Extending JNNURM will boost state infrastructure: Chavan

Welcoming the decision to extend the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday said it would boost the infrastructure of the state and lead to further growth of smaller cities and towns.

Union Urban Development ministry-appointed high power committee on urban infrastructure facilities, headed by Dr Isher Ahluwalia, visited Maharashtra and made a presentation before Chavan.

Chavan said the suggestion to extend JNNURM would prove beneficial for the state. Maharashtra has the second highest speed for urbanisation in the country and 32 per cent of its population resides in slums.

Chavan also welcomed the recommendation of having one department for urban infrastructure and housing at the central and state governments.

Migration to cities and towns was putting pressure on housing and civic infrastructure, Chavan said, adding that Mumbai has serious housing and urbanisation problem due to which 54 per cent people live in slums. It is putting pressure on civic infrastructure, he added.

The renewed JNNURM would also help resolve issues related to public transport.

"The committee made a presentation about the recommendations it has prepared. There was a discussion about JNNURM and other infrastructure issues," said a UDD official.

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