Urban ministry for 6-fold hike in reform-incentive fund

In 2016-17, Rs 400 cr was distributed for those who pursued reforms

Urban development ministry has proposed a six-fold increase in reform-incentive fund to over Rs 3,000 crore annually over the next three years to push implementation of various schemes in the urban sector.

For providing the incentives, the cities will be ranked based on performance under five reforms— getting credit ratings, initiatives for value-capturing finances, adopting trust-and-verify method, land title reforms, and bringing in professionalism in municipalities.

These reforms were recommended by a group of secretaries for bringing in transformation in the urban sector.

Under trust-and-verify approach, the government gives nod for various services, like building construction, first, and then does the verification.

In 2016-17,