Taking note of the challenges of rapid urbanization, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said his government had been pursuing urban renewal as one of the seven priorities for the development of the country.
The seven priorities of the government have been listed as agriculture, water, education, health care, employment, urban renewal and infrastructure.
"More and more of our people now live in our cities. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Mission (JNNURM) has been funding urban development and modernisation of our cities," Singh said while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort today.
JNNURM, a massive city modernisation scheme was launched on December 3, 2005 with the objective of achieving reforms driven, fast track and planned development identified cities.
It is estimated that by the year 2011 urban areas would contribute about 65 per cent of GDP. Urban economic activities are dependent on infrastructure such as power, telecom, roads, water supply and mass transportation coupled with infrastructure such as solid waste management.
Since the launch of the JNNURM, 63 cities have submitted their city development plans delineating their long-term vision for development and 305 projects have been sanctioned under the scheme so far.
The JNNURM scheme is being implemented by the Urban Development Ministry.
