Dr. Ajith Kaliyath, Urban Chair Professor at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and Associate Director of PASCAL International Observatory (Asia), stressed the urgent need for context-specific urban design strategies tailored to Kerala’s unique urban demographic patterns. Speaking on Kerala’s Urban Turn: Strengthening Urban Local Governments through Creativity, Innovation, and Digital Governance, Dr. Kaliyath delivered the inaugural address of the Dialogues on Development Innovations series organised by the Centre for Technology and Human Development Studies (CTHDS) at the School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies (SGTDS), Mahatma Gandhi University.

Dr. Kaliyath noted that the concept of Neurourbanism offers profound insights into creating healthier urban environments, while Collisionability is key to sparking innovation and driving economic growth within our cities. He proposed innovative strategies for six major cities in Kerala, including envisioning Thiruvananthapuram as a City of Peace and Kochi as a City of Design, asserting that these initiatives will significantly influence urban development in the region.

Additionally, he highlighted the potential of India’s app economy, stating that harnessing data-driven urban services is not just an option but a necessity for modern urban governance. Dr. Kaliyath also emphasised the need for effective citizen engagement, referring to Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation as a vital framework.

The event, chaired by Prof. Noushad P P, Director of SGTDS, and introduced by Dr. Rajesh Many, Honorary Director of CTHDS, attracted a diverse audience of academics, urban planners, policymakers, and students.