 "M Venkaiah Naidu")
When does the government plan to launch its new urban development mission? The JNNURM expired on March 31, 2014.
I held a meeting with all state governments on August 3-4 and shared my ideas and have taken their suggestions. I have also discussed with three former urban development secretaries. We are at an advanced stage of finalisation of the mission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the mandate that we have to take care of 100 smart cities, secondary heritage cities and 500 towns. Every city and town with a population of 100,000 and above will be taken care of. These will be part of the new mission. Once the mission draft is finalised, it will be presented to the PM and then to the Cabinet. My ministry has worked out the contours and the mission will be given a final shape in the coming 15 days.
Can you share the features of the mission?
The mission will be in reform mode and there will be incentives for performance. There will be critical issues like sewerage, sanitation, drinking water, urban transportation, GPS planning, fixing accountability and transparency in the system. The new mission lays emphasis on governance. Making life more comfortable for urban people is its purpose.
I have almost completed talks with states in this regard. Once the mission is ready, my ministry will write to all state chief secretaries to involve them. Implementation will be done by the states. The PM has said we have to work as Team India. I have told state ministers that thier performance is my parameter, their political colour is immaterial. If performance is not up to the mark, states will not get encouragement. That is the yardstick.
Is your ministry conducting an inquiry into the implementation of the JNNURM by states during the United Progressive Alliance regime?
Witch-hunts will not serve my purpose. I want to improve things, learn from experience. I can very well order inquiries. That will not all go anywhere. All central schemes are funded by the Centre, implemented by local bodies and monitored by state governments. How many inquiries can I order? If delays have taken place we must see what are the factors and whether some schemes are worth continuing.
State after state is now making a pitch for Metro rail projects. What is the Centre’s response?
It is true that the government has received a number of proposals from states and also from MPs for Metro rail projects. So far, the yardstick for Metro projects was a population of two million. However, states are demanding that Metro projects be taken up in cities with populations between a million and two. This is under the government’s active consideration.
Clamour for such projects is not the only thing. Viability and willingness on the part of the states are also important, as the projects are implemented as 50:50 ventures by the central and state governments. Besides, there is a viability gap funding provided by the Centre.
Is the government revising viability gap funding norms for urban infrastructure projects?
Yes, these norms need modification.
Can you share the government’s road map for the development of 100 cities?
Education, entertainment, employment, economy and earning are key for the development of smart cities. Education hubs and entertainment and manufacturing facilities will be part of smart cities in addition to malls, multiplexes, food courts and shopping areas.
In Delhi’s Dwarka area, cycle sharing will be launched soon as a pilot project. The idea is anybody can hire a cycle, go to his or her workplace, park it and come back. Once it is successful, cycle sharing will be replicated in other parts of the country.
