Three more cities to benefit from JNNURM

Yeddyurappa told to expedite projects

The Union government has identified these cities for implementation of  urban infrastructure projects under one of its flagship programmes Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

With the Urban Development Ministry deciding to extend the JNNURM scheme to smaller cities with a population of over 5 lakh and less than 10 lakh, three cities in Karnataka have been selected.

Though the Centre is yet to decide the amount to be released, sources in the Ministry told Deccan Herald that it would be sizeable as the scheme involves several developmental activities such as construction of several flyovers, underpasses, storm water drainages, drinking water supply and beautification of roads.

More allocation

In the recent Union budget presented by Pranab Mukherjee, the allocation for JNNURM was stepped up by 87 per cent to Rs 12,887 crore compared to the last fiscal to give fillip to urban infrastructure development. 

Under phase-I of the initiative, which was kick-started in 2005, 63 mission cities were funded. The ministry has sanctioned 463 projects worth Rs 49,743.46 crore and Central assistance of Rs 8,253 crore had been released.

In the State, Bangalore and Mysore cities are beneficiaries under this scheme and both have received 15 and one project respectively costing over Rs 650 crore. 

The ministry had several times expressed its unhappiness over tardy progress in executing these projects in Karnataka and insisted that it should be put on fast track. When Chief Minister Yeddyurappa recently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking more funds to remove infrastructure bottleneck in Bangalore, the latter had raised the callous approach by State government in utilising funds under Centrally sponsored schemes and asked him to expedite the projects.

As per the latest statistics released by the Urban Development Ministry, of the total 16 projects sanctioned to Karnataka so far, six projects have utilised an average 30 per cent against the total fund sanctioned and delaying execution, the sources said.