Kerala becomes first State to have an urban policy

Kerala became India’s first State with a comprehensive urban policy to guide development activities for the next 25 years with the State Cabinet on Friday approving the draft policy prepared by the Local Self-Government department. The government had announced the policy in the State Budget for 2023-24.

In December 2023, the government had formed the Kerala Urban Policy Commission, comprising national and international experts, and in March 2025 the commission submitted the Urban Policy Report to the Chief Minister.

Subsequently, a global conference was held in Kochi in September to discuss the report in detail.

The conference, attended by Ministers, Mayors, public representatives and experts from national and international levels, held detailed discussions on urbanisation. The government has now prepared the urban policy by also incorporating the suggestions that emerged at the discussions.

According to the Urban Policy Commission, 80% of Kerala will be urbanised by 2050. Decentralised urban development is spreading in highly populated areas between the hills and the coastal areas. The policy prepared by the government will be a basic document for a scientific approach to urban development, including in environmentally sensitive areas, considering climate change concerns too.

It puts forward the approach and possibilities for effectively using urbanisation for the economic growth of Kerala.

The urban policy for Kerala in 2050 envisions a continuous network of climate-smart cities and towns, ensuring scientific planning and good governance, following the State’s traditional decentralised governance and participatory planning.

The policy aims to reduce social and spatial inequalities and ensure social support systems while creating high-quality urban amenities.

The commission report is arranged around the 10 policy pillars which have been identified as critical instruments to manage urban challenges in Kerala and to advance an urban policy, prioritising people, enhancing resilience and strengthening collective local governance.

It has suggested a public, private and people’s partnership (PPPP) in the future development of Kerala.