Lok Sabha Question No. 2700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Regional Disparities in Infrastructure Development
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2700

Answered on Monday, March 17, 2025 / Phalguna 26, 1946 (Saka)

## Regional Disparities in Infrastructure Development

2700.   Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  address  the  persistent  challenges  of  regional disparities in infrastructure development despite increased budgetary allocations;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure development reach underserved regions particularly in rural and backward areas; and

(c) the measures taken by the Government to improve access to affordable housing in urban areas?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a)  &  (b)  The  Government  is  promoting  infrastructure  development  across  the  country  by increasing public capital expenditure (including effective capital expenditure and Internal & Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs)) from ₹5.57 lakh crore in FY 2014-15 to ₹19.80 lakh crore in FY 2025-26 (BE), a more than 3-fold rise over the past decade. The Government is already implementing multi-sectoral initiatives such as Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for  the  North  East  (SARDP-NE),  Prime  Minister's  Development  Initiative  for  North  East Region  (PM-DevINE),  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY),  the  Aspirational District Program, the Aspirational Block Programme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY),  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  Vibrant  Villages  Programme  (VVP),  North  East  Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas  (RCPLWE),  Eklavya  Model  Residential  Schools  (EMRS)  and  BharatNet  etc.  for developing infrastructure across all regions.

(c)  The  Government  of  India  has  implemented  several  measures  to  improve  access  to affordable housing in urban areas. As per provisions of Article 243W of the Constitution, in conjunction with the Seventh and Twelfth Schedules, matters relating to urban development fall within the purview of State/Urban Local Bodies. However, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) provides programmatic support to the States/Union Territories (UTs) in their urban  development  agenda  through  its  various  flagship  Missions/Programes  viz.  Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U & PMAY-U 2.0), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT & AMRUT 2.0), Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U & SBM-U 2.0), Smart Cities Mission (SCM) etc.

Further, 'Land' and 'Colonization' are State subjects. Therefore, schemes related to housing for their citizens are implemented by States/Union Territories (UTs). However, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under the vision of 'Housing for All', supplements the efforts of States/Union Territories (UTs), by providing Central Assistance under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-  Urban  (PMAY-U)  since  25.06.2015  to  provide  pucca  houses  with  basic  civic amenities to eligible urban beneficiaries across the country. As on 03.03.2025, 118.64 lakh houses have been sanctioned by the Ministry, out of which 112.46 lakh have been grounded and 90.60 lakh are completed/delivered to the beneficiaries across the country under PMAYU.

MoHUA has revamped the scheme and launched PMAY-U 2.0 'Housing for All Mission with effect from 01.09.2024 to assist 1 crore additional eligible urban beneficiaries through four verticals i.e., Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable  Rental  Housing  (ARH)  and  Interest  Subsidy  Scheme  (ISS).  As  on  date,  29 States/UTs have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to implement PMAY-U 2.0 as per scheme guidelines. The operational guidelines of the PMAY-U 2.0 have been launched on 17.09.2024.  The  unified  web  portal  for  submitting  online  application  and  operational guidelines can be accessed at https://pmay-urban.gov.in. 'In-principle' approval for allocation of 6.12 lakh houses has been given under PMAY- U 2.0 to States/UTs.

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