AP plans infrastructure in 31 AMRUT cities

Hyderabad, Oct 8 (INN): Seeking to ensure basic infrastructure relating to water supply, sewerage and septage management, drainage, urban transport and green spaces and parks during the next five years under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Government of Andhra Pradesh has proposed a comprehensive AMRUT Action Plan for 31 Mission cities and towns in the state at an estimated cost of Rs.28,756.30 Crore.

For the current financial year (2015-16), the State Government has sought approval of the Union Development Ministry for its State Level Annual Action Plan (SAAP) involving central assistance of Rs.673.12 cr for water supply projects and development of parks.

The State's SAAP is based on city level plans formulated after assessing the gaps in basic infrastructure and investments to be made to meet the norms prescribed for urban areas.

Extent of coverage of urban households with water supply connections in AMRUT cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh ranged from 7.50% in Tenali to 78.80% in Rajahmundry. On the whole, 50.22% of all urban households in the Mission cities have water connections at present.

Cities with below 30% coverage : Tenali (7.50%), Madanapalle (20%), Chittor(21%) and Vizianagaram(30%)

Cities with coverage between 31% and 50% : Srikakulam (58%), Bhimavaram(43.60%), Kakinada(49.36%), Vijayawada(48.75%), Gudivada (48%), Machilipatnam(50%), Tirupati(45%), Ongole (49%), Nellore(45%), Proddatur(45%), Tadipatri(42.50%), Hindupur(37%), Guntakal (47%), Anantapur (45%), Kurnool (45.94%) and Adoni (43%).

Cities with coverage between 51% and 75% coverage : Visakhapatnam (61%), Tadepallegudem(57.37%), Eluru (66.31%), Chilakaluripeta (51%), Narsaraopeta (61.46%), Kadapa(52%), Dharmavaram(69%) and Nandyal (50.85%).

Cities with more than 75% of households with water supply connections : Rajahmundry (78.80%).

Per Capita Water supply ranged from 20 litres per capita per day in Madanapalle to 145 lpcd in Vijayawada as against the norm for urban areas of 135 lpcd. On an average water supply in AMRUT cities in Andhra Pradesh at present is 104 lpcd.

Cities with water supply of less than 50 lpcd : Madanapalle-20 lpcd, Chittor(48), Tadipatri (49)

Cities with water supply between 50 and 100 lpcd: Vizianagaram (70), Bhimavaram(88), Tadepallegudem(78), Gudivada (95), Machilipatnam (68), Chilakaluripeta(99), Guntur(100), Ongole (88), Proddatur(73), Hindupur(56), Nandyal(73) and Kurnool (80 lpcd).

Cities with water supply between 101 and 134 lpcd: Srikakulam(115 lpcd), Vizag(109), Kakinada (108), Narsaraopeta (126), Tirupati(114), Nellore(126), Kadapa (116), Guntakal(107), Dharmavaram(114), Adoni(104).

Cities with water supply of 135 lpcd and more : Eluru, Rajahmundry, Tenali, Anantapur (135 lpcd each) and Vijayawada (145 lpcd).

Andhra Pradesh Government has reported that sewerage network services are available only in 6 Mission cities. These include : 10% in Guntur, 18% in Proddatur, 19.56% in Vizag, 49% in Kadapa, 70% in Vijayawada and 79% in Tadipatri.

State government has proposed to bridge the gaps in respect of these infrastructure areas progressively over the next five years.

The State Government projected a cost of Rs.6,117.24 cr for ensuring universal coverage of urban households in Mission cities in respect of water supply and Rs.10,888 cr for providing sewerage networks and septage management over the next five years.

To provide adequate drainage facilities in the Mission cities in the state, the State Government has proposed construction of outfall drains, major and minor drains besides rejuvenation of existing drains covering a total length of 6,753 km at an estimated cost of Rs.6,814.85 cr.

Regarding improving urban transport, the State Government has proposed development of 336.50 kms of pathways at a cost of Rs.178.10 cr, 232 km of cycle tracks at a cost of Rs.11.50 cr, 215 kms of BRTS (Bus Rapid Transport Systems) corridors at a cost of Rs.702 cr and procurement of 710 buses at a cost of Rs.376 cr. Total investments proposed in urban transport sector over the next five years is Rs.1998.88 cr.

Development of green spaces and parks will be undertaken at a cost of Rs.120.00 cr under Atal Mission.

Capacity building of urban local bodies will be taken up at a cost of Rs.120 cr. Administrative and Other Expenses during the Mission period till 2019 is estimated to be Rs.2,614 cr.

The State Government reported that as required under AMRUT Guidelines, Operation & Maintenance costs of infrastructure assets to be created will be included in the Detailed Project Reports and O&M costs will be borne by the urban local bodies through user charges including tariff rationalization, reduction of quantum of water being supplied without any collection of charges, energy conservation and efficiency improvement and improvement of systems efficiency by adopting ICT.

Andhra Pradesh Government has assured the Urban Development Ministry that the mandated 11 urban sector reforms will be implemented in 6 to 36 months. This includes e-governance, Municipal Tax and Fee improvement, improvement in levy and collection of user charges and credit rating of urban local bodies.

Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (AUFIDC) has been designated as the financial intermediary for mobilization of required resources. The State Government has set up Andhra Pradesh Greening and Beautification Corporation for taking up greening projects.

Under Atal Mission, central government provides assistance up to 50% of projects for cities with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one third of project cost for cities with population of above 10 lakhs. In Andhra Pradesh, only Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada have population of over 10 lakhs each