'Urban bodies have achieved 3-fold investment in 3 years'

The key initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government has brought out several transformational changes in urban bodies.

According to Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, more than threefold increase in investments, per capita spending, central assistance and substantially enhanced capacities of city governments under the new urban missions launched during the last three years are driving the much-needed urban transformation in the country.

Spelling out the achievements of the government on the urban sector initiatives, Naidu said that a rule-based framework has been introduced to ensure objective selection of cities and allocation of central funds without any discretion and discrimination and the same has been followed in getting unauthorised occupants of government houses evicted.

"A major course correction has been launched during the last three years to improve urban infrastructure and quality of life in cities in an environment of inclusive, sustainable and accelerated urban development," Naidu said.

"Per capita investment of Rs 15,475 has so far been approved during 2014-17 under new urban missions for a five year period which is 315 per cent of Rs 4,918 approved for the earlier ten years. A total investment of Rs 4,13,475 crore has so far been approved for improving basic urban infrastructure which is 350 per cent of Rs 1,18,034 approved under JNNURM," Naidu said.

"A total of 6,737 projects have so far been approved which is 215 per cent of 3,138 projects cleared under JNNURM, reflecting substantially enhanced capacities of city governments for project formulation and implementation through the deployment of professional staff and through intensive handholding," the minister stressed.

Adding further, Naidu said that 748 cities have formulated the much-desired master plans, 172 cities have reported over 90 per cent property tax collection during the last three years.