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. In order to lessen pressure on large cities the government will launch the scheme for satellite town around mega cities to address basic infrastructure problems such as drinking water , sewerage, drainage and solid waste management. To provide better transport facilities in the growing urban areas, the government will provide all assistance to metro project in Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi and Delhi,” Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said on Monday in the national capital.

Besides, the government will also make substantial assistance for the purchase of fifteen thousand 220-Modern Buses for city transport in 118 cities along with 61 mission cities.

Reddy informed that he has requested the Finance Ministry for removal of excise tax on buses made for public transport services. He said states will also be persuaded to waive local taxes on buses made for public transport.

To address the urban infrastructure deficit in north-eastern region , the Asian Development Bank - assisted North Eastern Region Urban Development Programme will be launched for implementation at a cost of about 1,371 crore rupees.

Five cities of Agartala, Aizawl, Gangtok, Kohima and Shillong will be taken up in the first phase. States of Arunachal Pradesh Assam and Manipur will be taken up next year.

To meet the acute shortage of houses for urban poor, economically weaker sections and lower income groups of city of Delhi, construction of about 65 thousand houses in different income groups will be taken up. In addition to this about 10 thousand houses will be taken up in phases. (ANI)