India On Path To Become World’s Second Largest Metro Network System: Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, at an e-booklet launch, said that the country is on the path to become the world’s second largest metro network system.

Today about 872 km of metro lines are operational in 20 different cities namely, Delhi and seven national capital region cities, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Nagpur, Kanpur and Pune.

The average daily ridership for these routes are 85 lakh, said Puri, while speaking at the launch of an updated e-booklet (2014-2023) titled, “Transforming Urban Landscape”.

About 988 km of metro rail projects (including Delhi-Meerut RRTS) are under construction in various cities across the country namely Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Pune, Kanpur, Agra, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, Surat and Meerut, the Minister added.

Highlighting the substantial investments in urban sector, Puri said there is a significant rise in investment from Rs 178,053 crore (2004- 2014) to Rs 1,807,101 crore (2014 onwards) — which reflects indomitable will and resolve of government towards growth and development of urban sector in India.

The booklet launched by the Minister on Thursday (31 August) encompasses the data on progress of various schemes, initiatives, programmes and missions that aim towards development of urban landscape in India.

These schemes/missions include Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Development, Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission, among others.

While briefing the media Puri recalled a statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards urban development which said, “We see urbanisation as an opportunity and we are committed to make cities world-class urban spaces that further the ease of living.”

He said that in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, the government has utilised the opportunity to transform the urban sector in the last nine years. He emphasised that this sector was neglected previously.

The mission has led to four-fold increase in waste processing — from 18 per cent in 2014 to 75.20 per cent in 2023. Segregation and door-to-door collection of municipal solid waste has also witnessed a remarkable increase as a result of efforts done under SBM-U.

Drawing attention to the achievements under PMAY-U, Puri informed that so far, the scheme has achieved a milestone of sanctioning of 1.19 crore houses.

More than 113 lakh houses have been grounded for construction, of which, 76.34 lakh have been completed and delivered to the beneficiaries, he added.

The Minister highlighted that the mission promotes women empowerment by providing the title of houses in the name of female member or in the joint name. More than 94 lakh houses under PMAY-U are in the name of women or joint ownership.

He further added that the government is using latest technologies to build the projects/houses under PMAY-U. Fifty-four new technologies have been identified through a global challenge process and these are used in construction of various light house projects.

Referring to the outcomes of various initiatives undertaken towards strengthening of urban transport, the Minister mentioned about “PM-eBus Sewa”, a scheme recently approved by cabinet for augmenting city bus operation by 10,000 e-buses on public-private-partnership model.

Housing and Urban Affairs secretary Manoj Joshi, elaborated on the recommendations of a committee constituted under the chairmanship of Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa to recommend ways to complete the legacy stalled real estate projects.

The Committee submitted the report to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 21 August 2023.