JnNURM enters fourth year, PM stresses on urban modernisation

New Delhi, Dec 3 (ANI): Placing emphasis on the need for continuing with urban reforms, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Thursday that cities and towns are not an acceptable face of a rapidly modernising and developing economy.

Addressing the national conference organised to mark the fourth anniversary of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) here Sigh said: "As infrastructure struggles to keep pace with demand, urban chaos is becoming a way of life. Our cities and towns are not an acceptable face of rapidly modernising and developing economy."

Singh said the success of JnNURM was critical to tackling the problems that go with rapid urbanisation.

He said the Centre has committed substantial funds for urban renewal along with the states and urban local bodies.

Singh also informed the gathering that both the Urban Development and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministries have approved projects worth Rs 103,462 crore for which the Centre has committed an assistance of Rs 55,625 crore.

"It is good that the focus of projects approved under the JnNURM has been on basic services like water supply, sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, improvement of slums and construction of houses for the poor," Singh said.

"The JnNURM has created a paradigm shift in how the urban sector is viewed, both at state and city levels," he added. (ANI)