Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

The previous decade saw the launch and implementation of one of its kind big flagship scheme ‘JNNURM’ for urban rejuvenation. The mission strove hard to reform and bring about a complete transformation in the urban sphere through its slew of reform measures and new initiatives for the improvement of urban basic services to all. Despite its impediments and limitations it produced wonderful results and transformed the mindsets of the states and urban local bodies.

Continuing in the same spirit of bringing about rapid and positive transformation in the urban space and prioritizing the objectives based on the experiences and the learnings of the previous mission the government has launched the programme for urban renewal named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in June 2015. The mission has been titled as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

The mission proclaims it would focus on infrastructure creation that has a direct link to the provision of better services to people. The government would ensure the creation of a sound institutional structure to make Mission successful. The major objectives of the mission have been outlined below.

Objectives of the AMRUT Mission

1. Every household has access to a tap with an assured water supply.
2. All the houses have sewerage connections.
3. Developing greenery and well-maintained open spaces (e.g. parks) to enhance the aesthetic value of the city.
4. Reduction of pollution by shifting to public transport system or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling)

Coverage of the AMRUT Mission

The scheme covers five hundred cities, the list of cities will be notified later. Following are the category of cities that will be covered in the AMRUT scheme:

1. All Cities and Towns with a population of more than one lakh with notified Municipalities, Cantonment Boards.
2. All Capital Cities, Towns and UTs that are not included in the above-mentioned category.
3. All Cities and Towns are classified as Heritage Cities by the Ministry of Urban Development under the HRIDAY Scheme.
4. It also includes thirteen Cities and Towns with a population between 75,000 to 1 lakh that is on the stem of the main rivers.
5. Ten Cities from hill states, islands and tourist destinations.

Components of the AMRUT Mission

The components of the mission along with their detailed description of the proposed tasks have been given below:

1. Water Supply

This component includes (a) Augmentation of existing water supply, water treatment plants and universal installation of meters. (b) Rehabilitation of old water supply systems and Rejuvenation of water bodies for drinking water supply and recharging of groundwater. (c) Making arrangements for supplying water to hill areas and coastal cities and those places having water quality problems (e.g. arsenic, fluoride)

2. Sewerage

It focuses on (a) Decentralization and proper development of networked underground sewerage systems, augmentation of existing sewerage systems and treatment plants (b) Rehabilitation of old sewerage systems and treatment plants (c) Recycling and reuse of water.

3. Septage

(a) Faecal Sludge Management- cleaning and treatment in a cost-effective manner. (b) Biological and mechanical cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.

4. Storm Water Drainage

This component has become more relevant nowadays as the city comes to a virtual standstill after heavy rains. Therefore, the Construction and improvement of drains and stormwater drains have become indispensable to checking and eliminating flooding.

5. Urban Transport

Traffic management, pollution control and the developing mass rapid transit system has become necessary requirement of the cities and emerged as a challenge for the government. Therefore, the mission emphasizes on (a) the Introduction of ferry vessels for inland waterways. (b) Construction of footpaths, sidewalks, foot over-bridges, multi-level parking and facilities for promoting non-motorized vehicles such as bicycles. (c) Encouraging and promoting Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).

6. Green Space and Parks

The mission focuses on enhancing and developing green space and parks with the aim to beautify the city.

7. Reforms Management & Support

This is an important component of the mission which supports (a) Funding for reform implementation and other activities and (b) Independent Reform monitoring agencies.

8. Capacity Building

Focus is on (a) individual and institutional capacity building which will not just be confined to Mission cities but would also be extended to other ULBs. (b) Continuation of the Comprehensive Capacity Building Programme (CCBP) after its realignment towards the new Missions.

Allocation of Funds for AMRUT Mission

The total Budget for AMRUT is Rs. 50,000 crores for five years beginning in 2015. The Mission is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

The Formula for the Allocation of Project Funds to States will give equal weightage ( 50:50) to the urban population of the State/UT and the number of statutory towns in the state.

The Mission funds consist of four parts as given below:

1. Project fund – 80% of the annual budgetary allocation (project fund in the first year would be 90% of the annual budgetary allocation)
2. Incentives for Reforms would constitute 10% of the annual budgetary allocation.
3. State funds for Administrative & Office Expenses (A&OE) would claim 8% of the annual budgetary allocation
4. Ministry of Urban Development funds for Administrative & Office Expenses would constitute 2% of the annual budgetary allocation.

Implementation Strategy of AMRUT Mission

1. Preparation of Service Level Improvement Plan (SLIP)

This is an exhaustive exercise as the preparation of the slip has to focus on universal coverage of all households with water supply and sewerage, look into new alternatives to bridge the gaps, ways to implement reforms and strategy to manage the finance. Each ULB is therefore required to go through a series of necessary steps keeping in mind the conditions attached and prepare the Service Level Improvement Plan.

2. State Annual Action Plan (SAAP)

The SLIPs prepared by the ULBs would form the building block for the SAAP. SLIPS will be aggregated to form SAAP. SAAP is nothing but a State level service improvement plan that indicates the year-wise progress/improvement in water supply and sewerage connections to households.

3. Approval of SAAP

The Apex Committee is given the task of appraisal and approval of the SAAP. After the approval of the SAAP project execution begins.

4. Project Execution

DPRs are prepared for identified projects approved by the State level Committees after technical appraisal by the State Level Technical Committee (SLTC). The process of Implementation finally begins after a thorough technical & financial appraisal of the DPRs.

5. Release of Funds

The funds will be released in three instalments of 20:40:40

The first instalment of 20 per cent will be released soon after the approval of the SAAP by the Apex Committee. The second and third instalments will only be released on receipt of Score Card, Utilization Certificates and Project Funds Request.

It is experienced and learned from past programmes that the timely release of project funds by the State Governments is a key to the successful completion of any project. Therefore, the States are required to release the Central Assistance funds to the ULBs within seven working days of the release of the Central share by the Ministry of Urban Development failing which a specified interest rate shall be levied on the state.

The following Flowchart summarises the process of plan implementation of AMRUT:

Programme Management Structure

It has three tier management structure at the national, state and city level.

National Level

The Programme at the national level will be managed by an Apex Committee (AC) that will be chaired by the Secretary, MoUD.Members/representatives of related ministries and organisations will supervise the mission. The Apex Committee is required to meet at least once in three months.

State Level

Management of the mission at the state level will be done by a State level High Powered Steering Committee (SHPSC) chaired by the State Chief Secretary.

City Level

ULB will be responsible for the implementation of the Mission at the city level and the Municipal Commissioner will ensure the preparation of SLIP.

To ensure that the Mission runs smoothly and efficiently it is required that it should be monitored periodically by the managing bodies and also by external agencies. Therefore, there will be quarterly external monitoring by the Independent Review and Monitoring Agency (IRMA). At the State level, the SHPSC would carry out detailed scrutiny of the proposed projects and monitor them during their execution while the ULBs would closely monitor the projects through their elected representatives and ULB bodies at the ULB level.

The Mission is a promising and bold step towards the aim of Urban Renewal but there is a long distance to cover and only unflinching commitment towards the goal would produce concrete positive results. Honest and effective participation of every stakeholder is required to make it a grand success.