New Delhi: Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday, said his topmost priority will be to set up 100 new smart and safe cities in the country He said that a new mission will be launched soon in place of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Naidu said that by 2050, half of the Indian population will be living in urban areas for which there is an urgent need for urban upliftment and quality public transport. “The Ministry will also have to work fast in the areas of twin cities and creating infrastructure for satellite towns. Within cities, it is important to provide drainage, better sanitation, waste management, water recycling and wifi facilities for public and commercial areas,” he added.
Naidu further said modern and scientific methods of country town planning based on GIC system will be used for urban development. “Metro services will be extended in more and more cities and metro work will be speeded up wherever already started,” he added.
Naidu emphasized the need to clean up all religious cities to make them friendly. The Urban Development Minister also stated that he will hold meeting with other ministries like health and education for better coordination and convergence of slum development programmes, “Under National Urban Livelihood Mission, priority would be given for creating shelter for urban homeless,” he added.
Naidu also held a detailed meeting with the senior officers of the Ministries of Urban Development and HUPA.
