Hon’ble Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated the Regional Conference of Urban Development Ministers of Southern States/Union Territories in Bengaluru today. The Urban Development Ministers and officials from the Southern States of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Union Territories of Pondicherry and Lakshadweep had participated. The meeting extensively discussed the nature of urban growth, planning, services, public transport, water management, cleanliness, metro connectivity and the challenges facing such projects.

Addressing the media after the meeting, the Minister stated that this was a successful meeting and the representatives from the states offered useful suggestions for urban development. The Minister highlighted that, the deliberations focused on strengthening urban governance and enhancing the quality of life through flagship initiatives such as AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Mission, Swachh Shehar Jodi, PM Awas Yojana (Urban) and Legacy Waste Remediation. We also reviewed metro connectivity, mobility challenges and development priorities for Bengaluru City. He further stated that Union Government is committed to drive urban transformation across the southern region with better infrastructure, efficient mobility and dignified living for all.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will soon organize an Urban Conclave in Delhi, where representatives from all Municipal Corporations across the country will participate. The Minister further stressed that everyone needs to work together to lead the nation forward. The Minister emphasized that adequate grants are being provided by the Centre to the states for Urban Development. Along with Central Government, funds are provided from various sources such as the local administration, the Central and State Governments, private sector and international organizations, depending on the region and nature of projects.

The Union Minister stated that finding a single solution for urban development issues across all regions is challenging. Solutions must be found according to the fiscal capacity and the region's specific needs. The Minister also noted that, India currently ranks 3rd in the world in metro construction and will soon surpass the US and China with the construction of 2,000 km of metro lines.

 

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