Kerala Urban Conclave kicks off with exhibition today, CM to inaugurate main event tomorrow

Kochi: Kerala, long admired for its strong tradition of social development and innovative governance, is now taking a historic step by shaping India’s first comprehensive urban policy. As part of this ambitious initiative, the Kerala Urban Conclave 2025 will be held in Kochi, beginning with an exhibition on Thursday. Local Self-Government Minister M. B. Rajesh will inaugurate the exhibition at 3 p.m. at Marine Drive.

The exhibition will showcase Kerala’s urban development journey, innovative ideas, cutting-edge technologies, sustainable models, and improvements in civic amenities. Various government agencies and local self-government institutions will present their successful initiatives and models. The exhibition will remain open until the 15th.

The conclave itself will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Grand Hyatt Convention Centre in Kochi. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar attending as chief guest. This marks the first time any state in India is formulating an urban policy, aimed at addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization while harnessing its opportunities.

To prepare for this, the government appointed a commission of experts two years ago. The commission divided the areas of concern into 10 sectors and submitted its report. Discussions based on this report at the conclave will help finalize the policy. The goal is to view cities not merely as centers of physical development but as places that enhance quality of life, promote social justice, safeguard the environment, and celebrate cultural diversity. The conclave will also deliberate on climate challenges, demographic pressures, and issues in employment and education. Ministers and mayors from three foreign countries will also participate.

Global mayors to join
The High-Level Political Forum of the Kerala Urban Conclave will feature mayors who have set benchmarks in urban development.

Cyril Xaba, mayor of eThekwini Municipality in Durban, South Africa, will serve as vice-chair of the conference. Under his leadership, eThekwini achieved Smart City recognition. Colombo’s second woman mayor, Wrei Callie Balthazar, will also take part. Edward Tedue, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities and former mayor of Várzea Paulista, credited with transforming the city into an industrial hub, will be another key participant.

From the Maldives, Malé mayor Adam Azim will join the conclave. He has led national agencies in transport, construction, trading, water purification, and wastewater management. The mayors’ conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Convention Centre on the 13th, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with participation from mayors of municipal corporations across India as well as all six corporations of Kerala.