Under the Urban Challenge Fund, the Central Government has approved Rs 2719 crore for 6 projects in Ahmedabad. These projects will rejuvenate the city’s sewerage network, make the water management system smart and provide better transportation facilities to the citizens.
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [भारत]July 17 (ANI): Under the Urban Challenge Fund launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring transformational change in urban development across the country, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India has approved projects totaling Rs 2,719.80 crore for six ambitious projects in Ahmedabad.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the projects approved by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs include Rs 852.93 crore for rehabilitation of main sewerage network in West Ahmedabad, Rs 551.35 crore for rehabilitation of main sewerage network in East Ahmedabad, Rs 290.24 crore for rehabilitation of old sewerage network in various parts of Ahmedabad city, Rs 215 crore for Intelligent Water Management System, 125 TPD Integrated This includes Rs 479.25 crore for sludge management facility and Rs 331.03 crore for ITMS and AFCS.
What will the city get from these projects?
Once these projects are operational, the rehabilitation of Ahmedabad’s sewerage network will significantly reduce problems such as sewerage overflows and leakages. Additionally, real-time digital monitoring and smart management of the entire sewerage and stormwater system will become possible. Also, production of biogas and green energy from sewage sludge will promote environment-friendly circular economy.
The Integrated Transit Management System (ITMS) and Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) will provide seamless travel to citizens for AMTS, BRTS and Metro services through Common Mobility Card and Common Journey application. Citizens will also benefit from improved incident management through accurate and real-time public transport information, AI-enabled route planning and modern in-bus monitoring, ensuring safer and more secure travel, the press release said.
These projects will make significant progress towards making Ahmedabad a smarter, cleaner, more resilient and globally competitive city. Efficient, sustainable and future-ready urban infrastructure will be developed, enabling citizens to access high-quality civic services. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the vision of citizen-centric, technology-led and sustainable urban development will be further strengthened through the approval of these projects under the Urban Challenge Fund.
What is Urban Challenge Fund?
Inspired by PM Modi, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India launched the Urban Challenge Fund to encourage cities across the country to adopt market-based financing and balanced regional development, the release said. Over a period of five years, the fund will provide total central assistance of Rs 1 lakh crore to support market-led urban transformation.
Under this scheme, projects can be undertaken in three areas namely creative redevelopment of cities, cities as centers of growth, and water and sanitation. Gujarat has been allocated central assistance of Rs 6,475 crore under the Urban Challenge Fund, enabling cities across the state to undertake projects totaling Rs 25,900 crore under the initiative.
What is the pattern of funding?
Under the funding pattern of the scheme, 25 per cent of the project assistance will be provided by the central government, 25 per cent by the state government, and the remaining 50 per cent will be raised through municipal bonds, loans, or public-private partnerships (PPP), the release said.
Accordingly, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will get Rs 679.95 crore as Central Government assistance and Rs 679.95 crore as State Government assistance for these six projects, while the remaining amount will be financed by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation through debt. (ANI)
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