Kamal Nath demands reforms in urban governance [August 2012]

Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has stressed upon the importance of long term strategic urban planning for emergence and growth of new cities not only in the specific context of municipal limits but encompassing the regional perspective i.e. sub-urbanisation. While talking at the Joint Plenary Session of the Singapore International Water Week-World Cities Summit-Clean Enviro Summit, the Minister said, “It is important that suburbs of major urban centres are well planned and linked with efficient and fast transportation networks in order to ensure dispersal of population and economic activities.”
Emphasising upon the need to improve efficiency and inclusiveness in the development of urban infrastructure, he said, “Next phase of JNNURM is likely to have an enhanced allocation to the tune of 0.25 per cent of GDP amounting to $38 billion. Innovative models of financing including PPP, land monetisation and stress on urban governance and other reform measures would be integral to the next phase.”

3