In a landmark decision, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet has greenlit the Nav Kerala Urban Policy, positioning the state as India’s pioneer in crafting a comprehensive 25-year urban development blueprint. Announced in the 2023-24 state budget, this policy emerged from two years of rigorous consultations with local experts and stakeholders.
The Local Self-Government Department drafted the policy, which received final approval after extensive deliberations. A dedicated Kerala Urban Policy Commission, comprising national and international specialists, was formed in December 2023. The commission submitted its detailed ‘Nav Kerala Urban Policy Report’ to the Chief Minister in March 2025, followed by a global conference in Kochi in September where ministers, mayors, elected representatives, and urban experts from India and abroad discussed the future of urbanization in Kerala.
Projections indicate that by 2050, 80% of Kerala’s population will reside in urban areas, with expansion anticipated in decentralized patterns across highland regions, coastal zones, and densely populated interiors. Amid escalating climate change challenges, the policy introduces a scientific framework to manage urban growth, particularly in environmentally vulnerable areas.
At its core, the policy envisions a network of climate-smart cities and towns by 2050, rooted in Kerala’s legacy of decentralized governance and participatory planning. It aims to harness urbanization as an engine for economic growth while ensuring equitable access to urban amenities for all.
Key priorities include high-quality infrastructure development, reducing social and spatial inequalities, and bolstering social support systems. Focus areas encompass legal and institutional reforms, capacity building, strengthened governance, citizen-centric services, infrastructure enhancement, and strategic spatial planning, all designed to steer Kerala’s urban transformation toward sustainability and inclusivity.