On June 25, 2024, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) celebrated the 9th anniversary of three key initiatives: the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Smart Cities Mission, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). It was attended by Smt D Thara, Additional Secretary, AMRUT; and Kuldeep Narayan, Joint Secretary, PMAY- Urban, among other officials.
- Launched on June 25, 2015, by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, these programs have significantly enhanced urban infrastructure and improved the quality of life for millions in India.
About AMRUT:
Ministry : MoHUA
Purpose : Urban Transformation
Its primary goal is to ensure every household has access to a tap with assured water supply and a sewer connection. Additionally, it focuses on urban transport, developing parks and open spaces to enhance urban livability, and replacing street lights with energy-efficient LED (Light-emitting diode) lights.
- The initial outlay for AMRUT was Rs 50,000 crore for five years, covering FY 2015-16 to FY2019-20, and initially included 500 cities with populations over one lakh.
- Its sub scheme was HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana), launched in January 2015, which aims to preserve and revitalize the unique character of heritage cities through infrastructural development, sanitation, and improved connectivity.
- In October 2021, AMRUT 2.0 was launched to further extend the mission’s objectives, particularly in water supply, sewerage, and water body rejuvenation.
Development of AMRUT:
i.So far, The AMRUT scheme has supplied:
- 105 lakh household water tap connections,
- 78 lakh sewer connections, and
- 88 lakh streetlight replacements.
ii.The scheme has resulted in a reduction of 84.6 lakh tonnes of carbon footprint.
iii.Odisha is ranked first in AMRUT implementation, followed by Chandigarh.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Projects | 8200 |
| Total Project Cost | Rs 182,583.07 Crores |
| Initiatives and Programs | |
| AMRUT Mitra | Over 350 Women SHGs engaged in water sector activities |
| Shallow Aquifer Management Project | Enhanced green cover and urban flooding mitigation |
| Youth Connect Programme | Significant participation in studying water bodies |
About PMAY-U:
Ministry : MoHUA
Purpose : Housing to eligible urban households
Its primary goal is to provide all-weather pucca houses with basic amenities to all eligible urban households. The mission aligns with the broader vision of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022 and has been extended up to December 31, 2024, to ensure the completion of all sanctioned houses.
Objectives of the scheme:
i.Rehabilitation of slum dwellers with private developers’ participation
ii.Promotion of affordable housing for the weaker sections through Credit Linked Subsidy Schemes (CLSS)
iii.Affordable housing in partnership with public and private sectors
iv.Subsidy for Beneficiary-led Construction (BLC)
Developments:
i.With 114 lakh houses grounded for construction, of which 84 lakh houses have been successfully completed and delivered to beneficiaries.
ii.It has created over 323 lakh (100 lakh direct, 223 lakh indirect) jobs.
iii.Its Innovative Construction Technologies initiative includes Light House Projects (LHPs) in 6 locations: Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN); Rajkot, Gujarat; Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP); Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP); Ranchi, Jharkhand (all inaugurated), and Agartala, Tripura (in advanced stage), aimed at promoting new technologies in affordable housing,
- Additionally, there are Demonstration Housing Projects (DHPs) serving as model projects with on-site training.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Financials | |
| Central Assistance Committed | Rs 2 lakh crore |
| Released | Rs 1.64 lakh crore |
| Credit Linked Subsidy Schemes (CLSS) | |
| Implemented | For Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG) (2017-2021) |
| Interest Subsidy Approved | Rs 58,868 crore |
| Beneficiaries | 25.04 lakh |
| Women Empowerment | |
| Houses in Women’s Name | Over 94 lakh |
| Core Principle | Promoting ownership and identity for women |
| Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) | |
| Launched | July 2020 |
| Purpose | Provide affordable rental housing for urban migrants/poor |
| Economic Impact | |
| Material Consumption | 55.7 million MT of cement, 12.6 million MT of steel |
| Additional Assistance | 3 crore rural and urban households |
| Revamp | PMAY-U to assist 1 crore eligible urban families |
About Smart Cities Mission:
Ministry : MoHUA
Purpose : Development of 100 Smart Cities
The Smart Cities Mission has transformed 100 cities through over 8,000 projects totaling approximately Rs 1.6 lakh crore. The implementation of the Smart Cities Mission is done by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be set up at city level in the form of a limited company under the Companies Act, 2013.
Developments:
i.As of June 25, 2024, 7,160 projects (Rs 1,43,778 crore) are completed, and 854 projects (Rs 20,392 crore) are nearing completion.
ii.The Government of India has released Rs 46,387 crore to the cities, with 93% of these funds utilized.
Key Achievements:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCC) | All 100 cities have operational ICCCs using AI, IoT, and data analytics for transport, water supply, and waste management. |
| Public Safety and Security | 76,000+ CCTV cameras installed; 1,884 emergency call boxes; 3,000 public address systems; traffic enforcement systems. |
| Water Supply | 6,800+ km of water supply monitored via SCADA, reducing leakages and non-revenue water. |
| Solid Waste Management | 4,800+ RFID-enabled vehicles in 50+ cities; improved waste route management and collection. |
| Streetlights | 50 lakh+ solar/LED streetlights; 89,000+ km of underground electricity cabling. |
| Mobility Solutions | 12,300 km of smart roads; 2,500+ km of cycle tracks; Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) implemented. |
| Affordable Housing and Community Development | 44,054 dwelling units and 6,312 rooms in community housing projects. |
| Vibrant Public Spaces | 1,300+ parks, green spaces, and lakefront/riverfront promenades developed. |
| Smart Solutions | 9,754 WiFi hotspots; 76,000+ CCTV cameras. |
| Education | 6,855 smart classrooms; 40 digital libraries. |
| Health | 308 e-health centers; 255 health ATMs installed. |
| Economic Hubs | 37 incubation/skill development centers; 50+ market redevelopment projects. |
| Public-Private Partnership (PPP) | 51 cities developed 200 PPP projects worth Rs 10,000 crore. |
| Climate Resilience | 153 environmental sensors installed; 5,300+ personnel trained for disaster response. |
Recent Related News:
i.The Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA)’s proposal to continue the implementation of Umbrella Scheme on ‘Safety of Women’ from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
ii.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for Sugar Season 2024-25 at Rs 340/quintal (at a sugar recovery
rate of 10.25%). This is about 8% higher than the current season 2023-24. The revised FRP will be applicable from 1st October 2024.
About Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
Union Minister– Manohar Lal Khattar (Constituency- Karnal, Haryana)
Minister of State (MoS)– Tokhan Sahu (Constituency- Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh)
