Centre Sanctions Rs. 673 Crore for AP Towns.

The Union Urban Development Ministry is learnt to have sanctioned Rs. 673 crore to Andhra Pradesh under the Central-sponsored Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme for the current financial year for providing facilities such as water supply, sewerage and public transport in 31 towns, including the new capital city, Amaravati.

According to the Union Urban Development Ministry, AP Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation had earlier submitted proposals for Rs. 28,756 crore for developing infrastructure in 31 towns and cities in the State under AMRUT scheme.

The AP government had sought Rs. 673 crore, the share of Central funds for the current financial year, 2015-16, for developing basic infrastructure and for bettering the urban transport and green spaces and parks in the next five years under AMRUT scheme.


'The Union Urban Development Minister, M Venkaiah Naidu, directed his Ministry’s officials to accord early approvals to release the Centre’s share of funds to the basic infrastructure projects in 31 AMRUT cities being taken up at a cost of Rs. 28,756 cr in AP recently,' a statement by the Union Urban Development Ministry said.

Sources said the ministry had informed the AP government that it was releasing its share of Rs. 673 crore.

Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Venkaiah Naidu said in order to ensure basic infrastructure relating to water supply, sewerage and septage management, drainage, urban transport and green spaces and parks during the next five years under AMRUT scheme, the AP government had proposed a comprehensive AMRUT Action Plan for 31 Mission cities and towns in the state at an estimated cost of Rs. 28,756.30 crore.

According to sources, for the current financial year, the State government had sought approval of the Union Development Ministry for its State Level Annual Action Plan (SAAP) involving central assistance of Rs. 673.12 crore for water supply projects and development of parks.

The State’s SAAP is based on city-level plans formulated after assessing the gaps in basic infrastructure and investments to be made to meet the norms prescribed for urban areas.

The AP government had reported that sewerage network services are available only in 6 Mission cities -- 10% in Guntur, 18% in Proddatur, 19.56% in Vizag, 49% in Kadapa, 70% in Vijayawada and 79% in Tadipatri.

The State government had proposed to bridge the gaps in respect of these infrastructure areas progressively over the next five years.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS