Linking the state’s urban agenda to broader developmental initiatives, the Chief Minister referred to the Nava Kerala Mission and flagship programmes launched since 2016, including the LIFE Mission for housing, Aardram for healthcare, Haritha Kerala for environmental rejuvenation, and the Public Education Rejuvenation campaign.

He pointed to large-scale projects such as the Kochi Metro, Water Metro, Vizhinjam port, national highway upgrades, the GAIL pipeline, and the K-Fon connectivity project as examples of progress in both physical and digital infrastructure.

Grassroots interventions, he said, had also played a major role. The state’s waste management campaign now includes over 20,000 mini material collection facilities and more than 1,400 material collection centres, supported by 40,000 Green Kerala volunteers.

Nearly five lakh houses have been delivered under the LIFE Mission, while education and healthcare infrastructure have been upgraded in both urban and semi-urban areas.

Vijayan stressed that the conclave was not merely an academic exercise but a platform to frame practical solutions. He urged experts to consider Kerala’s unique pattern of urbanisation, driven not only by industrialisation but also by social and economic factors, and to design models that take into account its density, geography, and developmental priorities.

“Kerala is already one of India’s most urbanised states. By 2035, over 90% of our people will live in urban areas. We must prepare now to manage this transformation in a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive manner,” he said.

Declaring the conclave open, Vijayan expressed confidence that discussions over the next two days would result in “bold ideas, collaborative actions, and enduring partnerships” to shape the state’s urban future.