EXPANDING METRO RAIL TO 31 CITIES, ENHANCING PUBLIC TRANSPORT, IMPROVING WASTE & WATER MANAGEMENT IN GOVT FOCUS FOR 5 YRS

NEW DELHI: Taking note of the country’s rising urban population, which is poised to reach 40% by 2030, govt has finalised a series of targets for the next five years. These include operating Metro Rail in 31 cities, up from the current 21 cities, augmenting city bus services, reducing the share of people living in slums to 14% from the current level of 17%, and ensuring tap water supply to every urban household.

TOI has learnt that the housing and urban affairs ministry is also aiming to get the approval, in the next two months, for providing financial assistance to develop eight ‘greenfield’ cities. The present Finance Commission has made the provision for a Rs 8,000-crore grant to be given to eight states for incubation of one new city each as a pilot.

The Centre has received 21 proposals from states. “This will definitely be rolled out in the next couple of months,” said a source.

The ministry will also come up with a National Urban Policy Framework with a focus to give incentives to states for planned development of urban areas and also for implementing reforms.

Sources said the major focus in the next five years will be on dealing with waste and water management in cities and towns. While the Centre targets to achieve 100% segregation of waste at the source and total waste management, there will be focus on at least 40% treated wastewater is reused for different purposes to reduce increasing demand of fresh water.

“One of the primary thrust will be augmenting public transport across cities since mobility demand will increase dramatically as people move to cities and towns. A blueprint has been prepared to have around 1,900 km of Metro Rail operation across cities. With this, India will have the world’s third-largest Metro Rail network,” said a source.

The plan is also ready to increase the number of city buses to 65,000 by 2029 from the current strength of 39,000. Nearly 35% of public transport will be on electric. There will also be at least one electric vehicle charging facility in every 2 km radius to promote electric mobility.