[Reader-list] Laying the foundation for cities of joy (ET)

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Laying the foundation for cities of joy (ET)
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1013176.cms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2005 12:08:51 AM]

Lack of basic infrastructure, a problem that has for long brought
misery to millions of urban Indian hearts, may be addressed by the
finance minister in this budget.

The government is putting together an assistance package to enable
urban local bodies to give cities improved infrastructure and better
transportation alongwith the redevelopment of slums.

City folk can also look forward to lower property tax and stamp duties,
amendment to the Rent Control Act and scrapping of the Urban Land
Ceiling (regulation) Act.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already announced his government's
intention to introduce a national urban renewal mission to re-develop
big cities — with special attention to public amenities and public
transport.

"I am convinced that Indian cities cannot continue to develop in the
manner in which they have done in the past few decades. We have to
develop public infrastructure. We have to invest in public transport,
in roads with space for bicycles and pedestrians, in sanitation and
public parks," he had said while opening the underground section of the
Delhi Metro in December.

In the past few months, the Planning Commission alongwith urban
development ministry and urban employment and poverty alleviation
ministry have more or less finalised the contours of the proposed
mission. The mission would subsume some of the existing urban
development programmes and incorporate the features of the urban
reforms incentive fund (URIF) scheme.

At a presentation, the committee that is firming up the plan, has
suggested that the Centre would need assistance to the extent of Rs
10,000 crore annually for the proposed mission.

About 60 cities are expected to sign up for the makeover programme that
could involve expenditure of at least Rs 1,20,000 crore during a five
year period. A significant portion of the funds required for the
project is to be raised from the financial institutions, while the
states and the urban local body will make small contributions.

Initially, capital cities and those of historical importance are
expected to join up. Industrial townships may also be included in
mission. Central assistance will be linked to reforms, government
sources said.

The renewal programme will have to be prepared by the urban local body
of the city and approved an empowered steering group chaired by the
urban development minister and co-chaired by the urban employment and
poverty alleviation minister.

State level monitoring committees will be made responsible for smooth
implementation of programme and ensure co-ordination between various
bodies involved implementing projects taken up under the mission.