NEW DELHI, JULY 2: In addition to the 63 mission cities identified under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for sprucing the urban infrastructure, government is now drafting a proposal to include satellite towns in this list.

These satellite towns according to the government’s definition are urban areas adjoining the mission cities. For instance, in case of Delhi, it will include agglomerations like Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida.

The Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Ministry has set the ball rolling and the formulation of this scheme is underway. Speaking to The Indian Express, urban development ministry secretary M Ramachandran said, “There is a proposal to take up satellite towns for urban development for which the process is going on. The idea behind this initiative is to avoid a situation where cities are in improved situation but just outside the city area, it’s a miserable condition.”

However, the number of such satellite towns, to be taken up under this initiative is unclear as of now. “The recommendation for inclusion of satellite towns has to come from states. The satellite towns will be adjoining the mission cities. In addition, they (states) will propose projects to be carried out in these satellite towns. The focus area in these towns will be basic infrastructure services - water management, solid waste management and other such services.”

The finer details of this initiative are being finalised, after which it will seek the approval of expenditure finance committee, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and Finance Ministry.