National War Memorial awaits urban development ministry’s nod

September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will build bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in nine more cities at an investment of Rs.4,500 crore, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy said here Friday. "We are going to implement BRT in nine more cities with an estimated cost of Rs.4,500 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) project," Reddy said while speaking at a programme here.

September 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be a boon for slumdwellers here as both the central and state governments are planning to provide them with better homes ahead of the event, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said here Saturday. "The Commonwealth Games will act as a boon for poor people.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja said on Tuesday that sustainable development needs to be inclusive and different from mere economic development of the past, and its benefits must last well into the next generation, and beyond. Delivering the inaugural address at the launch of Habitat Business Forum in New Delhi, the minister emphasised the role of private sector in contributing towards this cause has to be recognized and promoted on a large scale.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The allocation for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has been increased by 87 percent to Rs.12,887 crore, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said while presenting the union budget in parliament Monday. Additionally, the Indira Awas Yojna, a housing programme for the poor, has been allocated Rs.2,000 crore, while a Rs.2,000-crore special fund has been set up to finance rural housing projects.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Highlights of the union budget for the current fiscal presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha Monday: - Plan expenditure up 34 percent to Rs.1,025,838 crore, non plan spend up 37 percent - Total spending increased to Rs.10.2 lakh crore - Rs.420 crore for new IITs and NITs - Commonwealth Games allocated Rs.3,472 crore - National unique identification numbers to start rolling out in 12-18 months - Paramilitary forces such as CRPF to get 100,000 homes - Banking services in under-banked areas to be increased, scheme allocated Rs.100 crore - Agriculture debt waiver extended by six months - Outlay for national rural health mission increased by Rs.2,057 crore from the Rs.12,070 crore provided in the interim budget - Allocation towards National Rural Employment Guarantee Act increased by Rs.39,100 crore - Allocation for Bharat Nirman scheme increased by 45 percent - Rs.20 billion for rural housing - Rural electrification scheme to get Rs.7,000 crore more - Tax department to work on early introduction of Saral 2 forms - Stimulus for print media extended from June 13 to Dec 31 - Rs.1,000 crore to accelerate irrigation projects - Agriculture development fund increased from Rs.2.87 lakh crore to Rs.3.25 lakh crore - Market development assistance scheme for exporters increased by 148 percent to Rs.124 crore - Pre-shipment interest subvention set at 2 percent for textile exporters - Sufficient funds for infrastructure development - Allocation for national highways development stepped up by 23 percent - Allocation for urban poor schemes to be raised to Rs.39,730 crore - LNG infrastructure to be expanded - Allocation for Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission raised by 87 percent to Rs.12,887 crore

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Infrastructure development continues to be a priority area for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee increasing public investment in this sector. "The investment in infrastructure for the growth of economy is critical.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Highlights of the union budget for the current fiscal presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha Monday: - Agriculture debt waiver extended by six months - Outlay for national rural health mission increased by Rs.2,057 crore from the Rs.12,070 crore provided in the interim budget - Allocation towards National Rural Employment Guarantee Act increased by Rs.39,100 crore - Allocation for Bharat Nirman scheme increased by 45 percent - Rs.20 billion for rural housing - Rural electrification scheme to get Rs.7,000 crore more - Tax department to work on early introduction of Saral 2 forms - Stimulus for print media extended from June 13 to Dec 31 - Rs.1,000 crore to accelerate irrigation projects - Agriculture development fund increased from Rs.2.87 lakh crore to Rs.3.25 lakh crore - Market development assistance scheme for exporters increased by 148 percent to Rs.124 crore - Pre-shipment interest subvention set at 2 percent for textile exporters - Will make sufficient funds for infrastructure development - Allocation for national highways development stepped up by 23 percent - Allocation for urban poor schemes to be raised to Rs.39,730 crore in 2009-10 - LNG infrastructure to be expanded - Allocation for Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission raised by 87 percent to Rs.12,887 crore

July 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Saturday launched a skill development programme to train about 100,000 domestic workers here in a variety of subjects ranging from personal hygiene to first-aid. The initiative would also educate such workers about intra-personal communication skills, components of urban meals, management of urban kitchens, serving cooked food in formal environment and maintaining kitchen gardens.

July 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's millions of urban poor have reason to cheer. A new housing scheme, Rajiv Awas Yojana, was announced Wednesday promising to improve their lives and aiming to make the country "slum free" in the next five years.

June 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In a bid to address the acute housing shortage in the national capital, its development authority will build 65,000 houses in the next four years, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy announced here Monday. "Of these 65,000 houses, 40,000 will be for the urban poor and low income group, and 10,000 will be for the middle income group," Reddy told reporters while releasing the 100-day agenda of his ministry.

June 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The urban development ministry has sought an extra Rs.50,000 crore to include 28 more cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a central government initiative to promote planned development of cities. "The government has committed to raise Rs.100,000 crore of investment for the urban sector under the JNNURM.

June 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Centre is preparing to provide modern facilities in 28 more cities in addition to the existing 65 cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the first 100 days of the UPA government. "Infrastructure will also be developed in small and medium towns.

June 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi Government on Monday revealed through its budget that it would primarily focus its attention on transport sector, urban development and water and sanitation in the year ahead. The highest share in the budget 2009-10 has been earmarked for transport sector which was given Rs 3,069 crore (about 31 per cent) followed by Urban Development with Rs 1,524 crore (15 per cent) and Water and Sanitation with Rs 1,366 crore (14 per cent).

June 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy Tuesday sought to boost affordable housing, proposing an interest rate of 7.5 percent on loans for houses costing between Rs.5 lakh and Rs.30 lakh. The proposal was made at a pre-budget discussion with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of State for Planning V Narayanasamy today said that the Government is mulling an National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)-type poverty alleviation programme for the urban poor. Talking to reporters after taking over the charge of the Ministry, Narayanasamy said that the government is planning such a scheme for urban poor.