The directorate will coordinate with the state governments and the mission cities. The ministry is also empanelling consultants for the preparation of city development plans and detailed project reports. Dubbed as the most ambitious project ever launched for urban development in the country, JNNURM aims at developing around 63 cities across the country in an integrated manner, with special emphasis on the needs of slum dwellers. The project is estimated to cover more than 10 million people within a period of seven years.The cities which have been identified are Lucknow, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Guwahati.
A combined investment by the Union government, the state governments and the urban local bodies of over Rs one lakh crore is likely to be spent on the programme. For the financial year 2005-06, around Rs 5,500 crore has been earmarked for the project. The ministry has already invited proposals under JNNURM from the states. The mission will accomodate water supply, sewerage facilities, sanitation, solid waste management, road network, transport, construction, construction of mass rapid transit systems, redevelopment of inner city areas, development of heritage areas, preservation of water bodies, and slum development.
The ministry has also conceived a comprehensive urban transport policy to promote greater use of public transport with Central assistance in the form of viability gap funding or equity participation.
