India's Urban Leap: Celebrating 10 Years of AMRUT's Impact

India marks a decade of urban renewal as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) completes 10 years since its launch on June 25, 2015. Launched to improve the quality of life in 500 cities and towns, AMRUT focused on strengthening urban infrastructure in water supply, sewerage, mobility, and green public spaces.

“The Mission prioritized inclusive and equitable urban planning, with a strong focus on providing universal access to tap water and sewer connections for the urban poor,” officials said.

Under AMRUT, projects worth ₹77,640 crore were approved, of which ₹35,990 crore was provided as Central Assistance. As of now, the total value of completed projects stands at ₹79,401 crore, with ₹72,656 crore already expended. Key achievements include expanded water supply networks, underground sewer systems, stormwater drainage, and improved urban mobility infrastructure such as footpaths, ferry services, and cycle tracks.

Building on the success of the first phase, AMRUT 2.0 was launched on October 1, 2021, with an ambitious outlay of ₹2.99 lakh crore, aiming for universal water and sewerage coverage across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Under AMRUT 2.0, 14,828 projects worth ₹2,73,649 crore have been sanctioned. So far, work worth ₹1,12,368 crore has been completed. As a result, over 2.03 crore households now have access to tap water, and 1.5 crore households are connected to sewerage systems.

The mission has also embraced smart governance with SCADA-enabled monitoring systems and 120 innovation pilots, reinforcing its commitment to efficient, data-driven, and sustainable urban development.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.