Page 19 - NIS English 16-28 Feb 2022

Union Budget | Infrastructure

SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON URBAN
DEVELOPMENT

More than half of the country's population will be
residing in urban areas by 2047. Under this backdrop,
systematic urban development is very important so
that the economic potential of the country can be
harnessed. Therefore, a high-level committee has
been formed to make recommendations on policy,
capacity preparation, planning, re-implementation, and
administration for cities. The committee will include
eminent urban planners, urban economists, and
institutions.
Modernization of Building Bye-laws, Town Planning
Scheme, and Transit-Oriented Development will be
implemented. This will ease the movement of people.
The states will get the benefit of public transport
projects apart from the financial assistance of the
central government given under the AMRUT scheme.
For developing India-specific knowledge in urban
planning and design, and to deliver certified training in
these areas, up to five existing academic institutions
in different regions will be designated as centers of
excellence.
Changes will be brought in the way public transport is
used in cities. This will be complemented by cleantech
and governance solutions, special mobility zones with
zero fossil-fuel policy, and EV vehicles.
New ways of financing will be adopted to make the
metro system faster. Also, there are plans to provide
multimodal connectivity between urban public
transport and railway stations.
To promote public transport in the cities, a plan to
create a special mobility zone will be prepared soon.

as its seven engines. Efforts to accelerate the
speed of these seven engines will continue to
get the government's special attention. Finance Railways got Rs
Minister Sitharaman elucidated that this will not
only ensure sustainable development but will also
generate a large number of jobs. Infrastructural 20,311
projects of state governments will also be included
in the Gatishakti National Master Plan. For this, a
separate allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore has also been
made to the states. The touchstone of the Master crore more allocation in
Plan will be world-class modern infrastructure the revised figures for the
and logistics synergy among different modes of
movement – both of people and goods – and the financial year 2021-22.
location of projects. Gati Shakti will give impetus
to large private investment in infrastructure.

New India Samachar February 16-28, 2022 17