PM to address civic heads at launch of flagship schemes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address elected heads of 500 civic bodies from across the country here on June 25, during the launch his three flagship schemes — Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Housing for All initiative, now named as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana on June 25.

The event will see Modi addressing Mayors and Chairpersons of selected 500 corporations and municipalities to outline his vision for emerging urban India, including challenges to be overcome, and a two-day brainstorming session involving the stakeholders and experts.

“It marks a red-letter day in the history of urban development in the country with the simultaneous launch of AMRUT, PMAY and Smart Cities Mission,” Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said according to a Government release.This reflects the integrated and convergence-based approach of the Government towards inclusive urban development. While AMRUT seeks to ensure basic infrastructure, PMAY enables the urban poor to own affordable houses, he said.

Modi will also release operational guidelines for the three urban missions besides unveiling logos and tag lines, informed a senior Urban Development Ministry official.“The two components — AMRUT and PMAY — enable the present cities emerge as smart cities in due course. Under Smart Cities Mission, quality of life will be enhanced in 100 identified cities and towns by ensuring quality infrastructure, improving services through application of smart solutions and enabling a clean and sustainable environment,” Naidu said.

Ministers of Urban Development, Municipal Affairs and Housing from all the States and Union Territories, besides elected heads of 500 municipal bodies, principal secretaries, commissioners of municipal bodies, other senior officials will attend the launch.Keeping in view the important role to be played by the States and urban local bodies, the UD Ministry has organised consultations on June 25 and 26 on various aspects of their implementation.

These include four sessions on Smart City development, AMRUT, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission.Naidu will address the participants outlining the paradigm changes made in the designing and execution of new urban missions and the importance of urban reforms to improve urban governance and delivery of services.

The Cabinet has cleared Smart Cities Mission with an outlay of `48,000 crore for the next five years and AMRUT with an outlay of `50,000 cr.The urban component of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, targeting construction of 2 crore houses for Economically Weaker Sections and low Income Groups, has been approved wherein Central help will range from `1 lakh to `2.30 lakh per each house to be built over the next 7 years.

500 cities and towns, with a population of one lakh and above, each accounts for 73 per cent of urban population and are also the main focus of the Government under AMRUT to ensure basic infrastructure and for housing in the initial years.