New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) 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. However, we feel that we will require Rs.50,000 crore more to include 28 more cities,” Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy told reporters here while announcing his ministry’s agenda for the first 100 days.

“At present, there are 65 cities each with a population more than 10 lakh which are part of the JNNURM. Now we are planning to include cities with population of more than five lakh. So, 28 more cities will be added and we will have to arrange funds for total 93 cities,” Reddy said.

“The state government and the urban local bodies will bear 50 percent of the additional cost, the remaining 50 percent will be contributed by the central government,” the minister said.

The government is also planning to invest Rs.500 crore for basic infrastructure development of satellite towns, Reddy added.

–Indo-Asian News service

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