of the city. Each of these committees is headed by an elected councilor, who serves as its chairperson. The standing committees are: Finance, Development, Welfare, Health and Education, Public works, Town planning, Tax appeal and Education and Sports.
Zones
For ease of administration, the KMC is divided into the following seven zones, each housing a zonal office:
Central Zone - 1 Central Zone - 2 Sakthikulangara Zone Vadakkevila Zone Kilikollur Zone Eravipuram Zone Thrikkadavoor Zone.
Councils 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.
Functions
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:
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.
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.
Budget Year Actual Surplus (from last FY) Expenditure Revenue Surplus 2026-27 NA ₹1270.00 cr ₹1384.51 cr ₹114.51 cr 2025-26 NA ₹1145.12 cr ₹1228.57 cr ₹83.45 cr 2024-25 ₹192.08cr ₹1090.59 cr ₹1181.42cr ₹90.83 cr 2023-24 ₹243.54cr ₹1098.44 cr ₹1187.15cr ₹88.71 cr 2022-23 NA ₹1193.41 cr ₹1292.81cr ₹99.40 cr 2021-22 ₹165.41 cr ₹1077.41 cr ₹1124.23 cr ₹46.82 cr 2020-21 ₹117.56 cr ₹336.21 cr ₹384 cr NA 2019-20 NA ₹584.74 cr ₹617.13 cr ₹32.38 cr 2018-19 NA NA NA NA 2017-18 NA NA NA NA 2016-17 NA NA NA NA 2015-16 NA ₹716.17 cr ₹754.88 cr ₹38.71 cr
Office holders + Kollam Municipal Corporation — Office Holders (2025–2030) Office Name Notes Mayor A. K. Hafeez (INC) Incumbent Deputy Mayor Udaya Sukumaran (INC) Incumbent Chairperson, Finance Standing Committee To be elected Chairperson, Development Standing Committee To be elected Chairperson, Welfare Standing Committee To be elected Chairperson, Health Standing Committee To be elected Chairperson, Public Works Standing Committee To be elected Town Planning Standing Committee To be elected Tax Appeal Standing Committee To be elected Education & Sports Standing Committee To be elected Corporation Secretary Saji S. S. Appointed official.
Elected Members By ward Ward Party color Party Councillor Alliance Sakthikulangara Harbour Xavier Mathias UDF Sakthikulangara Shiji NDA Meenathuchery Deepu Gangadharan B UDF Kavanad Radhika Saji UDF Vallikeezhu Vidya Manoj LDF Kureepuzha West A.M. Mustafa LDF Kureepuzha B. Ajithkumar UDF Neeravil Mahesh R LDF Anchalummoodu West Rija Sugunan UDF Anchalummoodu East Adv. M.S. Gopakumar UDF Kadavoor Dhanya Raju UDF Mathilil B. Prashanth LDF Thevally B. Shailaja NDA Vadakkumbhagam Kuruvila Joseph UDF Asramam Suresh Kumar C NDA Uliyakovil Sandhya Sajeev NDA Uliyakovil East Abhilash T.R. NDA Kadappakkada Prabin Kumar A NDA Koyikkal A.M. Rafi LDF Kallumthazham Moncy Das NDA Mangadu Ajina Prashanth LDF Arunnoottimangalam T.G. Gireesh NDA Chathinamkulam A. Nissar Independent Karikode C. Babu LDF College Division P.K. Anil Kumar UDF Palkulangara Babu G LDF Ammannada Nirmala LDF Vadakkevila Krishna Kumar D UDF Pallimukku Shaima UDF Ayathil Jaariyath LDF Kilikolloor T. Lailakumari UDF Punthalathazham P. Rajendran Pilla UDF Palathara R. Destimona NDA Manacadu Sadakkath A UDF Kolloorvila Mashoor Pallimukku UDF Kayyalakkal Maajida Wahab UDF Valathungal Suja LDF Akkolil A.K. Assain UDF Thekkumbhagam Isabella J UDF Eravipuram Nisha Santhosh LDF Bharanikkavu Lakshmi Shaji LDF Thekkevila Deepika Pramoj NDA Mundakkal Jayalakshmi J UDF Pattathanam Adv. J. Saiju LDF Contonment Shiny T UDF Udayamarthandapuram Dhanya S UDF Thamarakulam A.K. Hafeez UDF Port Vincy Baiju UDF Kaikulangara Preetha J UDF Cutchery Shashikala Rao NDA Thangassery Dr. Udaya Sukumaran UDF Thirumullavaram Udaya Thulasidharan UDF Mulankadakam Ranjith Kalungumukham UDF Alattukavu Rajashree M LDF Kannimel West Ajith Chozhathil NDA Kannimel P.J. Rajendran LDF
Elections The first local body election after Kollam municipality was upgraded to a corporation took place in 2000.
Corporation Election 2025 S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators Change1. UDF 27 18 2. LDF 16 233. BJP 12 64. OTHERS 01 Total 56
Corporation Election 2020 S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators Change1. LDF 39 33. UDF 09 73. BJP 06 44. OTHERS 01 Total 55
Corporation Election 2015 S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators Change1. LDF 36 23. UDF 16 33. BJP 02 24. IND 01 1Total 55
Election history Since the incorporation of the KMC in 2000, only the LDF has been in power.
Year of election LDF UDF NDA Others Total seats Winner Source 2025 16 27 12 1 55 UDF 18 2020 39 9 6 1 55 LDF 3 2015 36 16 2 1 55 LDF 2 2010 34 19 0 2 55 LDF 2 2005 36 10 0 6 52 LDF 11 2000 25 20 0 5 50 LDF 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.
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).
Mayors of Kollam +Mayors of Kollam IncumbentFromUntilPartySabitha Beegam 5 October 200030 September 2005CPI(M)N. Padmalochanan6 October 200525 February 2010CPI(M)V. Rajendrababu16 March 20101 October 2010CPI(M)Prasanna Earnest9 November 20107 November 2014CPI(M)Honey Benjamin25 November 201431 October 2015CPIV. Rajendrababu18 November 201520 November 2019CPI(M)Honey Benjamin16 December 20194 November 2020CPIPrasanna Earnest27 December 202010 February 2025CPI(M)Honey Benjamin28 February 202513 December 2025CPIA. K. Hafeez26 December 2025PresentINC Source(s): 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. In 2025, Prassana Earnest had to step down and make way for a CPI mayor following protest from the alliance partner of LDF.
Former Municipal Chairmen of Old Quilon Municipality +Former Municipal Chairmen of Old Quilon MunicipalityIncumbentFromUntilParty/ProfessionAdv. C. Sankara Menon 19211922Barrister Padmanabhapillai19221925M. R. Govinda Pillai19251927M. R. Madhava Varrier19271930Lawyer, Quilon Labour Union (1928), Travancore State Congress (1938)Paravoor Narayana Pillai19301932K. G. Parameswaran Pillai19321948Adv. Palakasseri Raghavan19481952INCP. R. Kochukrishna Pillai19521956Adv. K. Kesavan Potti19561960Sankaranarayanan Potti19601962T. K. Divakaran19621967RSPS. Abdul Rahuman Koya15 March 196729 April 1968Adv. N. Thankappan13 May 19687 March 1980INCKarumalil Sukumaran2 June 19807 May 1982INCK. Thankappan28 August 198222 November 1983CPI(M)C. Raghavan Pillai1 December 198329 September 1984Gopal Krishna Pillai26 October 198410 April 1985( IAS officer appointed by Govt.)C. V. Ananda Bose IAS26 April 19859 July 1987( IAS officer appointed by Govt.)Neelagangadharan IAS5 August 19874 February 1988( IAS officer appointed by Govt.)Karumalil Sukumaran17 November 198830 September 1995INCK. Thankappan4 October 19951 April 1998CPI(M)Prof. N. G. Moorthy4 May 19985 October 1999Uliyakovil Sasi29 October 199930 September 2000CPI Source(s): The Chinnakada Clock Tower was constructed in 1944 as tribute to then chairman K.G. Parameshwaran Pillai.
Kollam Corporation projects under construction/ completed