Gujarat draws up Rs 15K-cr plan to create urban infrastructure

Gujarat has proposed a Rs 15,375 crore action plan to ensure basic infrastructure in 31 cities of the state under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in the next five years.
Under the comprehensive plan, the state government intends to set up 19 Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) at a total cost of Rs 4,721.57 crore to create a total treatment capacity of 869 million litres per day.
In the AMRUT action plan sent to the Urban Development Ministry, the state government projected that by 2030, Gujarat will emerge as the second-most urbanised state in the country with urban population increasing to 66 per cent of the total population from the present 43 per cent.

Urbanisation in Tamil Nadu is forecast to be 67 per cent in 2030, said a release.
According to the Rs 15,375 crore action plan, 42 per cent is to be spent on providing water supply connections to all urban households in 31 AMRUT cities, 30 per cent on providing sewerage connections to all households.
Also, 12 per cent is earmarked for ensuring drainage services to the extent of 50 per cent. The rest of the allocation will go towards urban transport and provision of green spaces and parks.

For 2015-16, Gujarat has proposed State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) for Rs 1,204 crore for taking up water supply-related projects in 11 mission cities at a cost of Rs 233.65 crore, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in 19 cities at a cost of Rs 916.07 crore, storm water drainage projects in Bhuj and Vadodara at a cost of Rs 39 crore, urban transport projects in Gandhinagar at a cost of Rs 1.70 crore and works for providing green and open spaces in Amreli, Botad, Mehsana and Gandhinagar at a cost of Rs 14 crore.

Regarding financing during the five-year Atal Mission period, Gujarat government has sought central assistance of Rs 2,478 crore with the state to contribute Rs 1,941 crore and urban local bodies chipping in with Rs 700 crore as their share.
Under convergence, investment of Rs 10,282 crore is to be met from ongoing schemes of the state government.
Gujarat government has reported that in 11 cities identified for taking up of water supply projects, 60 per cent of households in Botad and Morbi have water connections, 63 per cent in Mehsana, 70 per cent in Nadiad, 72 per cent in Vadodara, 90 per cent in Deesa and Bharuch and 95 per cent in Surat.