Housing & Urban Infra secures ₹54,581-cr funds

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has been allocated ₹54,581 crore for the next fiscal in the Union Budget for 2021-22 proposals. The Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, a flagship program of the government, has been given ₹2,300 crore. The Smart Cities Mission, another flagship program, has got ₹6,450 crore as against ₹3,400 crore in the 2020-21 revised estimates. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme has been granted ₹7,300 crore.

Finance Minister Sitharaman informed that the government will work towards raising the share of public transport in urban areas through expansion of metro rail network and augmentation of city bus service. A new scheme will be launched for ₹18,000 crore to support the augmentation of public bus transport services. The scheme will facilitate deployment of innovative PPP models to enable private sector players to finance, acquire, operate and maintain over 20,000 buses. The scheme will boost the automobile sector, provide a fillip to economic growth, create employment opportunities for the youth and enhance ease of mobility for urban residents.