Urban policy in Kerala need of the hour

Cities are the future. Framing urban development policy is pivotal for the development of any state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while inaugurating the two-day Kerala Urban Conclave held in Kochi, reasserted the need for a clear, sustainable and inclusive urban policy in Kerala, where urbanisation is booming. The conclave was organised by the Local Self-Government Department. Minister M.B. Rajesh also clarified in the concluding session that the draft urban policy of Kerala will be prepared soon, including the suggestions of the conclave.

Any place with a minimum population of 5,000 where 75 per cent of income is from non-agricultural activities can be considered a city. Based on this, excluding large cities, there are an estimated 350 small cities in Kerala. It is estimated that by 2035, about 90 per cent of Kerala's population will be urban. The urbanisation of Kerala depends not only on industry but also on many other social, economic and environmental factors.

Kochi’s sudden climb to become a metropolis is largely attributed to the availability of the port in the region. Along with this, the concentration of commercial, educational, and health institutions and the facilities of land, rail, and air routes contributed to its success. Kochi is now among the first thirty most developed cities in India. However, the same development has hitherto failed to reach neighbouring Alappuzha, as there is a large imbalance in the growth of cities. With the full completion of the Vizhinjam port, it can be expected that the city of Thiruvananthapuram will undergo a major development spurt.

For the development of cities, cooperation and coordination between various departments, along with good planning, are essential. The lack of such coordination has stymied many of our places from rising into the ranks of cities and staying in their old, underdeveloped phase. Therefore, it is essential to formulate a common urban policy for the development of cities in the state. Around 300 suggestions were made in the Urban Conclave, including forming five economic growth hubs in Kerala centred on various cities, forming business development councils in each city, and appointing professionals to make urban governance more efficient. Plans and measures to ensure the participation of the private sector in urban development should also be taken by the government.

The Urban Conclave held in Kochi has given the necessary impetus to form the basis for the formulation of a good urban policy for the state.