JNNURM projects get 2-yr extension, 3 lakh urban poor to get pucca houses

New Delhi, Apr 29: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave approval for two-year extension to the projects running under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which would benefit more than 3 lakh urban poor in getting pucca houses.

The extension for projects under Sub-Mission on Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) -- components of the JNNURM -- got approval by the CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official release.

As per the decision, the extension of two-year -- beyond March 31, 2015 up to March, 2017 -- have been given for completion of projects that have been sanctioned till March 2012 under JNNURM.

This extension in time period is expected to benefit more than three lakh urban poor in getting their pucca houses, as it would help in completing 3.6 lakh dwelling units, for urban poor including slum-dwellers, which are at various stages of completion, it said.

An amount of Rs 350 crore would be required to be released to various States by the Central Government after adjustment of excess release of funds, the statement said.

The JNNURM comprises four components of which two namely the Sub-Mission for Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) and the Sub-Mission for Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) are being implemented in 65 cities.

Initially, the duration of the Mission was seven years beginning from 2005-06 till 2011-12. Due to various factors such as non-availability of litigation-free land, finalisation of beneficiaries, delay in financial closure and cost escalation some projects were delayed with consequent time and cost overruns.

The Mission was extended earlier upto 31 March 2015 for completion of projects that had been approved till March 31, 2012.

PTI