LUCKNOW, INDIA: City planners and development agencies are elated at the provision of Rs 5,500 crore under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) in the Union Budget. Now they can look forward to launch key development projects in the city.

The city badly needs a proper traffic and transport system, which includes land transport services as well as metro rail, underground parking, sub-ways, fly-overs and link roads. Other key priorities listed by the agencies are laying of a drainage system replacing the old one laid over 100 years back, particularly in Old City areas and strengthening of the drinking water supply network. The city also needs a geographical information system (GIS) for assessment of number of houses within the city limits.

However, the state capital will have to compete with seven metros for procuring funds under the NURM. Commissioner, Lucknow Municipal Corporation, SP Singh explained that the money under the NURM would be given for the projects aimed at capacity building, which could help in realisation of revenue. "GIS, underground parking facilities, sub-ways are some of the projects which can get help from NURM," he said.

The GIS, a satellite-based method, can help in mapping the entire city for assessing the number of houses and their locations. It would definitely prove beneficial to the LMC in widening its house tax network. In fact, the LMC can hope for recording at least four-fold increase in its revenue with the help of GIS. Moreover, the GIS data can be used for the city's expansion and offering more facilities to people.

Meanwhile, district magistrate Aradhana Shukla said that NURM would help them in launching a new transport and traffic system in the state capital. "We need to introduce modern ways and means of traffic," she said.

Expressing similar views, divisional commissioner DS Lakha said that a strong infrastructure was a must to improve the quality of life. It would also help in generation of more revenue resources, he added.

While the traffic and transport system is estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore, metro rail project would need at least Rs 300 crore. The state capital would require around Rs 250 crore for the construction of fly-overs and underground parking and for laying of link roads. Similarly, Rs 250 crore would be needed for laying of a proper drainage system and for ensuring better supply of drinking water in the city.

Source:
http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1037758.cms