Kochi council clears a concept note of 30 projects worth over Rs 1,500 crore for the Urban Challenge Fund

3 November 2026

The Kochi Municipal Corporation council approved a concept note listing 30 projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore, to be sent up for the Union government's Urban Challenge Fund.
The fund works from 2026 to 2031. Central assistance is capped at 25 per cent of project cost, and at least half the money has to come from municipal bonds, bank borrowing and public private partnerships.
Kerala has Rs 5,000 crore earmarked under the scheme, released first come, first served.
The note is drawn from the city's Kochi@2050 blueprint. It includes a Kaloor Integrated Mobility Hub at Rs 150 to 200 crore, a Kochi Civic Tower at Kacherippady at Rs 175 crore, a Kochi 3D Digital Twin and Urban Intelligence Platform at Rs 35 crore, and a Brahmapuram circular resource recovery and construction waste facility at Rs 32 crore.
Mayor V K Minimol said Kochi wants to be the first local body in the State to send in Urban Challenge Fund proposals, and that municipal and green bonds will be preferred.
The State government will scrutinise the note first; only cleared projects go on to Detailed Project Reports and then to the Centre.