The Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoEUPD), NIT Calicut, successfully conducted the Urban Renaissance Tech Program (URTP) – Phase II from 7–11 June 2026. URTP is a flagship capacity-building initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, jointly implemented through the country's four Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Urban Planning and Design. Designed to strengthen the technical capacities of urban professionals, the programme equips participants with contemporary knowledge and practical skills to address emerging urban challenges.

The URTP framework comprises a Foundation Module, delivered collaboratively by all four Centres of Excellence, followed by specialised Elective Modules offered by individual CoEs. As one of the four MoHUA-established Centres of Excellence and the designated CoE for South India, CoEUPD, NIT Calicut conducted two elective tracks during Phase II: AI-Informed Disaster Management (AIDM) and Climate Resilience in Urban Planning (CRUP).

The five-day offline programme brought together 25 participants from diverse backgrounds, including government departments, urban local bodies, private sector organisations, consulting firms, research institutions, and academia. The AIDM track introduced participants to emerging technologies and analytical approaches for disaster risk reduction, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, GeoAI, remote sensing, flood inundation mapping, landslide susceptibility assessment, predictive modelling, and early warning systems. A key feature of the programme was its strong emphasis on experiential learning. Participants engaged in hands-on software training, practical exercises, case studies, group discussions. The CRUP track focused on climate adaptation and mitigation, resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions, climate finance, risk-informed planning, and sustainable urban development. Interactive sessions were led by distinguished experts from academia, government, industry, and professional practice.

As part of the programme requirements, participants also work on capstone projects, enabling them to apply acquired knowledge and tools to real-world urban challenges.

The programme concluded on 11 June with a field visit, enabling participants to observe real-world applications of urban planning, resilience, and disaster management concepts. The interdisciplinary platform facilitated valuable knowledge exchange among professionals from diverse sectors and regions across the country. Participants who successfully fulfil the programme requirements will be honoured at the URTP Convocation Ceremony in New Delhi, alongside participants from other Centres of Excellence across India.