Smart Cities, Urban Housing Missions Launched

Government on Thursday launched another ambitious project to establish Smart Cities across the country. In the first phase Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three mega urban schemes, named , Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Housing for All in urban area at a program in New Delhi. These plans have been mooted to transform urban transformation to enable better living and drive economic growth. While launching the program PM stressed the need for people centric urban planning and development and said that for the first time in the county such an effort has been launched. He said that the Government is committed to enable 2 cr urban poor own their houses by the year 2022, the 75 year of Independence of the Country.

On the occasion, Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation  M.Venkaiah Naidu explained the logics behind the schemes. He said that these are planned to  promote inclusive development and the new schemes are pro-poor in their orientation.  He explained that Smart Cities, AMRUT and Housing Mission would help the urban poor through increased access to water supply, sewer connections, public transportation, housing, improved urban governance ensuring transparency and accountability and better delivery of services, enhanced employment opportunities etc.

As per the scheme document new urban schemes have been so designed and formulated that it completely do away with any subjectivity or discretion in selection of cities and in allocation of funds. Also states are being given full liberty and flexibility in formulation, appraisal and approval of projects. He said that urban reforms, smart leadership and smart people are keys to the success of new missions.

Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Haryana, Deputy Chief Minister of J&K, Ministers 20 States, Mayors, Municipal Chairpersons and Commissioners from 500 cities and towns, senior officials from Central and State governments have attended the launch program.