Thiruvananthapuram, February 13 Kerala became the first state in the country to formulate a comprehensive Urban Policy on Friday, outlining a long-term development roadmap as it rapidly moves towards an urban future.
The policy envisions Kerala in 2050 as "a continuous network of climate-smart cities and towns, ensuring scientific planning and good governance."
The state cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, approved the draft Urban Policy prepared by the Local Self Government Department, marking the culmination of nearly two years of sustained work, a CMO release said here.
The initiative was first announced in the 2023-24 state budget.
In December 2023, the government constituted the Kerala Urban Policy Commission, bringing together national and international experts.
The commission submitted the Nava Kerala Urban Policy report to the Chief Minister in March 2025.
To facilitate wider discussions on the report, the government organized a global conference in Kochi in September.
Ministers, mayors, elected representatives, and experts from India and abroad participated in detailed deliberations on urbanization.
Suggestions that emerged during the conference were later incorporated into the final policy.
According to estimates by the Urban Policy Commission, Kerala is expected to become nearly 80 per cent urbanized by 2050.
Urban growth is projected to spread in a decentralized manner across densely populated regions between the high ranges and the coastal belt.
With climate change posing increasing challenges, the Urban Policy is intended to serve as a foundational document for approaching urban development in a scientific manner, including in environmentally sensitive areas.
It also outlines ways to harness urbanization to support the state's economic growth.
Drawing from Kerala's tradition of decentralized governance and participatory planning, the policy aims to promote inclusive development and ensure that the benefits of urbanization are accessible to all sections of society.
Along with improving the quality of urban infrastructure, the policy seeks to reduce social and spatial inequalities and strengthen social support systems.
The Urban Policy focuses on key thematic areas such as reforms in laws and institutional systems, capacity building and strengthening of governance structures, people-centric services and programs, infrastructure development, and spatial and strategic planning.