Policy quagmires bog down flagship urban revamp plans

HT spoke with sectoral practitioners including officials in MoHUA as well as those serving in state governments to understand the situation.

Urban development was the fifth of nine priorities of the 2024-25 Union budget. But only slightly more than half of the budgeted ₹82,576.57 crore was used by January, a parliamentary standing committee on housing and urban affairs said in its report tabled last week.

India’s urban infrastructure is in urgent need of renewal. So why are funds for the purpose going unused? (HT Photo)

The panel, in its report, noted that the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) was lagging in its implementation of all flagship schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U),