Gaur Seeks Extension of Project Utthan Deadline

Bhopal  —  Urban Administration and Development Minister Babulal Gaur on Tuesday urged visiting British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg and head of DFID-India Michael Anderson to extend the project Utthan deadline by a year. The urban service programme, being implemented with British aid at a cost of Rs 350 crore, is scheduled to conclude in 2011.

At a meeting in the state capital, Gaur informed the High Commissioner that the project is being implemented in four cities – Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior.

Under the project, works of environment improvement and infrastructure development are being undertaken in slum areas with the participation of urban poor. He informed that the consultants’ team appointed for the project has started work.

So far, roads and drains have been built and sewage lines laid in several slum areas while infrastructure development works are underway at various places.

While informing British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg and DFID India head Michael Anderson about the works being undertaken in slums, Urban Administration and Development Commissioner SN Mishra said that it is necessary to increase the project’s deadline for one year from 2011 to 2012.

Delhi-based Programme Director Meenaxi Nath, Madhya Pradesh-based Programme manager Jaysingh Verma and Director of Institutional Finance Madhya Pradesh Shri Manish Singh were also present at the meeting.