nd str and n rastr t re 9.35
has taken various new initiatives to improve cited by the Economic Survey 2016-17 (quoting
urban infrastructure: case studies)67 in this regard—of two different
SBM (Swachh Bharat Mission) aims at making time periods:
India free from open defecation and at achieving 1. Gurgaon: It was in 2001 when Haryana
100 per cent scientific management of municipal government removed restrictions on the
solid waste in 4041 statutory towns/cities in the land acquisition process and empowered
country. The targets set for the mission which the HUDA (Haryana Urban Development
have to be achieved by 2 October 2019. Authority) and allowed private builders
to develop township on the erstwhile
HRIDAY (National Heritage City Development
agricultural land—and here started the
and Augmentation Yojana) aims at preserving
development of today’s Gurgaon. Today
and revitalizing the soul and unique character of
the city is under the control of HUDA,
heritage cities in India. In the first phase, it contains
12 cities – Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon
Dwarka, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni, (created in 2008) and the private builders.
Kanchipuram, Gaya and Warangal. In Gurgaon, the private sector has stepped
in to address many of the failings of the
AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and public sector, with mixed success:
Urban Transformation) aims at improving basic
Corrected the failure of the public
urban infrastructure in 500 cities/towns which
sector by creating private sewage,
will be known as mission cities/towns. This is a
water, electricity, security and fire
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funded by
prevention.
GoI, States and the local bodies.
Rapid Metro in Gurgaon was built by
A number of other initiatives in the existing
DLF and Infrastructure Leasing &
scheme of the policy framework have also been
Financial Services Limited (IL&FS),
taken – public transport through Bus Rapid
with HUDA providing the requisite
Transit Systems (BRTS) approved for 11 cities
land.
under the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission); Buses and Metro Rail Roads are of good quality.
Projects to be equipped with ITS (Intelligent Shortfall in transport facilities is
Transport System). covered by the private modes of
transport.
PrIvate sector and urBanIsatIon Precisely speaking, private players have
addressed most challenges but they have
Proper urban planning becomes an important been unable to provide services beyond
issue for India as it is urbanising fast. Given the their own property line as cooperation
Government push to the Smart City scheme, lacks amongst them and the authorities.
it will be needful to tap the potential of every The public authorities have had limited
possible candidate in this regard. One of such
success in providing the city with large
candidate is the private sector. There are few
examples where we find the sector able to develop 67. Economic Survey 2016-17 ol. , p. cites the
praiseworthy townships—in certain areas beating studies of S. Rajagopalan & A. Tabarrok, Lessons
from Gurgaon, India’s Private City, in D. Anderson &
the public sector also—though they have their S. oroni d. , Cities and rivate lanning,
own limitations, too. Two such cases have been Cheltenham, dward lgar, .