Latest news with #AMRUT1.0
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Contractors Give Two Hoots To Civic Chiefs' Road Digging Ban
1 2 Nagpur: Days after municipal commissioner and administrator Abhijeet Chaudhari issued a strict diktat banning all road excavation from June 1 and mandating full restoration of dug-up roads by May 31, violations continue to be glaringly visible across Nagpur. On Monday, TOI found fresh excavation underway near the busy Old Katol Road square in Mangalwari zone, where a private telecom company was laying underground cables. The digging was in direct defiance of the civic chief's May 27 order. Following a TOI query, chief engineer Manoj Talewar directed the Mangalwari zone office to initiate immediate checks and action. A similar case of unauthorised road work was observed near the State CID office in west Nagpur. Even in the Narendra Nagar area, TOI found road digging was under way. The May 27 high-level review meeting chaired by Chaudhari laid out clear consequences: failure to restore roads dug up for civic works by May 31 would result in steep fines and possible criminal prosecution. He also imposed a blanket ban on fresh road digging during the monsoon across all departments and private utility agencies, warning that violations would trigger police complaints and penalties for negligent engineers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Quedas no banheiro: Como evitar? (Saiba mais) Evite quedas e escorregões Saiba Mais Undo Yet, ongoing utility and pipeline-related activities continue to mar key areas. Under the Pora River Pollution Abatement Project, the NMC's public health engineering (PHE) department dug up over 500km of roads in South-West, South, and Kamptee assembly segments for laying sewer lines. However, only 100km of work was completed so far, and in light of the June 1 ban, PHE superintendent engineer Shweta Banerjee confirmed the department halted fresh digging. "The focus is now on restoring previously dug-up stretches. Around 80% of the restoration was completed, and work is ongoing to finish the remaining 20%," she said, adding that most incomplete sections lie in the South and Kamptee constituencies. Banerjee clarified that only emergency works, such as water pipeline repairs and strengthening interconnections under AMRUT 1.0, will be permitted during the monsoon. Chaudhari also stressed that no debris or rubble should remain unattended, especially in slum pockets where sewer works are underway. Contractors were warned to clear sites thoroughly or face penalties. The sanitation department has been tasked with monitoring compliance. With monsoon approaching, Chaudhari's ultimatum sends a clear message: incomplete roads and public inconvenience will no longer be tolerated. Yet, as the latest findings show, enforcement remains a challenge on the ground.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Nod to key urban reforms to ease financial burden on local bodies in UP
LUCKNOW In a move aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure and easing financial pressures on civic bodies, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Thursday approved two major proposals under the AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme. The decision is set to provide significant relief to urban local bodies (ULBs), especially those with limited revenue sources, and fast-track delayed development projects across the state. Funding support under AMRUT 1.0 In a key decision, the UP cabinet sanctioned ₹89.81 crore from State Finance Commission grants to cover the remaining financial contributions of ULBs under AMRUT 1.0. This step is aimed at unblocking critical water supply and sewerage projects that have been stalled due to lack of funds from ULBs. The cities that stand to benefit include Ayodhya, Mirzapur, Etah, Ghazipur, Rae Bareli, and Unnao — many of which have been facing challenges due to high floating populations and limited financial capacities. The state government acknowledged that newly constituted municipal corporations like Ayodhya and religious hubs such as Mirzapur face unique fiscal constraints despite their growing infrastructure demands. Out of 328 approved AMRUT 1.0 projects, 307 have already been completed. This funding decision is expected to ensure timely completion of the remaining 21, improving public service delivery and reducing the operational burden on ULBs. Major relief under AMRUT 2.0 In another significant decision, the state cabinet approved a revised funding structure under AMRUT 2.0, reducing the financial contribution required from ULBs based on the size of the urban population. The state will now shoulder a larger share of project costs, making infrastructure development more accessible for smaller cities. Cities with population over 10 lakh: ULB share reduced from 15% to 8% and the state share increased from 60% to 67%. Cities with population up to 10 lakh: ULB share cut from 10% to 4%, state share up from 56.67% to 62.67%. Cities with population below 1 lakh: ULBs to contribute only 2%, with 48% funded by the state and 50% by the Centre. This new funding model is expected to drastically cut delays and improve execution of vital projects related to drinking water, sewerage systems, green spaces and water body rejuvenation. 'These landmark decisions reflect the government's citizen-centric and inclusive approach to urban development,' said principal secretary, urban development, Amrit Abhijat. Amendment to dairy dev policy The cabinet also gave nod to the second amendment to the UP Dairy Development and Milk Production Policy-2022 to bring incentives given to investors in dairy development industry at par with the UP Food Processing Industry Policy-2023. Briefing media persons, dairy development minister Dharampal Singh said the amendments replace the existing provisions for 10% subsidy in the industry. The incentives would now be 35% of the cost, subject to a maximum of ₹5 crore, for setting up dairy industry. He said the incentive for modernisation of existing dairy plants would be 35%, subject to a maximum of ₹2.50 crore, 35% for buying quality control equipment, subject to a maximum ₹1 crore. It will also be 35%, subject to a maximum of ₹1 crore, to buy refrigerated van/insulated van, milk tanker, bulk milk cooler, ice-cream trolley/deep freezer etc. Income of village panchayats The cabinet approved a scheme to encourage village panchayats to increase their income from organising markets or village pond fisheries etc. It decided that the state government would contribute five times of the income generated by the village panchayats. The state government would provide a sum of ₹5 lakh, if the village panchayat earned ₹1 lakh from its own sources. Panchayat Utsav Bhawan The cabinet gave nod to a proposal to set up Panchayat Utsav Bhawan in nearly 71 village panchayats. Finance minister Suresh Khanna said a provision of ₹100 crore has been made for this in the state's budget for 2025-2026. Under the Matrabhoomi Yojana, donors willing to contribute would bear 60% of the cost of a marriage home etc while 40% cost would be borne by the village panchayat. The cost of one Utsav Bhawan has been estimated at ₹1.41 crore, he said.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Two more multi-level parking facilities in the capital
The parking space available in the capital's busiest junctions and major commercial areas is set to expand in the near future with the commissioning of more multi-level car parking lots (MLCPs). According to Thiruvananthapuram Corporation officials, the ongoing work on the MLCP near Medical College junction is almost complete and is expected to be inaugurated soon. The MLCP at Medical College is being completed at a cost of ₹19 crore. It can accommodate a total of 210 cars. Another parking lot of a similar design is coming up at one end of Putharikandam Maithanam. The work is expected to be completed by June. One more multi-level parking lot project is being implemented near Chala Market. Currently, pedestrians find it hard to navigate through the road that passes through the centre of the market as vehicles are parked haphazardly on either side, leaving only a narrow space for vehicles and people to pass through. The parking lots near the commercial hub are expected to reduce congestion inside the market. The funds allocated for the work on multi-level car parking lots in Putharikandam Maithanam and Medical College, which were earlier planned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 1.0 scheme, were last year transferred to the Smart City project as these projects could not be accommodated under AMRUT 2.0. Back in 2018, administrative sanction was accorded to a total of three MLCPs. The parking lot at the Corporation premises in Palayam with seven floors and a capacity to park 102 cars was completed earlier. However, with the time period for AMRUT 1.0 coming to an end in 2023, it was decided to transfer the funds to the ongoing Smart City. The AMRUT 1.0 scheme had a component for 'improvement in urban transport facilities', under which the MLCPs were planned. However, the AMRUT 2.0, which focuses more on drinking water related issues, does not have such a component. Despite the opening of MLCPs at Palayam and Thampanoor, wayside parking has not reduced drastically, pointing to the acute shortage of parking space within the city.
