Team Blitz India
Kerala has recently approved the urban commission aimed at making the state first at formulating an urban policy and guide its developmental activities for the next 25 years. It comprises international experts for the development of urban areas in the state.
The commission will coordinate development activities that transform the state into a single city by 2030.
Urbanisation has led to significant climate change impacts and other transformations. These include land use, evolving building types, and increasing urban disparities. Urban areas face various challenges, including pollution, housing crises, water and sanitation issues, creation of unequal city spaces, necessitating comprehensive management, among others.
While the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) have achieved certain objectives, there is need for an integrated strategy at the state level.
Under the circumstances, Kerala’s initiative in forming an urban commission aims to address such complexities. The commission’s mandate to create a 25-year urban development roadmap for the state highlights the need for long-term, holistic planning that aligns with current trends. The Kerala Urban Commission, with its comprehensive approach to urban challenges, may serve as a model for other highly urbanised states.
