Brown is the new green in urban development. Rising urban population and the need to upgrade cities to keep up with growing requirements have led to a series of policy initiatives to develop cities as 'growth hubs'.
The three-pronged strategy includes
- 'creative brownfield redevelopment' of existing cities,
- planned development of peri-urban areas, and
- transit-oriented development (TOD).
Urban development is one of the nine priorities of govt for generating ample opportunities for all, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said. In tandem with states, the Centre will facilitate development of cities to push growth. This will be achieved through economic and transit planning, and orderly development of peri-urban areas, utilising town planning schemes.
FM said one of the main approaches will be brownfield redevelopment of cities with a "transformative impact", and for this, govt will formulate a framework for enabling policies, market-based mechanisms and regulations. Details of this framework will be worked out soon.
The plan has been included keeping in mind the need to improve quality of life in cities, sources said. The Centre will provide financial assistance to states to take up such projects.
In fact, most of the projects undertaken in 100 select cities under the Smart City Mission were focused on development in brownfield areas. The new announcements signal govt's continued focus on planned urban development. In the past two Budgets, it had announced urban development initiatives, including setting up an Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) worth Rs 10,000 crore for tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
As per Budget announcement, govt will formulate TOD plans for 14 large cities with a population above 30 lakh and it will spell out the implementation and financing strategy. In urban planning, TOD maximises the residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of public transport. Sources said the Centre will incentivise states to take up such projects.
Taking note of cities facing water shortages, FM said that the Centre will promote water supply, sewage treatment and solid waste management projects and services through bankable projects across 100 large cities in partnership with state govts and multilateral development banks.
The housing and urban affairs ministry has set the target to achieve 100% water-tap connection and sewage septage coverage by March 2029 and reuse around 40% of treated used water in the next five years.
Building on the success of PM SVANidhi Scheme, govt plans a scheme to support development of 100 weekly 'haats' or street food hubs in select cities over the next five years.
While the Centre has announced new initiatives to address urbanisation challenges, some of the earlier promised plans are yet to take off, indicating the need to put more efforts to bring states on board. For example, though the 15th Finance Commission recommended a performance-based challenge fund of Rs 8,000 crore to states for incubation of eight new cities, govt is yet to complete the selection process.
As per Budget documents, govt has allocated Rs 82,575 crore for 2024-25 compared to Rs 76,431 crore for the last financial year.
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Quelle/Source: The Times of India, 24.07.2024
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