The Hindu Business Line : States approach Centre with development plans for cities

The mission
In December 2005, Government had announced the JNNURM, aimed at improving urban infrastructure and urban basic services.
Special emphasis on provision of basic services to the urban poor.

New Delhi , March 24

Close on the heels of the launch of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have approached the Urban Development Ministry with development plans for specific cities.

"Some States including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal have prepared their city development plan for specific cities. As per the process, these will now be appraised by experts following which detailed project reports will be prepared," a senior official from Ministry for Urban Development said on the sidelines of a conference on `Alternative Technologies for Urban Transport'. In December 2005, Government had announced the JNNURM, aimed at improving urban infrastructure and urban basic services in over 60 cities with a million plus population, all State capitals and some cities of religious, historical and tourist importance.

The mission is aimed at giving focused attention to integrated development of urban infrastructure and services, with special emphasis on provision of basic services to the urban poor, including housing, water supply, sanitation, slum improvement, community toilets and bath. Improving the efficiency of city governance through public participation and disclosure is also an objective of this programme. The list of cities being covered initially under the mission include some of historical and tourist importance such as Varanasi, Amritsar, Haridwar, and Ujjain.

A combined investment by Central Government, State Governments and the urban local bodies of over Rs 1 lakh crore is proposed to be spent on this programme in the next seven years. Of this, Centre's share is expected to be about Rs 50,000 crore. In the current fiscal, a budget provision has already been made for about Rs 5,000 crore.