By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh is set to see massive infrastructure development as under the Centrally sponsored scheme of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), a total expenditure of Rs 11,421 crore will be incurred in the state on improving basic urban infrastructure.

Officials of the union urban development ministry said that the infrastructure development will take place in 61 cities and towns with a population of above one lakh each by 2019-20.

The ministry has approved AMRUT Action Plans of UP for the next three years (2017-20) in one go involving an expenditure of Rs 4,239 crore and the state has got the highest investment in the country under Atal Mission.

Under AMRUT, launched on June 25, 2015 by PM Narendra Modi, providing water taps to all urban households and augmenting water supply to the level of 135 litres per capita per day is given first priority followed by sewerage and drainage networks, non-motorised urban transport and development of green and open spaces in 500 mission cities during the mission period of 2015-20.

Officials said that for Tamil Nadu, an investment of Rs 4,154cr for 2017-20 has been approved taking the total mission investments in 33 cities to Rs 11,237 crore. During the next three years, an expenditure of Rs 734 will be made in water supply projects, Rs 3,330crore in sewerage projects and Rs 90 crore on development of open spaces.

Similarly, in Maharashtra, a total investment of Rs 6,759cr will be made for improvement of basic urban infrastructure in 44 mission cities and towns during 2015-20. Haryana will spend a total of Rs.2,544 cr in improving basic urban infrastructure in 20 mission cities and towns.

Under AMRUT, the Centre bears 50% of project costs for cities with a population of below 10 lakhs each and one third of project cost for those with a population of above 10 lakhs each. Central assistance is of the order of 90% for North-East and hilly States and 100% in case of Union Territories.

As per Mission guidelines, central assistance is allocated to States/UTs based on urban population and number of statutory Urban Local Bodies leaving no scope for any discretion. States and UTs and Urban Local Bodies have to contribute the rest of project costs.

Ministry of Urban Development has made a provision of Rs 50,000crore as central assistance towards project costs, administrative and other expenses and towards reform incentive for the five year mission period.