Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday met Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and sought Central assistance for various projects like Metro and housing in the State.
Chouhan also demanded financial assistance for Ujjain Kumbh Mela and smart city project for Gwalior.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government proposed to take up feasibility studies for introducing Metro projects in Gwalior and Jabalpur, and he requested Naidu to provide financial support for the preparation of the Detailed Project Reports.
He informed that the DPRs for the metro projects in Bhopal and Indore have been completed.
The Chief Minister said that under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) the State Government has implemented most of the reforms and requested the Minister for release of Rs150 crore that has been withheld.
At the meeting, he also discussed organisation of Ujjain Kumbh Mela in 2016.
Stating that over five crore people are expected to
participate in the Mela, Chauhan requested for Central assistance on the lines given to the UP Government for the fair.
Naidu said that after the presentation of the General Budget on July 10 and depending on the availability of resources for his Ministry, the state's requests would be given consideration.
Naidu asked the Chief Minister to take necessary action to allot immediately 22,000 houses that were constructed under JNNURM besides ensuring spending of funds allocated under the National Urban livelihood Mission.
Referring to the recent cancellation of public transport projects of Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain municipal corporations by the Union Urban Development Ministry, he said that these three are very important projects for the masses and these are major cities of the state. Chouhan urged that the Union Ministry should withdraw this decision and re-sanction the three projects.
The Chief Minister registered his objection with the Union Urban Development Minister for applying market rates on the land allotted to Madhya Pradesh for constructing its building in Vasant Kunj. He said that land to Madhya Pradesh should be allotted on l & DO rates like Mizoram, Meghalaya, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Naidu gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by the Chief Minister and assured every possible cooperation by his ministry.