New Delhi : In an ambitious initiative to improve the quality of urban life, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched three flagship schemes — Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) — with a total outlay of Rs 4 lakh crore over five years.
Speaking at the launch of this programme, Modi said that this would be a bottom-up model for urban development. “A smart city means a city which is two steps ahead of the basic necessities of the resident,” he added.
Pointing out that the city’s leadership would take charge of the development, he said “Otherwise there remains a mismatch… our development should not create a conflict between the cities and villages. Currently, private property developers decide a city’s growth, but often roads and drainage are not built when they lead the development. The city’s residents and leadership should decide how a city should grow.”
