The National Local Dialogue on "Transitioning Towards Innovative Cities" was convened under the ARISE Cities Forum 2025 to facilitate discussions on innovative, resilient, and inclusive urban development pathways for Indian cities. The dialogue brought together policymakers, urban practitioners, city representatives, and development partners to exchange knowledge and showcase emerging approaches to sustainable urban transformation.

The event highlighted the role of innovation, technology, strategic partnerships, and data-driven governance in strengthening urban resilience and improving service delivery. Discussions drew upon experiences from UrbanShift partner cities and demonstrated how collaborative institutional mechanisms can support integrated and evidence-based urban planning.

Key themes included multi-stakeholder coordination for urban governance, Transit Influence Area (TIA) Planning as a framework for sustainable and inclusive transit-oriented development, and the importance of knowledge management and capacity building for scaling successful urban practices across cities. The dialogue reinforced the commitment of UrbanShift and its partners towards fostering resilient, innovative, people-centric, and sustainable cities in India.