KERALA URBAN POLICY COMMISSION REPORT 2025

Prioritising People, Enhancing Resilience and Strengthening Collective Local Governance

Ashok Gulati (Ed.), Raya Das (Ed.), Tirthankar Patnaik (Ed.)

 About the Book

The Kerala Urban Policy Commission Report 2025 is a landmark, evidence-based policy
document that articulates a long-term vision for Kerala’s urban transformation. As India’s first comprehensive state-level urban policy exercise of this scale, the Report responds to the realities of rapid urbanisation along Kerala’s unique urban–rural continuum.
Developed through rigorous research, district-level consultations, and engagement with local governments, experts, and civil society, the Report advances a people-centric framework grounded in equity, climate resilience, sustainability, and democratic decentralisation. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it offers integrated policy directions across spatial planning, governance reforms, infrastructure development, environmental management, and local economic growth. Prepared by the Kerala Urban Policy Commission, chaired by Professor M. Satish Kumar, this Report serves as a foundational reference for urban policy in Kerala and a valuable template for other States
in India.

About the Author/ Editors 

It is a genuine pleasure and privilege to endorse this inaugural Kerala Urban Policy Report, the first such statelevel policy in India. This authoritative report rests on extensive, high-quality work that enables it to capture effectively how Kerala’s unique history is embodied in its urban diversity and complexity. Simultaneously, it engages with both internal and external dynamics – from transnational economic processes and human mobility to accelerating climate and broader environmental changes – that must inform all short-, medium-and long-term policy and planning. The need for period updates to keep abreast of new developments is also recognised. — David Simon Professor, Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK With so much urbanisation yet to come in India, the Kerala Urban Policy Commission’s report is a muchneeded, comprehensive, and multidimensional analysis of the challenges and possibilities for governance, growth, and sustainability. Its multi-scale approach, integrating urban local bodies to regions and the whole state, is particularly impressive. I hope it will serve as a model for other states to emulate. — Sanjoy Chakravorty Professor of Geography and Urban Studies and Global Studies at Temple University, Philadelphia;
Visiting Fellow at the Center for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania
It is truly commendable to see the diligent efforts put forth by the commission in developing a comprehensive urban policy for Kerala. This report marks a significant milestone in the state’s journey towards sustainable urban development and growth. The collaborative spirit and dedication exhibited by the team are truly inspiring, and I am
confident that the insights and recommendations in the report will greatly benefit the region. — Sanjay Joshi Principal Urban Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank, Philippines.
Kerala’s Urban Policy Commission report provides a timely and rigorous blueprint for a people-centred, climate-resilient urban future across urban-rural continuum, supporting localisation of SDG11. Grounded in Kerala’s strong local self-government tradition and aligned with the Navakeralam (New Kerala) mission, it translates extensive stakeholder engagement into clear priorities for equity, well-being, risk-informed planning, and accountable
governance. Notably, this report balances vision with implementable strategies e.g. strengthening institutions, enabling participatory decision-making, leveraging digital tools, and outlining credible financing pathways, including public-private partnerships, land value capture, municipal bonds, and climate finance. Its focus on resilience, inclusion, and delivery makes it essential for policymakers.