Kozhikode is likely to be included in the Centre’s infrastructure development scheme, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), for 500 cities in the country.
The announcement will be made during the launch of three major new initiatives of the BJP-led Union government — Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, and the Housing for All initiative, now rechristened Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) — by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday.
It is learnt that Kozhikode might not be included in the Smart Cities project as the civic body failed to meet the “City Challenge Competition” intended to link financing with the ability of the cities to achieve the mission objectives. As of now, only Kochi has been chosen from the State. “However, we are hopeful that Kozhikode will be chosen in the last round,” Mayor A.K. Premajam, told The Hindu over telephone from New Delhi.
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Prof. Premajam, along with Corporation secretary B.K. Balaraj, is in the national capital to attend a two-day interaction on new urban initiatives. These include four sessions on Smart City development, AMRUT, PMAY and Swachh Bharat Mission. Mr. Modi is expected to address the 500 civic chiefs on the occasion.
Conditions
The Ministry of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has outlined the AMRUT project to “ensure basic infrastructure services relating to water supply, sewerage, storm water drains, transport and development of green spaces and parks with special provision for meeting the needs of children.” But the Central assistance will be to the extent of 50 per cent of project cost for cities and towns with a population of up to Rs.10 lakh. It will be released in three instalments in the ratio of 20:40:40 based on achievement of milestones indicated in State annual action plans. AMRUT seeks to lay a foundation to enable cities and towns to eventually grow into smart cities.
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The Union Cabinet has cleared Smart Cities Mission with a Central outlay of Rs.48,000 crore for the next five years and AMRUT with an outlay of Rs.50,000 crore.
The urban component of PMAY, targeting construction of 2 crore houses for low income groups, has been approved with an increased interest subvention of 6.50 per cent for affordable housing loans. Financial assistance in the range from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2.30 lakh will be offered per house to be built over the next seven years,.