145;Not a scheme that works146;

The Economic Survey has rapped the Urban Development Ministry for its myriad projects, calling for 8216;8216;one comprehensive scheme146...

The Economic Survey has rapped the Urban Development Ministry for its myriad projects, calling for 8216;8216;one comprehensive scheme8217;8217; to build infrastructure in cities and towns across the country. The few aspects that came for praise 8212; the Delhi and Kolkata Metro and efforts to connect rural and urban areas.

Closer home, the survey called for better connectivity within the National Capital Region, pushing the Integrated Rail-cum-bus transit system in three corridors 8212; Shahdara-Ghaziabad, Sahibabad-Shivaji Bridge and Trinagar-Gurgaon. In Mumbai, the survey called for the system in the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor.

The survey struck down other schemes for urban infrastructure development in mega cities and integrated development of small and medium towns, saying they 8216;8216;do not meet the requirements of development of infrastructure, development of cities/towns8217;8217;. It also says schemes such as Urban Reform Incentive Fund, formulated during the NDA regime as a carrot for the states, be 8216;8216;subsumed with the comprehensive scheme8217;8217;.

On water supply and sanitation, the survey accepts figures supplied by the states which show 89 per cent in the urban population as having access to water supply and 63 per cent, to sewage and sanitation facilities. It does, however, underline that the data relates to access, not 8216;8216;quality of water8217;8217; and 8216;8216;quality of services8217;8217;. And, the funds to deliver all that is Rs 53,000 crore.

Survey suggests urban reforms under

MANDATORY

8226; Repeal of Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act;

8226; Reform of rent control laws

8226; Rationalisation of stamp duty to bring it down to no more than 5 pc in five years

8226; Introduction of independent regulators for urban services

OPTIONAL

8226; Revision of bylaws

8226; Simplification of legal and procedural framework for conversion of agricultural land for non-agriculture purposes

8226; Introduction of property title

8226; Computerisation of land and property registration