10th September 2025 (16 Topics)
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Kerala’s Urban Transformation
Context:
Kerala’s first State-level Urban Policy Commission (KUPC) submitted its 25-year urban roadmap in March 2025, proposing systemic reforms for climate-resilient, citizen-centered urbanization.
Background
- Kerala exhibits “rurban” settlements — villages, towns, and backwaters blend seamlessly.
- Urban population projected to exceed 80% by 2050, stressing infrastructure and governance.
- Climate threats: floods (Ernakulam), landslides (Western Ghats), coastal erosion.
- KUPC formed in Dec 2023 as India’s first State-level urban commission to provide a tailored, proactive urban policy.
Objectives of KUPC
- Treat cities as climate-aware ecosystems.
- Integrate citizen experiences with scientific data.
- Enable fiscal empowerment of municipalities via bonds and green levies.
Methodology
- 33 deep-dive studies: land-use, water systems, finance, civic health.
- 53 district-level stakeholder dialogues with local authorities, NGOs, residents, gig workers.
- Use of Census, satellite imagery, LIDAR, radar, tide/water gauges, and real-time weather data.
Key Recommendations
- Climate and Risk-Aware Zoning: Urban planning incorporates flood, landslide, and coastal hazard mapping.
- Digital Data Observatory: Real-time municipal intelligence at Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA).
- Financial Instruments: Green fees for eco-sensitive zones; parametric disaster insurance; municipal and pooled bonds.
- Governance Overhaul: City cabinets led by mayors; specialist cells; youth tech talent via “Jnanashree” program.
- Place-Based Economic Revival: Thrissur-Kochi: FinTech hub; Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam: Knowledge corridor; Kozhikode: Literature city; Palakkad & Kasaragod: Smart-industrial zones.
- Commons, Culture, and Care: Wetland revival, waterways, heritage preservation; city health councils for migrants, students, gig workers.
Unique Features
- First sub-national commission tailored to Kerala’s socio-ecological realities.
- Citizen-generated data integrated into policy.
- Climate resilience embedded in all pillars.
- Fiscal autonomy via bonds and levies.
- Governance combines elected leadership and youth technocrats.
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