PM to launch 3 mega schemes for transforming urban India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the NDA Government’s three mega flagship schemes aimed at transforming urban India, including the much hyped smart cities proposal, on Thursday.

The PM will also release implementation guidelines for three projects -- 100 Smart Cities, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for 500 cities and Housing-For-All by 2022 in urban areas.

The inauguration of programme will be followed by a two-day workshop in which details of three projects will be discussed by various stake holders said a senior official from the Urban Development Ministry.

The inaugural programme and workshop will be attended by over 1,000 mayors, municipal heads, state ministers and chief secretaries. Representatives of embassies, which have shown an interest about their countries' participation in these projects, will also take part in the workshop.

As all the three projects involved a central grant of about Rs 4 lakh crore, the states and local bodies will play a key role in the execution of these schemes. These will also be a lot of scope for private participation in all the schemes.

While the Smart City and AMRUT projects will draw Rs 48,000 crore and and Rs 50,000 crore, respectively, in central grants over five years, Housing-for-All by 2022 will see the government spend about Rs 3 lakh crore in the next seven years as it aims to construct 2 crore affordable houses in urban areas for slum dwellers and people from economically-weaker sections and low income groups.

The Smart City project seeks to enhance quality of life in 100 selected cities with 24 hour water and power supply, world class transportation system, better education and recreational facilities, e-governance and environment-friendly atmosphere, among others. The Smart City project will be based on PPP model.