Steps to Improve Urban Infrastructure Development in Cities

The Government of India has taken a number of steps to improve urban infrastructure and basic services. These include the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which was launched in 2005-06 and seeks to improve urban infrastructure, housing, transport and urban basic services. The JNNURM comprises sub-Mission-I on Urban Infrastructure and Governance and sub-Mission-II on Basic Service for Urban Poor and covers 65 identified towns apart from Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) which covers other towns. This information was given by Shri Saugata Roy, Minister of State, Urban Development in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.

He said that financial assistance for urban infrastructure is also being provided by the Ministry of Urban Development under the 10 percent lumpsum scheme for the development of Northeastern region including Sikkim, the ADB added North Eastern Region Development Programme and Pilot project on Development of Urban Infrastructure in Satellite Towns around the Seven mega Cities, besides identified metro and other projects.

Urban development is subject matter of states. Central Government supplements the efforts of the states through financial assistance and policies. As per the 11th Five Year Plan estimates, the requirements for water supply, sewerage, sanitation, drainage, solid waste management and urban transport are projected at Rs.2,61,809 crore. The revised estimates of housing requirements stand at Rs.5,10,000 crore. Against these requirements, the overall central assistance under JNNURM was initially envisaged at Rs.50,000 crore over a seven year mission period of 2005-12.

With the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission in 2005, the Government of India has significantly increased the expenditure on urban development. The Ministry of Urban Development has taken a number of steps to ensure that allotted funds are effectively utilized. A system of calling for quarterly progress reports, review meetings and independent review and monitoring by third parties has been developed for efficient utilization of funds, the minister added.