Lok Sabha Question No. 1626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Urban Infrastructure Projects under SCM and AMRUT
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1626

## TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 05, 2024

## URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS UNDER SCM & AMRUT

NO.1626.

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the  current  status  of  urban  infrastructure  projects  initiated  under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) and AMRUT schemes, including the number of projects completed and pending as of November 2024;
- (b)
- the key challenges faced in implementing these projects;
- (c) the  measures  taken/being  taken  to  address  these  challenges  and ensure timely completion of urban infrastructure initiatives; and
- (d) whether the Government is taking any steps to integrate sustainability  principles  into  urban  development  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- Under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM), work orders have been issued in ₹1,64,669  crore,  of  which  7,352  projects (i.e.  91%  of  total  projects)  amounting  to  ₹1,47,366  crore  have  been completed, as per the data provided by 100 Smart Cities. Remaining 714 projects  amounting  to  ₹17,303  crore  are  currently  in  implementation
- (a) 8,066  projects  amounting  to stage.

Similarly,  in  respect  of  AMRUT,  total  number  of  5,995  projects  worth ₹83,374.39  crore  have  been  undertaken.  As  reported  by  States/Union Territories (UTs) on AMRUT portal, 5,417 projects have been completed and works worth ₹78,404 crore have been physically completed.

- (b) Some  of  the  key  challenges  faced  by  smart  cities  include  frequent transfer  of  CEO's,  timely  release  of  matching  share  contribution  from State/  UT  Governments,  new  and  diverse  areas  of  work,  cities  had  no experience in building Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCC), incubation  centers,  bicycle  sharing  schemes,  solar  power  projects, riverfront  development  etc.,  utilization  of  full  capacity  of  ICCCs  with integration of all municipal departments and agencies and lack of public consultation during DPR preparation and implementation stage.

Similarly, challenges faced in implementing projects under AMRUT are of various  reasons,  such  as  land  acquisition  issues,  climatic  challenges, delay  in  obtaining  requisite  clearances/  permissions  and  shortage  of experienced  and  technically  skilled  contractors  for  complex  urban infrastructure projects, etc.

- (c) & (d)  The  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA)  has  a  multilevel  review  structure  to  expedite  the  progress  of  projects  under  the SCM. At State level, Mission implementation is monitored by the State level  High  Powered  Steering  Committee  (HPSC)  chaired  by  the  Chief Secretary. At the National level, implementation is monitored by an Apex Committee headed by Secretary, MoHUA. Nominee Directors of MoHUA on  the  Boards  of  Special  Purpose  Vehicles  (SPVs)  monitor  progress  in respective cities on a regular basis. MoHUA also regularly interacts with the  States  /Smart  Cities  through  video  conferences,  review  meetings, field visits, regional workshops, Chief Executive Officer's (CEO's) Conference etc. at various levels to assess the performance of the 100 smart cities / ULBs and handhold them enabling them to address various challenges, wherever required.

Under  SCM,  sustainability  principles  have  been  integrated  through  its 8,066 multisectoral projects. Accordingly, local needs were identified in cities,  since  project  inception  using  various  citizens  engagement  tools to improve urban infrastructure including, inter-alia, Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Smart Mobility (Non-Motorized Transport (NMT), Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS)), Smart Energy, Vibrant Public Spaces, Economic & Social Infrastructure (Incubation & Skilling Centres, Smart Classrooms,  &  Digital  Libraries),  Environment  improvement  (Integrated Solid  Waste  Management  facility)  and  Integrated  Command  &  Control Centres (ICCC) for effective management of urban services by harnessing  the  power  of  digital  technology  for  data-driven  governance and last mile service delivery to its citizens.

In addition to the projects undertaken by the cities, SCM has launched several initiatives to promote sustainability of development with citizen engagement  including,  inter-alia,  Nurturing  Neighborhoods  Challenge, India  Cycles  for  Change  (IC4C)  Challenge,  Streets4People  Challenge, Placemaking Marathon, Transport4All (T4A) Challenge, EatSmart Cities Challenge,  The  Urban  Learning  Internship  Program  (TULIP),  Climate Smart  Cities  Assessment  Framework,  City  Investments  to  Innovate, Integrate  and  Sustain  (CITIIS)  Challenge,  Climate  Centre  for  Cities, Climate  Smart  Cities  Alliance,  Data  Maturity  Assessment  Framework (DMAF) and ICCC Maturity Assessment Framework (IMAF).

To ensure timely completion and tracking the implementation of AMRUT projects,  the  progress  is  periodically  reviewed  &  monitored  through regular  video  conferences/  webinars/  workshops/  site-visits  etc.  by MoHUA with the States/UTs & their ULBs. There are AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 portals for tracking the progress of projects provided by the States. The Apex Committee constituted under the ambit of Mission guidelines reviews,  monitors  &  supervises  the  AMRUT  Mission  periodically.  For assessment  and  monitoring  of  work  done  under  AMRUT  in  the  States, there  is  a  provision  for  setting  up  Independent  Review  and  Monitoring Agencies  (IRMAs)  in  all  the  States/UTs.  Funds  are  released  to  the States/UTs upon satisfactory compliance of IRMA reports.

*****