Kerala’s landmark urban policy sparks interest beyond the state

With Kerala becoming the first state in the country to frame a comprehensive Urban Policy, attention has now turned to whether other states will follow suit. While there is no official announcement yet from any other state to adopt a similar statewide urban policy, experts and policymakers say Kerala’s initiative could serve as a template for future urban planning across India .

The policy, approved by the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan , lays out a long-term roadmap for managing urbanisation up to 2050. It envisions Kerala as a network of climate-smart cities and towns, grounded in scientific planning, decentralised governance, and inclusive development.

Officials involved in drafting the policy have indicated that the framework was designed not just for Kerala’s unique settlement patterns but also to offer broader lessons for other states facing rapid urban growth, climate challenges, and infrastructure stress.

At the national level, urban development is already guided by centrally sponsored schemes and policy frameworks encouraging sustainable and planned urbanisation. However, most states currently rely on sector-specific programmes or city-centric master plans , rather than a single, integrated urban policy covering an entire state. Kerala’s approach marks a departure from this trend by treating urbanisation as a statewide and continuous process , rather than one limited to municipal boundaries.

Several states are already undertaking initiatives aligned with parts of Kerala’s vision. These include reforms in urban governance, housing missions, satellite city development, and climate-resilient infrastructure projects. However, these efforts remain fragmented , lacking a unifying long-term policy document.

Urban experts note that increasing urban populations, pressure on land and resources, and the growing impact of climate change may push more states to adopt comprehensive urban strategies in the coming years. Kerala’s policy, they say, could help shape both state-level initiatives and future national discussions on urban development.

For now, Kerala remains the only state to have formally articulated a long-term urban vision extending to 2050. Whether others replicate or adapt this model will depend on regional priorities, political will, and the pace of urbanisation in different parts of the country.