The new Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation also said that housing for all by 2020 was the agenda's priority.
Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) M Venkaiah Naidu has said that the topmost priority of his Ministry would be to set up 100 new smart and safe cities in the country.
Speaking to media persons after assuming charge in New Delhi on Wednesday, Naidu said that a new mission would be launched soon in place of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Another priority on the agenda was housing for all by 2020, for which Public Private Partnership (PPP) as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would be encouraged, he said.
The Minister elaborated that corporates, financial institutions, banks etc. must give easier loans to their employees (existing and retired) to fulfil their (the employees') housing needs. This must be done as part of their CSR, he said.
Naidu said that by 2050, half of the Indian population would be living in urban areas, and thus there was an urgent need for urban upliftment and quality public transport.
The Ministry would also have to work fast in the areas of twin cities and creating infrastructure for satellite towns, he said.
Within cities, it was important to provide better drainage, sanitation, waste management and water recycling, and wifi facilities for public and commercial areas, he added.
Modern and scientific methods of town-planning based on the GIC system will be used for urban development. Metro services will be extended in more and more cities, and metro work will be speeded up wherever already started, he stated.
The Minister emphasized the need to clean up all the religious cities to make them more hospitable. He also stated that for better coordination and convergence of slum development programmes, he would be holding a meeting with other ministries like health, education etc.
Under the National Urban Livelihood Mission, priority would be given to creating shelter for the urban homeless, the Minister added.
Naidu also held a detailed meeting with senior officers of the Ministries of Urban Development and HUPA. Dr. Sudhir Krishna, Secretary (UD), briefed him about the functioning of the Ministry and other related issues. Anita Agnihotri, Secretary (HUPA), also apprised the Minister about the working of the Ministry of HUPA. (INN)