With the passage of time, the city of Kochi has undergone morphological change as well. This city, which appeared narrow and sword-like, has expanded in the southern side. Most of the open spaces as well as areas prone to flooding in the south and agricultural areas in southern and western Kochi are now being used for other purposes. The domination of the real estate lobby is rather total in these areas.
The commercial areas are showing marked changes. The market areas are getting bigger and more planned. Commercial areas are encroaching upon the residential areas. When considering the continuing appreciation in Real Estate Kochi is witnessing such a trend due to the domination of the commercial activities over all other occupations.
Markets have developed on both sides of roads, to cater to the needs of the locality. The Kochi Municipal Corporation limits have now expanded up to the boundary of Alwaye. New residential areas, owned by both private and government agencies, have sprung up. The expansion of the residential areas in the western side is primarily due to the geographical location of the prominent businesses.
In the south, housing localities and the Co-operative colonies housing the High Income Groups (HIG), Middle Income Groups (MIG) and the Low Income Groups (LIG) and also the residential areas have expanded. People have started living in new colonies with additional facilities. The south over bridge has provided accessibility to and from residential areas to offices and has also helped to ease the traffic congestion. Residential areas are getting denser with the increase in population. While Panampilly Nagar in the south is a prominent residential locality, certain other residential areas have developed near the new Bye Pass Road.