Font size:
Print
Kerala Urban Policy Commission (KUPC)
Context:
In a pioneering move, the Kerala Urban Policy Commission (KUPC) has projected that 80% of the state’s population will be urban by 2050.
More on News
- The commission, the first of its kind in India, recently submitted its report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the presence of Minister for Local Self Government and Excise M. B. Rajesh.
- Kerala stands as the only state in India with a dedicated urban policy.
- The report provides insights for shaping Kerala’s urban landscape over the next 25 years.
Key Recommendations for Urban Resilience
- Master Plan: The commission has underscored the need for a risk-informed master plan at the local level to integrate climate resilience into urban planning.
- It recommended aligning all spatial plans with this framework to ensure cohesive and risk-sensitive development, particularly in ecologically fragile and hazard-prone areas.
- Green Fee: To finance disaster risk reduction initiatives, the commission suggested levying a targeted green fee on urban development projects.
- It also proposed expanding disaster-specific insurance schemes to protect vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure.
- Furthermore, it called for the establishment of a state-level climate finance advisory cell to help local governments secure green funds, carbon financing, and international climate adaptation resources.
Reimagining Kerala’s Urban Future
- The report envisions Kerala’s cities evolving based on regional strengths. It proposes:
- Thrissur-Kochi as a fintech hub
- Palakkad and Kasaragod as industrial smart cities
- Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam as a knowledge corridor fostering research and innovation
- Kannur as a fashion city
- Kannur-Kasaragod and Thrissur-Ernakulam as Edu Health Hubs
- Kozhikode as the ‘City of Literature’ leveraging its rich literary heritage
- To achieve these transformations, the report emphasises the importance of Industrial Revolution 4.0, urging Kerala to strengthen MSMEs, harness high technology, promote collaboration between educational institutions and private investors, and implement a fast-track single-window licensing approval system reducing wait times to 7-15 days.
Vertical Growth and the India Infrastructure Report
- In alignment with the India Infrastructure Report, which advocates for vertical growth in urban development, the KUPC report suggests that Kerala should embrace high-rise urbanisation to optimise land use, improve public transport integration, and enhance infrastructure efficiency.
- This is particularly crucial given the state’s high population density and limited horizontal expansion potential.
- The commission has also called for ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mapping in cities to gain a detailed view of subsurface utilities, ensuring effective infrastructure development.
- Additionally, it recommends systematic geo-physical surveys for capturing subsurface strata in the midlands and plains.
Financial Challenge: India Needs $55 Billion Annually
- Kerala’s urban development goals align with a national concern—the massive financial requirement for upgrading India’s urban infrastructure.
- According to estimates, India needs approximately $55 billion annually for urban infrastructure upgradation (UIU).
- The commission stresses the need for private-public partnerships (PPPs), international funding, and smart urban taxation to bridge this financial gap.
Debashish Dhar’s ‘The Blind Spot’ and Urban Planning Gaps
- Urban expert Debashish Dhar, in his book The Blind Spot, highlights the critical gaps in Indian urban planning, particularly the lack of efficient governance structures and adaptive policies for urban expansion.
- The KUPC report echoes this concern, emphasising the necessity of integrated urban governance that prioritises sustainable growth while addressing local needs.
The ‘15-Minute City’ Model for Kerala
- A transformative urban concept gaining global traction is the 15-minute city model, which envisions urban centers where residents can access work, healthcare, education, and leisure within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.
- The KUPC report suggests adopting this model, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, to enhance livability, reduce congestion, and minimise carbon emissions.
Towards an Inclusive Urban Future
- The commission’s recommendations also address social inclusivity by advocating the establishment of health committees to develop age-friendly neighborhoods and assess the needs of the elderly.
- Additionally, it calls for improved healthcare access for migrants, proposing multilingual support services and extended public health facility hours.
As Kerala gears up for an urban transformation, the KUPC report offers a roadmap that balances growth with sustainability, economic opportunity with resilience, and modernisation with cultural preservation. If implemented effectively, these recommendations could serve as a model for other Indian states navigating the challenges of rapid urbanisation.
