In a bid to improve basic urban infrastructure in eight states and Union Territories, the government today approved an investment of Rs 4,404 crore under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
Out of this, the central assistance to would be to the tune of Rs 2,085 crore, an official statement said.
An inter-ministerial Apex Committee, chaired by Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba, has approved the State Level Annual Action Plans (SAAP) of these eight states/UTs, it said.
The government has increased the grant, for improvement in drainage network in urban areas, from Rs 281 crore in last fiscal to Rs 759 crore this year.
Under AMRUT, states/UTs have proposed a total investment of Rs 1,146 crore in improving drainage network in urban areas.
The amount of Rs 4,404 crore approved today would be used for augmenting water supply, sewerage networks, drainage, urban transport and public and green spaces in urban areas in these areas, it said.
States and UTs for which investment approved include Karnataka (Rs 1,625 crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 877 crore), Bihar (Rs 775 crore), Telangana (Rs 555 crore), Haryana (Rs 525 crore), Nagaland (Rs 40 crore), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Rs 3.70 crore) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Rs 3.18 crore).
Total central assistance to be provided to them would be Rs 2,085 crore--Karnataka Rs 772 crore, Bihar Rs 388 crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 352 crore, Telangana Rs 277 crore, Haryana Rs 255 crore and Nagaland Rs 36 crore.
Total cost of the two UTs--Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andaman & Nicobar Islands--would be borne by the Centre, it said.
Gauba said the States/UTs that AMRUT Action Plans for the next three years would be cleared in the last quarter of this financial year.
Under AMRUT, lauched in June last year, the Centre will provide an assistance of Rs 50,000 crore for the five year mission period to the states/UTs.
During the current financial year (2016-17), the Urban Development Ministry had approved total investments of Rs 19,213 crore under the scheme for 20 states/UTs.
Under the scheme, the total investment approved in basic infrastructure in urban areas in 500 mission cities stands at Rs 44,401 crore with total central assistance commitment of Rs 20,634 crore.
