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URBAN DEVELOPMENT
The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series ‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
A comprehensive scheme to give thrust to urban infrastructure and basic services, titled National Urban Renewal Mission has been prepared with an outlay of Rs.5,500 crore in the current financial year 2005-06, in keeping with the objectives of the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP). The Mission seeks to provide reform-linked central assistance to select cities for infrastructure development and provision of basic services to the urban poor. The outlay includes Rs.700 crore for Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) which will address the infrastructural development needs of cities/towns which are not covered under National Urban Renewal Mission.
For the purpose of reform and efficiency in the urban governance two initiatives are being taken up during 2005-06.They are (i) National Mission Mode Project on e-Governance in municipalities which would be launched in August 2005 in 35 cities with million plus population and (ii) Developing a National Municipal Accounting Manual to provide a framework of National Municipal Accounting and a simplified tool kit to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for recording the accounting entries.
In order to compile huge amount of data generated at various levels of urban planning and management, in a systematic and user-friendly manner, government has finalised the National Urban Information System (NUIS) that would be implemented in 137 towns/ cities in the first phase. The NUIS comprises Urban Spatial Information System (USIS) and National Urban Databank and Indicators (NUDB&I).
National Urban Transport Policy has been finalised with the objective to ensure easily accessible, safe, affordable, quick, comfortable, reliable and sustainable mobility in and around our cities. Its focus would be on incorporating urban transportation as an important parameter at the urban planning stage, encouraging integrated land use and transport planning so as to minimise the distances travelled, establishing regulatory mechanisms that allow a level playing field for all operators of transport services, promoting the use of cleaner technologies and road safety.
Draft Master Plan for Delhi-2021 has been prepared by Delhi Development Authority and notified inviting suggestions/objections from public. The final plan will be ready by December 2005.
Draft Regional Plan 2021 has been published by NCR Planning Board inviting suggestions/objections from the public.
Nearly 100 per cent of the plan allocation of Rs 2210.62 crore for the year 2004-05 was spent during the year. Against the total grant of Rs.2636.38 crore the ministry utilised Rs.2607.99 crore.
Projects in North Eastern States
An amount of Rs.114.50 crore was allocated and released under 10 per cent Lump Sum Provision, towards projects/ schemes for infrastructure development in urban areas of North Eastern Region including Sikkim, during 2004-2005 for 29 projects. NBCC, a PSU under the Ministry, is executing most of the projects.
Delhi MRTS Project
Phase-I of Delhi MRTS Project is proceeding on schedule with the first underground section of 4 km. from Vishwa Vidyalaya to Kashmere Gate of the second line was inaugurated on December 19, 2004 by the Prime Minister. The underground line from Vishwa Vidyalaya to Central Secretariat is scheduled to be completed by June 2005. The third line from Indraprastha to Dwarka (25.65 km.) is scheduled to be completed by March 2006.
Bangalore METRO
33 KM long Bangalore Metro Project comprising 14.9 km North-South Corridor from Yashwanthpur to Jaynagar and 18.1 km East-West Corridor from Indira Nagar to Mysore Road is in the advanced stage of approval with Government of India. The estimated completion cost of this project is Rs.5605 crore spread over 5 years.
Shelter
Delhi Development Authority allotted 12,659 houses during the year under the new housing schemes, namely, Two Bed Room Housing Scheme offering 2,356 flats and Festival Housing Scheme offering 2,506 flats in different localities. Under the Rohini Residential Scheme, 1,788 MIG plots and 2,505 LIG plots were allotted by DDA during the year.
Similarly, CPWD completed 860 units of various types of General Pool Residential Accommodation and 35,250 sq.m of General Pool Office Accommodation. In addition 4,517 residential units for other Ministries & Police Organizations were also completed. Also construction of residential accommodation for the Ministry of Defence at 12 locations in Rajasthan, Punjab and J&K has been taken up by CPWD. Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for 12 stations amounting to Rs.1,138 crore have been submitted.
Rehabilitation of Tsunami Affected
A project for taking up permanent resettlement of Tsunami affected people in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry has been taken up by the Ministry. The construction work is likely to start immediately after the monsoon season. The proposal includes construction of 6,650 houses for tribals at Car Nicobar and Southern Islands and 2,700 houses for non tribals at Little Andaman and Greater Nicobar, UT of A&NI. The proposal for UT of Pondichery include construction of 3,601 houses at Karaikal and 4,575 houses at Pondicherry.
Infrastructure Development
Under the Centrally sponsored scheme for Infrastructural Development in Mega Cities, a sum of Rs.303.12 crore was released to five mega cities, viz., Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai during 2004-05 for undertaking infrastructure development projects. Some of the major projects approved during the year are;
(i)Construction of check dams in Adayar, Coovam and Palar rivers in Chennai to recharge the aquifers;
(ii)Rehabilitation of existing sewerage system in Bangalore city;
(iii)Water supply distribution system Phase-2 of Mumbai; and
(iv)Surface water supply in Bhatpara, Pujali and Baruipur municipalities in Calcutta.
Out of the total allocation of Rs. 150 crore for Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP), funds to the extent of Rs.146 crore were released to the State Governments during 2004-05. 206 new water supply projects for towns having population less than 20,000 were sanctioned under AUWSP. An amount of Rs. Four crore was released under AUWSP for reconstruction and repairs of water supply system in the Tsunami affected Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Setting up desalination plants in the towns along Coromandal coast is one of the thrust areas under NCMP to tide over the problem of shortage of drinking water in the coastal towns. This Ministry has cleared four proposals for Ramanathapuram & Keelakarai in Tamil Nadu, Bheemunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gopalpur in Orissa and Muthialpet in Pondicherry.
In order to provide proper sanitation facilities, including solid waste management and drainage to overcome the bird menace, the Central sector scheme of Solid Waste Management and Drainage in 10 selected Airfield Towns has been started. The towns covered are Gwalior (MP), Ambala (Haryana), Hindon (UP), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Tezpur (Assam), Dundigal (AP), Sirsa(Haryana), Adampur (Punjab), Pune (Maharashtra) and Bareilly (UP).
To augment the infrastructure facilities in the National Capital Region, 19 new infrastructure projects at an estimated cost of Rs.1,272 crore with loan component of Rs.824 crore were sanctioned by the National Capital Region Planning Board during the year. These include eight rural water supply projects at a cost of Rs.386 crore to meet the requirement of drinking water in the backward and water scarce rural areas of the Mewat Region of Haryana.
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RK:LV
PIB SF-36 (15.5.2005)
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