URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
Gujarat is the most rapidly urbanizing state in the country with the highest decadal rate of
increase of 5.2%. Urbanization has thrown up serious issues of creating urban infrastructure,
migration and dealing with issues of housing, health and education of the urban poor. In the
Eleventh Plan the State allotted Rs. 13,068 crore for Urban Development and in the first year of the
Twelfth Plan an outlay of Rs. 5670 is provided. It is expected that we would be providing almost
Rs. 50,000 crore over the next five years. With almost half of its population living in urban areas,
states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Karnataka would naturally avail of proportionately
lower benefits from centrally sponsored schemes aimed at rural areas.
There is an urgent need for the Planning Commission to provide special
allocations for urban areas in the Twelfth Plan. There has been considerable
delay in announcement of a revamped JnNURM to effectively address the
concerns of smaller towns and ensure proportionately higher allocations
for the more urbanized states.
Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana
Metro Rail Project
Garib Samrudhhi Yojana
It is proposed to cover all 159 municipalities in the State to upgrade water supply from 100
to 135 liters per capita per day. Projects in nearly 100 towns have already been completed.
Similarly all municipalities are planned to be provided with underground drainage by the
end of year 2015-16. Under this scheme the State has adopted a holistic approach for
providing basic social infrastructure and urban amenities.
A Metro Rail System connecting Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad is under finalization at an
estimated cost of Rs. 6000 crore in Phase-I. A special purpose vehicle has been formed
to implement this project for which a provision of Rs. 500 crore has been made for the
current year.
This State Flagship Scheme aims at the overall development of urban poor through
comprehensive convergence of planning and implementation by providing opportunities
for employment, ensuring better health and nutrition, providing housing and adequate
basic facilities, empowering women and mainstreaming of urban poor. Provision of Rs.
13,000 crore was made during the Eleventh Plan. This has been enhanced to Rs. 25,000
crore for a Second Generation Garib Samrudhhi Yojana in the Twelfth Plan.
