Revamp of 500 cities: 0.38% of outlay utilised in 3 years

NEW DELHI: Three years after the launch of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Modi government’s flagship initiative to introduce urban reforms and provide civic amenities in 500 cities, 0.38% of the mission outlay has been utilised so far.

Launched on June 25, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AMRUT promises 1.39 crore water connections by March 2020, improved sewerage, storm water drainage projects, parks and green spaces and LED streetlights with a total outlay of Rs 77,640 crore (including central assistance of Rs 35,990). The statistics furnished by the ministry of housing and urban affairs reveal 365 projects worth Rs 296 crore (0.38% utilisation of total mission target) have been completed. Almost half the projects are under implementation (worth Rs 39,817 crore).

The mission has five thrust areas with the top stated priority being water connections and enhancing water supply capacity. Almost 50% of the total mission outlay has been allocated to water supply sector. So far, 42 projects worth Rs 112 crore have been completed registering an utilisation of 0.29%. The biggest target was water supply connections in each home by March 2020.

ET filed a request for information under RTI Act. However, the ministry could not furnish the number of water connections given so far against the all-India target of 1.39 crore.

It gave state-wise targets furnished by the governments but did not know how many had actually been given. Unconfirmed statistics quoted by ministry peg it at five lakh connections till December 2017 – around 4% target achievement.

A ministry spokesperson told ET that they are monitoring the progress regularly through a portal, video conferences and field visits.

“Ministry has also decided to geotag all the projects under AMRUT.” The ministry, however, said the projects are large and required time to take off. Even as the ministry approved state proposals for the mission period (2015-2020) in the first three years, there is no record of private investment generated.