Latest news with #AmritAbhijat
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
7 UP cities to get additional Rs 100 crore each for improvement of urban services
Lucknow: The state govt has approved an additional Rs 700 crore for the improvement of urban services in seven Uttar Pradesh cities, under the smart city mission goals. Ayodhya , Gorakhpur, Mathura, Shahjahanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Firozabad will get Rs 100 crore each under the scheme. Under the state smart city scheme, which spanned five years (2019 to 2024), the state govt provided Rs 50 crore each to the seven cities annually to upgrade urban infrastructure and services. The state made provisions to provide Rs 1,750 crore to the seven cities in five years. The money was used to create better roads, parking complexes, smart classrooms, solar-powered streetlights, senior care centres, open gymnasiums, and health ATMs, among other facilities. However, to cater to the expectations of the urban population, it was felt that an integrated traffic management system, green zones, and educational and healthcare amenities also needed to be upgraded. As the municipal corporations heading the seven cities sought more funds to create additional facilities, the state govt in March decided to extend the state smart city scheme till March 31, 2027. "The corporations have been asked to submit a detailed action plan on the projects they are going to execute during the 2025-26 and 26-27 financial years through the additional Rs 100 crore that is going to be doled out to each one of them," said a senior govt officer. Principal secretary of the department, Amrit Abhijat, said that evaluation of the action plan is underway and money is going to be released in tranches to the corporations which meet the deadline.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Urban managers' to help small ULBs tackle unique challenges
Lucknow: In a significant step towards strengthening urban centres in Uttar Pradesh, the state govt on Thursday signed an MoU with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The institute would guide the employees deputed in the urban local bodies as well as Lucknow-based directorate to take forward the aspirational cities programme on the right track. Tata Trust is also among the stakeholders helping the state govt to roll out the programme. Principal secretary of the department Amrit Abhijat, secretary, Ajay Kumar Shukla and director of ULBs in UP Anuj Kumar Jha and Shikha Srivastava from TATA Trust and Poonam Praksash from SPA were present when the MoU exchanged hands between the stakeholders. The collaboration addresses a critical gap in urban planning expertise, particularly in smaller towns experiencing rapid growth. By focusing on capacity building, the initiative seeks to create a network of competent 'urban managers' capable of tackling the unique challenges faced by small ULBs. The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework that includes assessing training needs, identifying skilled trainers and developing tailored programs to enhance local planning capabilities. "This MoU represents our commitment to ensuring that no city, regardless of size, is left behind in our urban development journey," said Abhijat. The partnership will deliver an integrated training plan, foster collaborations with state and regional institutions, and provide specialized training manuals to ensure knowledge reaches the grassroots level. Director, SPA, Virendra Kumar Paul, emphasized the initiative's broader vision: "Capacity building is a big thrust for infrastructure development in India. We aspire to create a pool of competent 'Urban Managers' who will contribute to sustainable, climate-resilient, and culturally vibrant cities as a pride of India." The Tata Trust's financial support underscores the program's potential to reshape Uttar Pradesh's urban landscape, said an officer.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
UP signs MoU for ‘sustainable and inclusive urban growth'
The Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi to ensure sustainable and inclusive urban growth in the state. The agreement, which was formalised at the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies in Lucknow and is supported by Tata Trusts, comes under the Urban Development Department's Akanshi Nagar Yojana and aims to address the challenges faced by smaller urban local bodies in urban planning training and capacity building. The department will run special training programmes for officials of local urban bodies in collaboration with SAP. The initiative will focus on building a strong network of trained urban managers to deal with unique challenges faced by smaller urban local bodies, such as infrastructure development, resource management, and sustainable growth. Amrit Abhijat, Principal Secretary (Urban Development), said no town, big or small, will be left behind in the state's journey of urban development. The partnership will offer training programme, promote collaboration with state and regional institutions, and offer training manuals that reach the grassroots level.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centralised system to monitor progress of urban infrastructure in UP soon
Lucknow: The urban development department is developing a scheme monitoring system (SMS) to keep track of upgradation of the urban infrastructure in the state. Under it, a total of 3,062 civil projects under the CM Nagriye Alpaviksit Scheme and CM Malin Basti Scheme (slum resettlement) are being undertaken in UP at present. Similarly, a total of 335 infrastructure projects related to roads, footpaths, beautification, street lighting, and green cover (parks and gardens) are being executed across 762 urban local bodies in UP. Officials said an SMS platform is being set up to monitor all the ongoing civic projects being executed with a budget of Rs 3,500 crore in towns with populations between 1 lakh and 10 lakh. A high-level meeting was held at the urban body directorate to review the progress of major schemes operating under the department. The meeting was attended by chief engineers, executive engineers, assistant engineers, and junior engineers from all municipal corporations and urban bodies across the state. Secretary of the department and director of Urban Local Bodies Anuj Kumar Jha sought the latest progress of major schemes such as the CM Vatsala Ya Scheme, CM-Green Road Infrastructure Development Scheme (CM-GRID), Urban Flood Management & Storm Water Drainage under the monitoring system. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ecobonus 2025: perché approfittarne subito acquistando una pompa di calore Aira Scopri di più Undo The leadership team comprising senior engineers provided technical information about the scheme's objectives, benefits, and action plan. It was clarified that action plans prepared by bodies should be sent to the govt through the portal after approval from the relevant committee. Principal secretary Amrit Abhijat directed engineers to ensure all works are completed within the stipulated timeframe with high quality. The meeting also provided information about the online road repository developed by the urban road infrastructure development authority (URIDA), which is an effective tool for better management of urban roads. Through this repository, data on road location, width, length, maintenance status, and repair requirements can be collected as assets and liabilities to implement schemes in a rational and effective manner. It was explained that each urban body must plan its rainwater drainage system according to its catchment area to address waterlogging issues during monsoons. Instructions were also given to regularly upload information about these projects on the scheme portal to strengthen the monitoring system. The meeting also reviewed development work at historically, mythologically, religiously, and culturally significant sites in urban areas under the Vandan Scheme. "Smart management, technical innovation, and effective monitoring can give new direction to the state's cities," said Abhijat.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mini-forests to bring down urban heat island effect in key UP cities
Lucknow: Taking note of the increasing urban heat island effect in key cities of Uttar Pradesh, budgetary provisions will be made for the first time to create mini forests to introduce additional green cover in urban centres. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The urban heat island effect refers to the phenomenon where higher temperature is experience in urban areas compared to rural surroundings. In the rollout of Upvan Scheme, the 17 municipal corporations have been given a free hand to infuse up to Rs 3 crore to develop green zones over a 2,000 sq mt area under their jurisdiction. For the 2025-26 financial year, a corpus of Rs 70 crore has been created to dole out funds to urban local bodies. The money will be utilised to address the severe impact of urban heat in areas reeling under extreme weather conditions. "With growing urbanisation, mitigating the risk in densely populated areas has become essential. Having a crucial role to play, urban planning will have to be done in a manner to create additional green space and cooling strategies to promote sustainable development in urban areas," said principal secretary, urban development, Amrit Abhijat. In its research report presented to the state govt in July 2024, the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority urged the authorities to develop preventive measures to bring down heat events within the urban part of the state after carrying out district wise analysis. Stating that the rapid urban growth in cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur, and Prayagraj has given rise to urban heat islands, the study emphasises the need to prioritise green spaces, sustainable infrastructure, and climate-smart urban planning. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A dense urban forest planting methodology, introducing Miyawaki forests, could be the first step for the key civic bodies to lower surface temperatures. Officials said that the studies conducted by independent research scholars and educational institutes over cities in the state were going to be analysed, and the help of experts would be taken to conduct GIS (geographical information system) based studies and collate remotely sensed thermal data to zero in on locations which require intervention urgently.
